Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-05-04

murder was made. Elmer Britt and others
went out to hunt her. l did not think
much Of the story told by Bradford until
the party returned with the hat and club.
r. K. Back was at MI. Painters 1.-THE
place where Spiller said he went), saw
prisoner there early in the night Prisoner
went away. staid there till IL O'Clock
and he had not returned.
THE CLUB IDENTIFIED.
Joseph Bowers, an employee at the Wag-
on works. identified the club found in the
field, as belonging to Spiller. When Spill
lei was making it, he told witness it was
for man at Pinchtown named Lewis.
sPILLER DID NOT REACH PAINTERS
TILL A. NJ.
Jacob s. Painter testified that Spiler
came to his house Saturday night about s
O'Clock, staid half hour and left, saying
he had been invited out to play cards. He
came back shortly after, and said a man
had insulted him, and he would have to eat
his words OIL he (Spiller) would go TO h
that night for him. Spiller then left and
witness did not see him till near morning.
Spiller called him about day light and ask
ed if he had left his pipe there. The wit
ness told him he thought the train had
killed something in the cut, as it had stop
ped, and he was going over to see what it
was. Spiller went with him as far as the
bridge. Near there they saw the Rowes,
Swartz and others gathered around some
thing. Spiller left the bridge and went home
saying he did not care to see such sight
as the murdered girl. Witness identified
the burned clothing found at Spiller's house
as that Spiller had on when he came to wit
ness house Saturday night. 1t was not
muddy then, but when S. came again in the
morning the clothing was wet and muddy
about the arms, legs and knees.
ANOTHER TALE FROM THE PRISONER.
Sheriff N. G. Watts identified the coat,
hat, and bludgeon which he got Sunday
morning. The coat with it's blood stains
was handed around to the jury. MI. Watts
said he got the clothing from stove in
Spiller's home where they were being burn
ed. He also identified fragment of a
blood-stained shirt as having been gotten at
the same time. At the jail, Spiller volun-
tarily told him that he was in a bad fix,
and wanted to tell him all about it. He
said Rowe had invited him up to play
cards. That he went and played four
games. From there he went to Painter s
and staid all night. Spiller told about
staying at Painters all night, before MI.
Meade F. White. Again, on Monday, just
before being brought into court, Spiller
sent for witness, saying he wanted witness
to hear all about the affair. Witness took
MI. Lickliter along as witness, and went
to the prisoner. Spiller then said that
Wiley Lewis had borrowed his clothes
Saturday night and gotten them bloody,
and he wanted witness to arrest Lewis.
Witness, when he examined the field
Sunday morning, found hair pin and a
part of a woman's stocking,.and also some
knee prints, and marks where a scuff1e had
taken place. The ground seemed to be
paved up. The tracks around were made
before the rain; they fitted the shoes of
Spiller perfectly.
sPILLER7s STRENGTH.
Alex. Lushbaugh, who works at the
wagon works, testified that Spiller was a
very strong man, could handle as much as
any two men at the works, and could east
ly lift 600 pounds.
ANOTHER STORY FROM SPILLER.
Chief of Police, ]. FL. Waters testifi-
ed that Spiller said he was innocent and
could prove his whereabouts; said he stay
ed all night at Painters house, played
cards, and knew nothing of the murder till
Painter woke him Sunday morning, and
proposed they should both go to the scene
Of the murder: said he had made the cud-
gel for a man down neal the shops but had
kept it at his house for the past week; said
his hat had blown off during the storm and
he could not find it; said he went up twice
to Rowe's and drank whiskey there; re-
turned then to Painters, played cards
there, and then slept in chair all night.
All this statement was made voluntarily
by the prisoner.
MURDERED GIRL.
| Charles Bradford testified that he was at
John Rowe's Saturday night. Got there
about 'clock and found several men, in
Guiding John Rowe, Joseph Rowe and Spill
LEI. Spiller left about fifteen OF twenty
| five minutes before Lottie and 1. When /
got out of the door | saw some one stand.
ing outside near the fence Lottie remarked
that it was Swartz, but when he came by
the lighted window I could see that it was
tive, but 1 do not think it was white
man. Soon after that we heard short
quick steps behind us. We had gotten to
the middle Of the overhead bridge when ]
got blow on the right side of my head
which staggered me. 1t was followed up
with another blow on the left side and the
man then pitched me oyer the bridge. Lot
tie was knocked down and cried, "Oh
Lord Oh Lord ~ I then became uncon-
scious and heard nothing else. When I
came to, I heard the train coming and star
ted towards it in dazed condition. When
[ fully recovered my senses I went back to
John RoWe's and gave the alarm. They
discredited my story, but at last made up g
party to go with me in search Of the girl.
Our party went to the bridge and seeing
nothing there, went to Joseph Rowe's. We
asked if she was there and Lottie IS mother
said she was not and we must tell her to
come home from John ROWe'S. We said
nothing to her about Lottie being lost, but
went back tc John Rowe's bunting al the
way and reported that we could not find
Lottie. They said the girl must have gone
would be looking for her. We then went
home and went TO bed, Did not know
| ANYTHING ahnnf the ui1l q daath I'LL next