The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-20

E1 J \Ey1 VI tried at the
& va W septic m Der
ssgsSss - term term of ofnt the
circuit court in 1896. It was peculiar,
not SO much on account of the crime
(inayhcm) us it was because of the I'M
hcard-of conduct of the sheriff and pris-
oner after conviction.
The particulars of this odd case (that
have furnished amusement food for
several generations of lawyers) were
gathered from an interview with ex-
Congressman George M. Thomas, of
Vanccburg, and from the records of
the case now among the archives of
the Lewis circuit court. AS the details
OF the case have never before appeared
in print, your readers, especially among
the legal fraternity, will doubtless be
interested in the following narrative:
In the spring of 1896 Larkin Lylcs
and Edward Campbell. two prominent
citizens of Lewis county, engaged in a
rough-nnd-tumblc fight ut Vanceburg.
They were both powerful men phys
ically, and, as witnesses afterwurd
testified, they "hit one another like
hosses a-kicl5ing." Finally, after each
contestant had registered u number of
knockdown blows, Campbell got his
opponent down and proceeded to pun
ish him in harmony with the most ap-
proved methods of the old-time fistic
art. Lyles, who had "worn the belt"
for several generations, grew desper-
ate at the awful prospect of being
licked" and, raising mis- head with
bulldog ferocity, he seized the neither
lip of the prospective victor between
his teeth, and eliminated large chunk
from the inner part of it. At the sue
ceeding term Of the circuit court the
grand jury indicted Lyles for the crime
OF mayhem, and 4 trial was at once ac-
corded the defendant. Many amusing
episodes occurred during the progress
of the trial. "Jaybird Lyles, the
brother of the defendant, when being
questioned as to how he obtained such
perfect view of all that transpired
during the tussle on the ground, said:
cause, when they got down onter
the ground, wuz standin' in about ten
steps NV 'em. l then advanced three
steps backwards till got in n diana
try persition whar 1 cud have q perfect
octnngctor view"
The jury, after liste ming to the testi-
mony, retired, and, after n prolonged
consultation. returned verdict of
guilty. Judge Walker Ried, therefore.
sentenced the defendant to the peniten-
tiary for one year. And now come
tho features Of the case that constitute
it a striking anomaly in criminal his
tory. The sheriff, w. B. Parker, nick,
named Buck" was a lifelong chum
OF the sentenced man. Accordingly.
lnSfn:t1 of N
person, he told him to Ego on home.
and he would see him the following
day" Lylcs, acting on this liberal
suggestion, mounted his old black horse
and left for home, seven miles south of
the county seat.
The next day Parker rode ont 20
iyles' home, and found the latter "cut-
ting up corn"
Halo, friend Larkin!" shouted the
sheriff, riding up to the rail fence, q
few steps away from the prisoner (?).
Hello, Buck! Good mornin'."
lizard at work, see?"
yep; gittin' my hand in, we see, SOS
1t won't go ser foX-lallcd hard win me,
when l git ter Frankfort"
"Er, haw, haw, haw, haw!" merrilv
shouted the sheriff. "When do Won
tnlnk you III oc ready to start, Larkin?",
II can't tell jist yit. Buck" returned
Lyles, coming to the fence and resting.
his arms on the top rail.
oval. about when do you think?''
"Lemmc see, now" returned the
sentenced man, scratching his head in
puzzled cogitation. "Ill try ter git
ready two weeks from ter day. We see,
Buck, I've got er heap sight O. things
ter see to afore kin possibly git off.
The CON is all ter cut up. my stray
hogs must be hunted an put up, an
dead coolies Nv luther matters to see to;
but I'll be ready by that til me if thars
20 providential hindrances"
"All right, friend Larkin; I don't
want to discommode ye no way. shape
er form CIR fashion. Thar amt no big
hurry fer we down thar ter Frankfort
that kin see. It's got along very we'll
80 fur without ye, ar guess it can do
n lcctlc while longer. Go right ahead;
an fix mp yer matters SOS Polly Ann
will hev ms little trouble as possible,
All when we've got perfectlU ready IL