Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-11
A WHISKEY TRAGEDY
JOHN LusTER SHOT AND INSTANTLY
KILLED BY JOE kEISTER.
Mountain Dow" In the Vicinity Of
n" Merry Co lseund."

|
| Mountain Dow" In the Vicinity Of
n" Merry -Go-iseund.
| BLACKSBURG. VA. September To-
| Especial AT about 10 o'clock on Saturday
night. the sth. Joe Kester shot and killed
instantly John Luster both OF Blacks
burg. Whiskey was again at the bottom
Of the trouble. The particulars as gath
cred from an eyewitness were as follows:
| a great deal OF Illicit whiskey has been
| sold here OF late A merry-go-round
| placed little off OF Main street gathered
nightly large crowd. Here the Illicit
| dealer found "a capital field In which to
| ply his trade. Mr.. Kester's fathers pro-
| perty adjoIns the site OF the merry-go-
| round, and 1t seems that his mother and
| sisters have been much annoyed by the
| passage Of the venders through their
| place. Joe keister seeing Mr.. Luster
| after nightfall walking In front Of the
| house presumed he was having liquor
| sold, and demonstrated with him. saying
| he could not and would not allow the
| sale Of liquor on the premises. Luster,
who seems to have been in liquor, drew
| pistol on keiater, and abused and
| cursed him In fearful manner. Kelster,
| who was unarmed except with club,
returned TO his house and provided him
self with large 3s-calIbre pistol, and
was on his way pistol In hand. 10 meet
Luster again. when he was met by Mayor
Matthews, who called to him TO halt,
and ordered him 20 return home and put
his pistol up. Keister said he was look
ing for Luster to settle IL with him. Az
ter some expostulatlon, however. he con-
scented TO return, and Mr. Matthews
thinks he did so.
READY TO SETTLE.
However this may be. n few moments
later. in Mr. Matthews's presence, Keis-
ter approached Luster and said: "Mr
Luster. / am now ready TO settle this
matter with you" lie had no arms ap-
parently. Luster IS said to have cursed
him again and again, and used much
offensive language. which does not bear
repetition; but words followed until Lus-
ter struck at Keister with a cane he had.
and both drew arms. Mr.. Matthews had |
declared both under arrest. and used |
every effort to put an end to the trouble. |
Luster seems to have drawn his pistol |
finst and covered Kester. Matthews |
knocked his arm up and grabbed the piss |
tol, which was never fired. keister. how
er, during this time covered Luster and |
fired. the barrel Of his pistol being within |
few inches Of Luster's face-so close !
that the face was covered with powder. |
Luster fell and died instantly. The ball |
entered between the moustache and eye.
and ranged upward TO the brain.
SURRENDERED.
KeIster Immediately surrendered himself. |
delivering up his pistol TO Matthews. |
Both Keister and Luster were powerful |
men physically, and both men Of UNI
doubted courage. The occurrence has |
thrown our community into a fever of |
excitement. All night Saturday and on |
Sunday morning excited groups Of men |
were TO be seen talking on the streets. |
The prevailing opinion Is that Keister |
shot in self-defence but this is for the |
courts TO determine. Commonwealth's-A sat |
tOrney Judge Y. Y. Junkln, was tele- |
phoned for by Mayor Matthews. the actual |
shooting occurring outside of the cor
poration. Mr.. Keisters friends are said |
to have telephoned for Messrs. Phlegar &
Johnson, and John II. Hoge.
IN KEISTER'S FAVOR.
The facts Of the case, as it stands now,
are clearly in Keister's favor. Mr. Luster,
while he was a brave man, and served |
with credit in the Confederate army, was
known TO be a brawler; had been in many |
difficulties before. and was generally re-
puted to have been constantly engaged I'm 1
selling liquor, contrary TO law. Keistor,
while he IS known 10 be utterly fearless. |
enjoys a much better reputation; indeed,
Is said TO be IA quiet man. 4 very affect
ing and dramatic scene took place soon /
after the shooting. when Mrs. Luster
threw herself on her dead husbands body,
and gave vent to her grief and despair.
Mr. Luster leaves a wife, three sons and |
a married daughter. a strange fact is
that years ago he asserted that he eX-
pected TO die such death, and then settled
on Mrs. Luster quite Il good farm, which
she now owns, in Floyd county.
FORTUNATE.
This Is peculiarly fortunate; for 1t is
believed that when all creditors are salts
fled, nothing Of his other estate will be
left.
Mayor Matthews asserts openly that he
is resolved to break up the Illicit traffic
in liquor in Blacksburg, and hopes that
all violators of the law may take a timely
warning by the tragic and mournful end
of Mr.. Luster. In this determination Of
Mr. Matthews he Will have the hearty |
support ana cooperation or every good clI-
zen in the community, who applauds him
for the firm stand he has taken in this
matter, and bids him Godspeed.
THE VERDICT.
Judge Junkn, CommOnwealth's Attor-
ney for the county, arrived in Backsburg
in response to the telegram, at about mid
day. a Coroner's jury, consisting Of Alex
ander Black Robert Stranger, VI. 5. Girls
som, j. T.. Grissom, William Oliver, and |
Walter Stranger, was summoned They
viewed the body: heard the evidence of |
Mr. Matthews, an eyewitness, and very |
soon rendered the verdict That the de-
4
shot wound. from pistol in the hands
Of Joseph Keister." Upon examination,
Mr. Luster was found to have two pistols
and large knife on his person. Bad blood
has existed between the men for a long |
time, therefore, though there Is n great
deal of interest and excitement over the
occurrence. there is no very great sur
prise. -
4 CASE OF SELF-DEFENCE.
The preliminary hearing in the case
was heard this forenoon before Justice &.
G. Otcy. Mr.. j. Hampton Hoge appeared
for the defence. Judge Junkin, the Com
Attorney. was not present.
Six or eight witnesses were examined.
The testimony was all in favor of the
defence. that of Mayor Matthews. VINO
was an eyewitness. was positively strong
as showing self-defence. Mr.. HoSe made |
no speech but simply stated the law, as
applied to magistrates courts. The de-
cision Of the magistrate was that 1t was
a clear case of self-defence. and the case
was dismissed. | understand that Mr. Lus-
ter's friends viii take an appeal from the
decision.
ROANOKE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Opened Yesterday with Large Attendance.
Suit for Damages.