The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-24
rnl rAzhwnLA MuRDIR cAsz.
The Trial Commenced Alter Several Post.
,ouem.uts History of the Crime.

Y
TAZEW ELL. VA" July - spcciaL-The
case OF the CommonwealtA agaiu-l -. ..
douglass. Tor tuc ml4.,l ol d. tramp on
Ricn Mountain. this county. ON the nrst
dav of February last, was commenced in
The county Court yesterday. This case
has been continued two on three times
from the absence of material witnesses,
but il seems now, al last, that the trial
has hgun.
The commonwealth is ably represented
bv the nrins OF Mf-srs. Barnes *
Barne,. and that OF Mcssrs Chapman d
Gillespie, OF this place, while the de-
fence is represented by Mr D. H. Long, Of
North Carolina Uhe home of the prisoner.
a.d by Messrs. a. j. * ). d.. May, OF this
place.
The defence rely principally ON estab-
fishing an allbi, and have some eight or
ten witnesses here from Aor,h Carolina,
for that purpose.
The principal point with the Common-
wealth. Is the identification of the pris-
Oner, as he was ava entire stranger in
this part Of the country ana was only
seen with the tramp peuer by a few
parties.
The story Of the crime is this bricnY.
On The first day OF February 1856. tramp,
Il man about siXty-Aye or seventy years
of AZ. passed through the county SOLE
INK butcher knives OF his OWn make Near
this place a man fell in with him. who
stated that he was from Elslorn. aud was
on his way TO North Carolina, aud as
both men were going W The same dl-
rcctiOn, they went along together. Near
the foot OF Rich Mountain. about six
miles from this place. the parties stopped
az "a house Of a Mr.. Ha-y. The pedler
tried 20 sell Mr. Hagy one OF DIS knives.
and in so doing displayed "a quantity of
money The podler wanted ~ stay there
that night as Ia was late JOB the day. but
his companion prevailed on him 10 cross
the mountain and stay with him at d
mans house whore DE bad stopped be-
fore. as they could reach that place lc-
fore night The pedier reluctantly agreed
and they started on. About thirty minutes
after they took their departure some shots
were heard ON the mountain. but ass shots
We're frequently heard on the mountain,
shots OF hunters. nothing was thought
OF r. That same evening. and % short
while after a man by the name of Meek
crossed the mountain ON horseback. De
saw a man lying beside the road. near the
ton Of the mountain. Tho man was lying
on his face and grooming Mr. Meek
thought De was only drunk ana passed
on by That night Mr. Menks r.ling-hor-e
was stolen. and as Doe came oil back to-
wards Tazcweu from IFS home. in Burk s.
Garden. in company with another man
looking for his horse. they found The man
lying boo the same pi8ceas The night bee
fore. aud found that ho was dend. with
two pistol shots m his head and one in
his side. He also had wound made hy
some blunt instrument n fhe back OF his
head IL was supposed that the same man
that murdered the psdler stole the morse
of Mr. Meek The horse was afterwards
found near Marion. after having been
ridden nearly 10 death. AMI this same man
seen with the horse thar Was seen With
the pedler This man Douglass was FOL
! lowed 20 North Carolina and arrested
and brought 10 this place and lodged BOO
| iau. The Commonwealth witnesses seen
positive that this is or. and the same
man. while the defence sav they viii
prove beyond q shadow of o. doubt that
their prisoner Was in North Carolina on
the Same day the murder was commit
ted. The people are much wrought ur
/ over the fact. and are watching the trial
with interest. II Douglass is the man
they want him 90 pay the full penalty OF
! the law. II they prove him innocent q
verdict of acqgitta' wiI be as earnestly
! desired.