The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-04
WAS WITH AURDEROUS INTENT
That George Robinson Shot
Daniel Burger.
The Verdict OF tho Corners Jury Held
Yesterday Evening-The Evidence In
the Cause.-The Murderer We'll Out OF
tho Way-A Vain Search Yesterday
Morning.

Another murder has been committed
and the murderer has escaped. Webb
Burger lies dead in deserted shanty
near tho West End Furnace with a
bullet in his brain. George Robinson
was seen to commit the deed; a few
minutes later he fled, ploughing through
tho mud and mire, them into the woods,
and now where is he?
All Monday night the vigilant officers
of the Roanoke police force were scour-
ing the country around the city, but
without avail. 1t seemed that destiny
had decided against retribution for
crime, and that a long suffering people
were listening for tho very blood of the
murdered ones to cry out from tho
ground for vengeance.
Yesterday morning Coroner II. v.
Gray was notified of tho murder, but
being unable to attend the duties of
that Office from severe indisposition,
he delegated Magistrate S. w. Hover
ton.
Officers Vest and Bower were sent to
tho West End, and summoned several
witnesses, who appeared ut the mayors
office at two o'clock yesterday after
noon, but they were subsequently sent
back, with instructions to report at the
house of the deceased.
jury was hastily summoned and re-
paired 10 the scrne of the murder, but
the coroner was not there. After wait
ing about two hours several sof them
rnturnn1 m th,a oft 20
Squire liowerton was just getting ready
to start out.
On arriving at tho grim looking row
of new novels clustered along the bank
OF the river, it was 6 o'clock.
Groups of negroes stood idly about the
entrances discussing the event in that
new locality with much earncstncss.
The house i'll which the murdered man
lay presented n CHASTITY spectacle Beds
We're dismantlcd and stripped of tho
clothing: the rude furniture was scat
tered about, and the body of the MUIR
dered man lay upon his back in the mid
die room, his head resting in Il pool Of
blood
The following jury was sworn by act
ing Coroner llowSrtOn: J. w. Camper,
j. s. Campbeii, n. 7. Howell, +. H.
Pouton, w. +. Thomas and l.. e. Cole
man. With the aid Of q fiickering light
they viewed tho bloody body, and re-
paired to the front room for the pur-
pose OF hearing the evidence.
Mary Robinson, wife OF the murderer,
Officer j. Ill. Vest, Etna Jones, colored
woman living with Robinson's family;
Christine Lovelace, a sister OF the muir
dercr, and Matilda Burger, wife of the
murdered man, were sworn and testified
to the occurrence in substance of what
has already appeared in The TIMES,
although their evidence went to show
that Robinson did tho shooting partly
i'll srlf-defcnSc. Taking their tcsti-
mony in substance, it is as follows:
George Robinson had just brought his
wife home from the Red House, and was
using considerable threats toward her,
making great noise in the house which
attrac Jed JIc attention of burger, his
broLacr-ln law. burger went in ard
iried to qurll the disturbance, but Rob
inson told him III get out of the house
Burger dill so, but said he would return
again shortly. He remained out ONLY n
few minutes when he come back lie
told Robinson lie was not going to stand
by and see him kill his wife. Robinson
imn' diatcly became softened toward
his wife and attacked Burger.
The men came together and Robinson
was seen to draw pistol. Robinson's
wife attempted to interfere but was
thrust aside, and II shot was fired. The
woman then rushed between the com
batants and tried to knock the pistol
from Robinson's hand. a scuflle ensued
in which Burger pushed Robinson over
on the bed, the Lovelace woman falling
between them.
Robinson, who was beneath, then fired
two shots in rapid succession, and Bur
ger fell IF on the floor
The building was Immediately va
Gated. and Robinson took his cap and
departed.
In accordance with the above testi-
mony the jury rendered the following
verdict: That the said Daniel Web.
ster Burger camo to his death on the
End day OF February, 1891, by {, ball fired
from i pistol in the hands of one George
Robinson, with intent to kill ana muir
der him, the said Daniel Webster
burger"
This was all. The body was left as it
was found; the hut was deserted again;
the jury returned to their homes. and
the WORKOUT officers came to the con-
clusion they would have u nights
sleep after thirty-six hours hard work
Yesterday evening it was reported to
Chief Morris that IL negro answering
Robinson's description got Off the train
at Petersburg and secured ticket for
Richmond. Sergeant Jones telegraDhcd
there last night and will probably get
reply some time to-day.
Threats of lynching, which were
openly INDUCED in by the employees of
the furnace, has in manner subsidized,
the facts in the case showing that a