Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-24
HARRY SPIERS'S CASE
ONLY i3vEARs OLD AND JAILED FOR
nESENT,No A FOUL INSULT.


Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.j
PxrxasBuBo, Va. January B.-One OF
the most youthful offenders that were ever
received In the jail OF this city 10 little
Harry Spiers. and he IL now under lock
and key on the charge OF manslaughter.
The boy il only thirteen years old, and
Yesterday evening. In the course OF IN a.
tercat,on. he stabbed Joseph Byrd. negro
bow aged eighteen. This morning ct
o'clock Byrd died, the wound which no
received in the left lung producing inter
nal hemorrhage. The boys friends claim
that the little fellow was not capable OF
appreciatinp the serious results which
might attend the use of the knife.
NOT RxsPoSsIBLE.
He had the knife in his hand at the time
that the difficulty occurred, and when
Byrd spit in his face and the scume foi-
lowed he hit out blindly. not intending. as
he says, TO strike the negro with the point
but with the butt-end OF the instrument.
His friends also claim that he is weak
minded and not responsible when unuer
the influence of sudden passion. Never:
theless. he is now confined in jail and Will
have to stand trial for murder.
he LIKED THE PICTURES.
When he was taken to the jail yesterday
evening he was placed in cell on the
same foor as the Office of the Sheriff and
adjoining the same. He seemed to be Ut
terly incapable of approaching the gravity
of the results that might follow MS use OF
the knife. He was pleased with the PIC
lures on the walls OF the Sherih's once,
and until the time OF his commitment 10
his own cell spent the time IN Raz,ng IN
tently upon them and making boylsh
n
and il was not long after he had been
placed in the cell before he was slumber-
ing peacefully.
THE JURY's VERDICT.
The coroper's jury this evening rendered
a verdict that James Bird came TO ms
death from the effects OF wound fnflicted
by Spjers. The verdict was very remarka-
HE in view of the fact that while there
were several witnesses of the stabbing not
one of them could recall an angry WORD
that passed between the parties. Inc zorro
had never known of similar case. Great
svmpathy is expressed for the boy Spiers,
and his resentment for the insult given oy
the deceased will operate in his favor.
REpUBLIcANs STIRRED UP.
The preliminary diminishing for adj
vantapes in the election OF delegates TO
the Republican State Convention and the
district convention, which choose dele
gates to the National Convention is al
ready manifesting itself in quleS out
determined way in this city and section.
The contest for the control OF the state
delegation. as between General Malone
and Colonel Brady-though both may be
iaboring for the denomination Of .d ha MI
of them has large and influential follow
ing. and the personal pride and political
success of each is involved.
THE MILLER DECIsIoN-AoAIF.
In the Mayors Court this morning
Mayor Collier heard the case OF MIR. Alex
ander Vaughan. who is charged with com
hitting assault and battery on Paul But
terworth. Mr.. Vaughan admitted striking
the latter. Heretofore the Mayor has I'M
posed fno in all ouch cases upon con-
y,ctiou. but in this case. being bound by
the decision of the Supreme Court IN the
cause of Miller rs. the Commonwealth he
found it necessary to oail MI: vaugn ian
grand jury.
INTERNAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS.