davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

and jumped over right quick and staid close
by her till she got her wind. 1t was then
I assaulted her. She told me again she
knOwed me. Then [ chOked her with my
left hand till she was out of breath. Then
[ carried her down to the railroad and laid
her on her face right across the rail. and
picked up rock with my right hand and
hit her three blows on the back of her head
OIL rather on the top. When [ hit her you
could hear her snore, I thought. for fifty
yards. / did not lay her across the rail-
road track to let the train run over her. 1
only took her down there to get something
to kill her with. stayed right there until
she was gone.
There wasn't no man that ever lived that
could have taken her away from me after she
knowed me. With that gun (pistol) in my
hand I would have died right there. IhGd
to kill her after she knowed me. l came on
thenu through the railroad cut under the
overhead bridge with my gun in my hand
1 went off the railroad down by Mahaney
Brown s and went up by MI. Atkins through
the back way into my house. Rosa Brown
was standing up in the floor whenI opened
the door and she said: "Where on earth
have you been 7" | didn't answer but
went right up to the desk drawer and took
out that bottle Of liquor and took drink.
1 suppose 1 was there twenty minutes,
when left and went out by the back way
to the railroad, It was still dark, l don't
know what time it was. Then | went up
to Jake Painters and asked him for my
pipe. He got up and opened hefront door
and said; '.Your pipe amt here" ] went
in the house. 1t was very late in the night
but it wasn't day yet. What walked me !
don't know, but ! think Mr.. Painter walked
me when was settin in the chair asleep in
tile bed room. He said, come and go over
to the bridge, something has got killed on
the railroad. l started out behind him and
went as far as the bridge, and somebody
come up and said it was Lottie Rowe. [
says: Il can't stand nothing like that, I'll
go back" / went back the way 1 had
come and went in home: Rose was coming
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08
sPlLLER'S DREADFUL STORY.

[Confession of Lawrence Spiller (colored),
convicted of the murder of Lottie Rowe
(white) on the night of April 2sth, 1894, made
to j. L. Beck. his former employer, and R. S.
Turke, one of his counsel in his cell, May
4th, 1S94.]
l left the shop at the Bodley Wagon
Works about half past four o'clock on Sat-
urday evening. 9th April, 1894, and went
home, but didn't stay there but a short
time. Came out by Sine Crawford IS store
and saw Jake Painter and his wife at the
well and asked them if he was coming to
town. He said yes, and we came on to-
gether as far as the Minnesota blacksmith s
shop at the arch bridge. Then Jessie
Woods, colored, joined us, and we all went
up by the Virginia Hotel to Billy Bar
bour IS saloon, and l treated. Then me and
Jessie took another drink, but MI. Pain
ter did not drink this time. Me and MI.
Painter came out together and went up
to the corner. Then went straight across
the street and got deck of cards then
went to Mr.. Knowles butcher shop and
got a string of fish then went to MI.
Lipscomb's shoe store and bought some
things; then went back to Mr.. Barbour s
saloon and enquired the price of Monticello
whiskey, found it was 81 quart, but didn t
buy any. / then went to MI. Hartman s
liquor store and got two quarts OF whlskey.
Before l started away he gave me little
square bottle of whiskey which he told me
was sample whiskey-the same bottle that
was shown on the trial:
1 left then and went home. was mt at
home more than twenty-five minutes when
1 left and went over again to Sine Ora W.
ford's store and down the railroad ira ok
to Bob Gaines, and across the railroad to
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08
Hastings Court.

This Court, Judge Grattan presiding
met yesterday:
City Oticials-severa! city officials elect
ed last month qualified, bat great many
have yet to do so.
The Grand Jury.-The grand jury III
dicted Edward Campbell, colored, of Phil-
adelphia, for the assault on George Curry
at the circus tent, and =. Martin Free
man for petit larceny. No Indictment was
found against Anderson charged Will
picking a pocket at the circus.
The will of B. Il. Houseman was adj
mitted to probate,
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

never JOuCneQ hin dICeIWdfQS anu never
threw him into the railroad cut.
picked up the girl. She was badly
scared and told her not to holler. She
said she wouldn t. [ carried her back to the
wire fence and lifted her over it on to the
plowed ground. 1 kept my left hand close
to her neck, but didn't choke her, only just
kept her so she couldn't holler. l stepped
over the barbed wire fence, but tore my
pants good deal. never stopped to tie
up the barbed fence wire with piece of
the lining of my coat, and don't believe
Britt ever found any of the lining Of my
coat there as he swore he did. The wind
blew my hat off, as l got over the fence. l
started on across the plowed field. Before
we got half way across heard the GRIPS
mother call her and knowed Charles Brad
ford must have told her that Lottie was
gone. set the girl down just after got
over the fence. 1t was very dark. She
says, "Take me right here;;" but it was
too close to the road for me. She told me
she was poor colored girl and that there
was never anybody had touched her ex-
cept - --. I knOwed she
said this to fool me. Then it lightened
and held long flash and she looked up into
my face and saw me and said "Oh l know
you'll" [ know now it was the Lord that
showed her my face and [ knowed she did
know me and [ was gone. 1 told her to
come on and go with me and would take
her home. She says evil you do that p
1 said yes if you don't holler. She said she
wouldn't boiler. She said she loved me. /
told her if she hollered [ would choke her
to death. We did not lie down in the plow-
ed field, but carried her to the next wire
fence and Stacked up my hold on her throat
and she hollered murder. / just seen
then I was gone and that / had to kill
her. She knowed me and knowed I was
gone anyhow. I took her down to the
fence and choked her till she couldn't hol
ler. Then throwed her over the fence
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

started with h
Thehou seof passed on the road
first fence
Mhchh shat vast
his 1oad m
found and at when
assaulted her
which Spler
waiting Radord
from Ito about yards from 70
gtoA
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

where they were told that Lottie must be
at home OF her mother would be hunting
her. That satisfied them and they went
home.
The next morning two OIL three colored
men found the girls body on the railroad.
A general search revealed Spiders club
and hat The officers went to his house
and brought him to StauntOn and put him
in Jail. Later his paramour was detected
burning his clothes at her home, and the
clothing was taken possession OF. On the
trial this woman testified that Spiller had
come home with blood on his clothes.
There was blood on his shirt and she had
cut the stained piece out OF it. The prIS-
oner was made to stand up in court and
take off his coat-there was the hole in his
shirt from which the piece had been cut
1t did not take the jury long to bring in a
verdict.
HIS MONTH IN JAIL.
During the first few days after his SEN
tence to death, Spiller was very talkative
to the death watches guarding him night
and day. He talked mostly about guns,
and similar subjects. He varied this a
little by theological views, saying that the
day he was born it was fixed that he was
to be hung in Staunion on June 9Th. Since
the visits of the clergymen, however, and
his profession of religion, he has had less to
say, and seemed thinking of his future
much more than of guns. He has always
spoken quite freely Of his crime. In one
conversation he broke into weeping, but
remarked that he was not scared, but was
sorry for what he had done. He has always
acknowledged that he ought to die for
his crime. He has shown great nerve
during his confinement.
The white ministers who have visited
Spiller ale Rev. DR.. Jas. H. Boyd Of the
Methodist church. and Rev. J. T. James,
his assistant; and the colored ministers are
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08


