Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-05-25
HOMICIDE NEAR GREENvILLE.

A NOTORIOUS LAW BREAKER INSTANTLY
KILLED.
Henry Weeks, aged forty four. a laborer
was shot and instantly killed in the house
of Mrs. Phillips in 1.-THE Fines,'' neal
Greenville, ION Wednesday afternoon by
Benz l.. Hite, photographer, aged forty
five.
Henry Weeks. who leaves wife and five
children, is notorious character. 1t was
he that in company with other white row.
dies attacked some members of colored
congregation coming from church neal
Steele's Tavern, few years ago, and
brought on a fight in which one OF the
whites, named j. L. Lofts, was killed.
About nine months ago, he assaulted an
old man named Jno. A. Womeldorf. lie
forfeited his bail and fled, and the county
court in his absence sentenced him to nine
months Imprisonment. Since then he has
been fugitive from justice.
BENZ. L. Hite is a photographer, and has
a small gallery near Vesuvius. He makes
his living by taking pictures there and
travelling about in the same business. lie
lived for some time with a woman near
Lotion, by whom he was the father OF sew
eral daughters. The woman afterwards
reformed and married Jacob Cotfey, leav-
ing these children in the care of Hite. 1t
was one of these daughters, Stella A. Hite,
that led to the killing.
She was the main witness against Cot
fey, (her mothers husband) and Tappey,
charged with robbing the post Office at
Cotopaxi. After she gave that testimony,
Coffey and her mother wanted to get the
girl in their possession. Hite had placed
her as a domestic at Mrs. Hangers. Coffey
and Weeks went there to see the girl on
Saturday week and persuaded her to leave
Mrs Hanger s and go back to COREY S. That
night Coffey and her mother went there
and took her back to their home. On Mon
day last the girl came to Staunton and go
ing before Justice Kinney made oath that
all she had testified to in the U. 5. Court at
Harrisonburg, in the post office robbery
case against Coffey and Tappey was false.
From Staunton she went back to COffey s..
On Wednesday last, at 2 P. NJ. Hite
went out hunting with Winchester rifle.
He stopped at the house of Mrs. Phillips.
While he was sitting there Weeks came in.
They spoke. according to Mrs. Phillips
testimony, in friendly way. Hite walked
to the door, took up his rifle, which was
standing by the step, and turning to Weeks
said with an oath: You have been med
ding with my daughter and you had no
provocation to do it," Weeks got up and
swinging his chair over his head said /:
Yes, and I'lI NEEDLE with you." Hite
fired on him, the bullet entering below the
right nipple and passing out on his left side.
Weeks uttered an exclamation and walking
few steps fell and died.
Hite went down to Lotion and told j. A.
Harvey and J. Ran Smith what he had
done, and then went on to Magistrate S. A.
D. McKee'S to surrender himself. The
Magistrate being in Staunton. Hite went
off and returned about l O'Clock at night
and finding MI. Mckee at home gave him
self up. He staid there until yesterday
morning when Magistrate Mckee brought
him to StauntOn and committed him.
Magistrate Mckee held an inquest on
w edResday night, J. Ballard Smith, spec
ial officer, summoning the jury as follows
Jno. S. Lightner, e. A. Merritt, S. II.
Burnett, Fl. 2. Meeks, II. Clay Shultz and
S. F. Steele. The jury rendered verdict
in accordance with the facts. DR.. r. w
Murray testified to the character of the
wound.
Weeks was buried at Mt. Joy church
yesterday. 1t is a remarkable coincidence
that Weeks father, Confederate deserte1
during the war, was shot and killed by
Peter Hite, Confederate soldier and al