The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-02
THE TRIAL OF SPILLER BEGUN
Damaging Evidence AdduCed BY The
Commonwealth.
THAT SIDE HAS CLOSED IT'S CASE.
Physician and other Witnesses Describe
the Horrible Wounds of Lottie Rowe.
Troops s.ilI on Duty at s'aunton.

Troops s.iII on Duty at staunton.
sTAUNTON. VA, May Special
This has been a day OF great excitement
and intense interest in the trial Of the
Spiller murder case.
An night the military were on duty.
All night the loyal soldier Of the Com
monwealth walked his appointed round
and the citizens slept with feeling Of
security.
The prisoner was again brought from
iail between lines Of soldiers, with loaded
muskets and fixed bayonets, escorted by
the deputies ard police.
Court met promptly at S:5) O'Clock.
The eager crowd filed every space. ana
door-ways. lodges o. windows, ana every
thing 10 which man or boz could cling
was occupied and held throughout the
day.
THE DEAD GIRL.
Or. 4. NJ. Henkel was the first wit
ness called for the Commonwealth. His
description of the body and its appear
ance chilled the blood OF the stolte5t
hearts.
on the head They were five I'm number.
any two Of which would have produced
death. one back Of the left ear, one over
the left eye. one over the right eye. one
on the right side Of the head and TIE
ton Of the skull badly crushed and de-
pressed. These last two wounds produced
death. and from the one on top Of the
head brain substance escaped. The bloody
bone from the wound on the right Of the
head. and the bloody rock with which
the cruel blow was given, were exhibited
In court The stone filed the wound cX-
actly.
The girl had been badly choked and
the throat was bruised from ear 10 ear.
The face alone escaped the effects Of the
murderous attack. The testimony OF
other witnesses disclosed the fact that an
the parties were on Saturday night
drunk and car0usng. and a number of
Witnesses covered the same ground.
rHE PRISONERS srATEMENTs.
The prisoners several statements have
not agreed He told one party that he
staid all night a mans named Paynter,
to another. that he would make a man
eat his words
To Sheriff Watts he said: II want to
tell you all about this. am in a bad
hx. | lent my clothes 10 Willie Lewis,
and he wore them, so If there Is blood
on them he can tell about it,
The evidence disclosed the fact that
the poor girl was dragged 1874 feet 20
the place where the criminal assault was
made. and il Is clear that IL occurred
before he killed her. After the struggle
he took her % the railroad track and
there murdered her.
urs GREAT PEowrss.
Mr. Beck. manager of the Bodley
Wagon Works said Spilier could lift as
much as any two men I'm the place. He
has seen him lift 6lj pounds. dead
weight. and said Spiler was a good hand
and worked faithfully but got drunk
every Saturday night
Rosa Brown was put on the stand by
the State Had lived with SpiIer three
wears. She identified Spiller's hat, coat,
pan.s and all his clothing A piece OF
bloody undershirt she said she cut from
Spillar's shirt: ne told her 10 do it. Burnt
his other shirt. which had blood ON II,
and his clothes also. She said 90 Spuler
.\Vh3t rs that blood on your shirt He
said. III you think there is anything on
that shirt you had better burn IT,
rUr Cr7f,tD SVrArTU tIa-fr
The Commonwealth here rested IT'S
case. and the court adjourned until .
o'clock tomorrow morning.
The defence has not yet indicated that
II will have any testimony or whether
they will put the prisoner on the stand
IN A HURaY TO I'D II.
There was q ripple Of excitement and
many heated expressions Of dis7pprovai
that the court declined 10 sit tonight and
finish mp the case. II may not even be
argued.
The troops are still on duty and while
everything is quiet. yet all good citizens
feel that the presence Of the soldiers
has good ana wholesome effect. The
prisoner displays wonderful firmness, but
is nervous.
The saloons have been open to-day.
Rusiuess has been practically suspended
and crowds of country people have spent
the entire day in town TO witness the
trial
The case will close tomorrow, and it
is hoped the tension viii be relieved.
SOME or THE MILITARY LEAVING.
All quiet here at II 30 tonight. The
authorities have deemed it safe TO return
the military from Charlottesville and
Harrisonburg The Guards left this af-
ternoon at 2:l0. The Monticello Guards
leave tomorrow at 800 \. NJ The jail
and an its approaches Is guarded by ou-
home company, the West Augusta
Guards. They viii be on duty all night