THE MURDERER.
Lawrence Spiller OF Spillard was a mu-
latto forty-sev years Of age, with Indi-
an blood, and was born the slave of Charles
Cunningham, one of the wealthiest citizens
of Hardy county, Virginia, (now Grant
county, W. Va.) When freedom came. he
apprenticed himself to a blacksmith and
by good conduct and honesty built up a
good trade in Petersburg the county seat
of Grant county. After his marriage, his
wife's daughter married against his will.
and he shot and beat the negro who had
married her until he thought he was dead.
He made no attempt to escape, and was az
rested, tried and convicted. This was IN
1884, and the judge in consideration OF his
good character, which was testified to by
many prominent citizens, gave him only
six years in the West Virginia penitentia-
~. This Spiller shortened by good con-
duct. At the end Of his term he got place
in the Bodley wagon works in Wheeling, and
came with them when they were removed
here His stature was six feet two, his
weight 3Opounds, and his strength was phe-
nomenal. He could handle an ordinary man
as easily as man can handle child. He
lived near the wagon works with colored
woman, Rosa Brown, Whose testimony it
was that sealed his fate). and made prac-
tice of getting drunk every Saturday night
and going to work sober Monday morning.
He had made for himself peculiar club
the handle of which was buggy spoke
shaved down, and at the end was an iron
ring filled with lead. This club which was
known to be his property played an i'm
portant part in turning attention to, him.
THE CRIME.
The story of the crime. as seen from the
outside, differs with Spiller's confession in
one OF two points. For instance, he says
he only assaulted the girl after taking her
over the second wire fence of the Flynn lot
nearest the railroad, but there were marks
in the middle Of the Flynn lot which poin-
ted very clearly to an assault having been
committed there. The scene of the crime
was s'Pinchtown," a village occupied
chiefly by colored people, lying about a
mile and a half east of Staunton. There
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08
ter for Spiller to his legal wife in Peter

ter for Splller TO his legal wife III Peters
burg, W. Va.
SpilIer slept from IL o'clock to 4:3O this
morning as soundly as a child, and would
not have walked then, MI. Noon says, but
for some noise made by the prisoners below
Up to midnight Reys. Clifford, Deans
Bruce, Glare, Washington and Taulton
were with him holding religious services
He atea lunch before going to sleep.
This morning Spiller ordered for his
breakfast, fried CHICKEN. eggs, fish, coffee
and milk and enjoyed it greatly when II
came. The proprietor of the Virginia
Hotel. from whence it was sent at $3.50
O'Clock, had added plate of Strawberries.
This morning early he was told that the
execution would take place at 8 O'Clock.
He replied that he was ready that minute
if they wanted him then.
Seven colOred ministers were with him
from about sunrise and the re!ig;oua SER
vices in his cage were continued until the
minute for him to 60 to the scaffold.
The ministers sat in chairs outside of the
cage and prayed and sang, SpiIler joining
in both with great fervor. He wore new
suit of pepper and salt clothes, the coat
being sack. He sat inside Of his cage and
to the prayers of the ministers gave hearty
''amens." He wore spectacles and often
raised them from his nose to wipe his eyes,
for he was weeping nearly all the time.
One minister prayed for the judge. Sher.
iii, the lawyers and so forth, and Spille1
said amen. God bless them ALL" At s
O'Clock the Sheriff went UP to read the
death warrant TO him, and put the hand
cuffs on. Spiller went through it with in.
vincible nerve. In a few minutes the
procession was formed headed by the S4er-
1T and came down stairs and out into the
jail yard. AS he passed the other prison.
ers' cells, Spiller said: GOOD bye, III
come back here no more''
His arms had been strapped before com.
ing down but he walked firm and erect.
He had put of. his spectacles and in look
ing around at the gathering he squinted
his eyes as if near sighted. He mounted
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

she knowed me. No living man could have
taken her away from me alive. l never
saw her to know her before, but 1 may
have seen her often but 1 never paid any
attention to her. don't think I would
have done anything wrong that night
that is tried to hurt anybody-if they
hadn't made me mad at Rowe's by not
wanting to drink out of my bottle.
never told anybody but you two gentlemen:
but I can hear that girl snore by my
bed every night since I have been in this
cell just as she did when [ hit her on the
head with that rock.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

