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

fragments Of WOman'S stocking. The
piece Of stocking at the place of scuffle was
OF the same texture and color as was after
wards found on the girls limb. 1 kept
guard at the fence and allowed no one TO
make tracks through the field. Fragments
OF flesh, hair, a part of a stocking and a
piece Of a red dress were seen by me ON the
second wire fence.
THE DEAD GIRLS COMPANIONS
TESTIFY.
Miss Nfanley recognized piece of cloth
that Lottie kept in her bosom to fill out her
corset with; had felt it in her bosom that
night. 1t was found inside of the first
wire fence.
Miss Ida Huntley confirmed this state
ment and said the cloth was an infants
wooden shirt.
sPILLER's GREAT STRENGTH.
MI. J. L. Beck of the BodIey Wagon
Works Co., had known the prisoner as an
employee for five OF six years. Had seen
him lift SIS pounds, and had heard that he
could lift 1,1O0 pounds. I regard him as
decidedly above the average in point of
strength. I called to see the prisoner soon
after he was put in jail, to learn of his case,
as he was one of our employees. I asked
him for detailed statement of his doings.
He said he left the works at 4:30 P. M. !;
came to town without getting any dinner,
and bought two quarts of whiskey; came
back home then, and then went to Pain
ter7s, and from there to Rowe's house
went twice before finding Rowe: then play
ed poker till II o'clock, when he returned
to Painters and spent the night there Sleep
ing in chair; knew nothing Of the crime
till Painter woke him and proposed to go
to the scene on the railroad.
A DEATH BLOW TO ALL HOPE FOR THE
PRISONER.
Rosa Brown, the cOlored mistress OF the
prisoner, was put on the stand. After a
spirited debate on various points between
the opposing counsel as to her eligibility as
witness, and other matters, the court deci-
ded she should testify. She identified the
hat found in the road) and the half burned
coat, pants, suspenders and vest found in
her home as Spiller1s I saw Spiller with
these clothes on Saturday night. Then 1
again saw him with them on Sunday morn
ing. When he came home Sunday morning
he went up stairs and changed his clothes.
When he came down with different clothes
on he said he had been up at Rowe's ali
night. l noticed a spot of blood on his
shirt and asked him about it: he said, ''If
you think anything is wrong about that
you had better burn that shirt" I replied
mo, I'll have nothing to do with it," IA
piece of blood stained cloth cut out of
shirt was handed witness]. This is piece
Of undershirt stained with blood that l
cut out of the shirt he now has on. |
burned the outer shirt. burned the clothes
because [ was scared and because the Off
GERS had come and arrested him, and also
because of what he had said about burning
the blood stained clothing. While l was
talking in the front porch that morning,
Spiller said he had heard that Lottie Rowe
was killed during the night. While we
were talking about it the police came down
from where the body was, and took him
away. Spiller was drunk when he came
home and then took two OF three more
drinks.
During the testimony Of this witness the
prisoners face showed plainly that he gave
up all hope.
THE CLOSING SCENE.
When the court reassembled Wednesday
morning the prisoner was required to stand
up and take off his coat to exhibit the place
in the sleeve of his shirt from which the
piece alluded to by Rosa Brown had been
cut. The hole in the sleeve was there.
After few remarks between counsel, it
was agreed to submit the case without
speeches on either side. The jury were out
just three minutes. When they got up
stairs they were unanimous on verdict,
and on their return to the court room the
foreman, Joseph Houseman, handed it to
the clerk, showing that "We, the jury, find
Lawrence Spiller alias Spillard guilty of
murder in the first degree as indicted
Mr.. Turk appealed to the court in the
name Of humanity to grant the prisoner
the longest time for preparation possible.
MI. White asked for the S0-days limit.
The court decided on Friday, June 9Th.
The prisoner was told to stand up, which
he did with great GOODNESS, resting his
hand on the back of chair, without a
| tremor.
The Judge asked the usual question if
he had anything to say why sentence should
not be passed?
The prisoner-"At this time? Well, if l
have got to go, just as soon go at this
time as any other.'
| The Judge then said to him that after a
fair trial and an able defence he had been
found guilty Of a brutal murder, and SEN
fenced him to be hung in the jail yard on
Friday, June 9Th.
When the officers We're Handwriting Spill
ler to take him back to jail, he said
"Where is that boot Of mine ?"
Mr.. J. l.. Bumgardner said s'Do you
want the boot 2" 1t was one that had been
used in evidence.
NO." replied Spiller, ~ don't want the
boot, but l want that bottle OF whiskey
that is in it bad. I'd like to have drink
of it.''
The boot had contained bottle Of whis-
key when found, and the bottle Is in the
clerk office with other things used in ev-
| idence.
AS Spiller was passing out of the court
touse door, he looked around on the GU
rious crowd watching for him, and said
good humoredly, "Well, goodbye, gentle
men, In a few minutes he Was back in
Jail. He was placed in a separate steel
cage up stairs, and soon the death watch
will be placed over him. There are to be