EDWARD McMAHON'S- EXOR'S VS.. ED
I WARD MeMAHON'eS HEIIsS.-Pursu,
ant to dearee of the Hastings Court for the city
of Staunton. EN- cred in this cause on the 18th
day of May, 1894, shall proceed at my Office n
Staunion. on Saturday, The 1871 dag Of June 1884
to take: LIST. An account OF the assets, real amp
personal OF the estate OF said Edward McMahon
decd; End. An account Of the debts of said de-
cedent and of their respective legal prioritias;
Sd. An account of the acts and dninas of the
plaintiffs as executors of said Edward McMa-
hon; 18th. An account showing the proper distri-
button Of | he assets Ct said decedent. and 9Th;
Any other matters deemed pertinent by com
m isG!ansr which he may be required by any
party in interest to state.
Ali creditors of Edward Mcmahon, decd. are
hereby specially called upon to appear before
me on or before the day herein appointed and
prove their respective debts or claims.
f. 5, SUBLETT.
maylS 1t Com'f in Ch'y.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

fall by Rhodes
THE VICTIM.
The crime for which Spiller was execut-
ed to-day, is of such recent occurrence,
and the details are so familiar, that very
brief recital of the chief points will suffice.
Lottie Rowe, the victim, was the fifteen
year-old daughter Of Joseph Rowe. She was
a frail looking girl with blonde hair, and
was small for her age. She had been in the
habit of attending dances at the home Of
her uncle, John Rowe, some three hundred
yards from her father S house, which were
disreputable affairs, and had been raided
by the county police. In going to them
she lost no social caste, for her father went
there, and he and her uncle played cards
and drank whiskey with negro men. 1t
was to this house she went on the fatal
night arrayed in red skirt and white
bodice,
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08
sp.par-uIst Co R'raP

1ue railroad cut Ill Whloii' Wv :.
with the overhead bridge in the dist
are some whites living there and Splller as
ISOLATED with them rather than with the
reputable colored people. John Rowe the
keeper of the dance house. had several
times invited him to come .here, and on
Saturday night, April 2sth, he went. Ere
7iously, in the afternoon, he had come TO
Staunton in company with one OIL TWO men,
taken several drinks, bought two quarts OIL
whiskey and gene back home. He carried
quart of the whiskey to John Rowe's
about 10 P. M, the hour he reached there.
There he found John Rowe and his wife,
and his daughter, Lucy, and Joseph Rowe
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08
M A r r Re D.

SELLERS -ROOT.--At the home of David KEEL
Ter near Stanton. June 9Th, by Rev. VIM.
Cumming, DR.. John S. Sellers of Nj. Meridian
to Miss Rosa Root,
MCMECH IdN-BOWEKS-A the rectorv OF
Trinity church, Staunton, by Rev. w. @. HUI
linen, June 9th, w. b. McMechen of W. Va,
to N ISIS Della Bowers q pupil this session at
Wesleyan Female Institute.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

This photograph oe
(between
the
assaulted her,
nsensb girl
raj 0
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

COMMISSIONERS OFFICE,
" STAUETol-, VA, May 18th, 1884
John I. Bolen vs.. Vim. A. Bolen's admir-. and
ais.
All parties interested in the foregoing suit pen
ding in the ircuit Court of Angus county, will
TAKE NOTICE; that will proceed.at my office in
Staunton, on the 18th day of June. 1854, TO take
and state the account GIN. q. Watts as admir-. of
Wm, A.. Ralen, decd an account of the debts
against the estate of said Bolen; an account of
the real estate of which he died. seized and pos
sessed, and other accounts required by the
order OF reference entered in said cause On the
5th December, 1899.
John NJ. KINNEY,
may1a4f Com'r in Chanoery.
3. r. HUMPHREYS. IA. HlNER
Staunton Business College,
STAUNTON, VA.
OPEN ALL THE YEAR.
BOTH SEXES ADMITTED.
Modern and improved methods OF instruction
For catalogue giving full particulars apdress.
HUMPHREYS & HINER.
1une s-lyr Staunton, Va.
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

Sun Prufer from
gound]
Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-06-08

ance Where he inst attacked them.
Rev. T. K. Clifford of Harrisonburg, who
once boarded in Spiders house in Grant
County, W. Va, and who is also pastor of
the U. B. colored church at Swoopes in
this county; Rev. D. G. Dean. and Rev. C..
g. Stumm, Baptist ministers of StauntOn,
Prayers have been had by some of them with
Spiller nightly and the ministers say his
prayers have been fervent.
Of the forty days that SpiIler has been
in jail he has had the attendance of either
white OF colored ministers thirty days.
Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1894-09-14
The State Fair.

At a meeting of the executive COM
mittee today, orders were given for the
erection OF NV woman's building
32Xlo9, and the space heretofore assign.
ed to women In the main building will
be added to the agricultural depart.
ment. The building heretofore rented
to the churches for refreshment rooms
will be assigned to poultry and pet
stock, and new quarters provided for
refreshments. A new Office building
42X64, was ordered for the secretary,
treasurer, directors and press quarters.
New judges and band stand was order.
ed, and u considerable extension of the
grand stand. A vat 100 feet long and
feet wide was ordered for icing and
keeping cool the butter exhibited for
the 500 premium, and glass jars, each
holding one bushel, We're ordered for
the 800 wheat exhibits. Letters are
coming from every county in the state,
and there is no longer any doubt that
the Third Annual Fair ut jamestown
September gath to 2Sth inclusive, will
bs the greatest one ever given in the
state.-Alert,
Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1894-09-14

Peter Cook was in town Monday
evening, and in order TO make people
realize the fact that he was in town he
get "bowled up on something, we pre-
sume"malt" as this is a prohibition town,
and he proceeded to show the people
how to do some fast driving through
the streets of Cooperstown, and in turn.
ing the corner by Moore's livery barn
a wheel flew Oft the wagon, spilling out
two men and the team skipped and were
finally landed at Shue's livery barn.
Sheriff Greenland thought it was tine
to take hand in the fun, and, assisted
by Justice Warner, he was escorted to
the county Jail and the following morn.
ing he was brought into court, fined $40,
and told to 60 and sin no more. He
paid his fine and went. The sheriff
acted perfectly right and we hope he
will keep up the good work, by SO doing
some Of this drunken debauchery will
probably be stopped.
Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1894-09-14

1t is our unpleasant duty to have to
apologize to one of our citizens this
week and while it is worse than eating
wormwood to have to do this we would
rather do it than be sued for SANDER
because if we went into court we would
be acquitted anyhow, and 1t would cost
the other fellow considerable. Last
week we stated that Sheriff Greenland
took part in the theft Of a water melon,
and while we still think he is just as
guilty as the other fellews-because wa
saw him eating some of the melon
and he knew it had been swiped, tho
gentleman says he was not implicated
in the deal at all, and he further says it
was Justice Warner who committed the
act. As the Judge was forced to edit
the Lyceum News last winter he ought
to be excused. Editors, as rule, never
get water melens unless they swipe
them. With this explanation we hasten
t.. apologize to Mr.. Greenland, and can
assure him that it we said anything last
week that we ought to be sorry for we
are glad Of it. We want to do things
right.
Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1894-09-14

1t is very evident from present in
dieations that the republican state
sicket will be elected this fall, but it
must be thoroughly understood that
In order to make a sure thing of it,
the republicans Of the state have got
to do some rustling as the populists
have strong ticket and it will not
be a walkaway by any means. We
want to see a clean campaign this
tall, and while we should like to see
the state 60 republican, and believe
that it will, yet we urge upon repub-
aiesns to be on the alert and let all
ltay.at-homcs get out and vote, for
every vote will be necessary in order
70 win. The battle will be a hot one
md contested inch by inch,
Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1894-09-14

The populists are continually
hoasting about reform and how they
would curtail expenses and cut down
saxes if they were only in power.
They have been in power for the
past eighteen months in this state
and we would like to ask why it is
that the state board of equalization,
composed of the governor, attorney
general, and auditor, and eight other
men appointed by the governor, have
Increased the valuation OF the state
10 that the tax payers OF the six Red
River Valley counties will have to pay
S42,25o.o2 this year more than here
ee.ore. Five-sixths of this increase
IL on farm lands.
Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1894-09-14

Returns from the state election in
Vermont show the republican major
ity to te 27,31o and a plurality of
28,353. The following is an analy-
sis: Republican vote tn 1894, 49,
1856; 1890, 33,4g2 democratic, 1880
and 1888. A republican gain of
o,274 and democratic loss of ,o64.
The senate is republican on a unit
AMI the house stands, republicans
233; democrats 9; populist, 1.