Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-23
The Eastman Case.

neuCc OF the parties, hut |'rau~' "'
the number and prominence OF tn"
attorneys employed,
Col. Eastman, formerly t"ntrd'
crate scout under Mo~by, went to
Tucker county after the War and set
tied down i'm the mountains, - com
paratiVc stranger. His force Of char
aCtcr soon impressed itself upon tn"
people by whom he was surrounded
and he became a power in the land.
| Some years ago Col. Thompson a
wealthy lumber dealer from the
State of Maine came into Tucker
county. and engaged in the lumber
business. \ friend Of Eastman got
! into some trouble Ola rather delicate
nature and was found guilty under Il
charge of baStardy after trial in
| Court. During the trial last Spring
on attempt was made to ta'tCn the
quasi criminal charge upon friend
of Thompson's. EaStham's friends
numcrOuSly pctiOuCd the Court to
aCquit his friend OF the charge. The
| Court summoned about forty of
them to appear and answer for con-
tempt. On the day Of appearance,
! Thompson took great pleasure in rid
iCuling these people. This cnragcd
Eastman, who declared that ThOmp.
son should not return homo ON the
same train with them. 1t would
have been better for all concerned if
Thompson had not attempted To go
on the same train, but being fear
less man he would not yield to a
threat.
When the train at Parsons was
about to leave the depot Thompson
entered the car and took his scat
about half way down from the door.
Eastman entered soon after, and as
he passed Thompson he cursed him,
slapped his face, and passed on to
the rear end of the car. Thompson
got up drew his pistol, approached
him, fired twice wOunding him in
the side and slightly in the head
Eastman in attempting to draw his
pistol got it tangled in the lining of
his coat pocket. So he fired the pis-
tOl, as he SwOre before the jury, with
his hand in his pocket, the first shot
striking the floor. The next shot
struck Thompson in the bowels from
the effect Of which he died the next
day.
a grand jury was cmpannellcd
and there was much excitement, but
the jury returned AN indictment for
involuntary man slaughter. This
disgustcd the Court; the prosecute
ing attorney entered Il nG!!c - IL"
indictment and empannclled another
grand jury. 1t is significant of the
stale of public feeling in the county
and the influence Of Eastham's
friends that this second grand jury
refused to find any indictment
against him. A third was sum
moncd, and under, the instructions
of Judge Holt, found an indictment
for murder in the first degree.
Before the time of trial arrived,
however, Judge Dent Of the Supreme
Court, granted a temporary writ of
prohibition to prevent the Circuit
Court from trying the case under the
last indictment. But when the mat
ter came up for final hearing in the
Supreme Court some weeks later the
writ Of prohibition was annulled.
Accordingly, at the recent term Of
the court Eastman was brought TO
trial, four days having been con-
sumed in getting jury.
The trial lasted shout two weeks and
drew immense crowds to the Court
House. For the State, in addition
to the prosecuting attorney, Hon.
John j. Davis, Of Clarksburg, Hon.
\. q. Dayton NJ. c. of Philippi, and
John Howard of Wheeling appeared
and for the accused Mr.. Mccormick
Of Virginia, Col. w. w. Arnett, of
Wheeling and c. Wood Daily of FL.
kins were the leading attorneys.
The jury, after an absence from
the court room of about three hours,
brought in verdict for involuntary
manslaughter, the punishment for
which is "A fine or confinement in the
county Jail, The verdict was doubt
less great disappointment TO Judge
Holt who sentenced Eastman to two
years close confinement in the county
Jail.
DORR UNDER ARREST From a
private letter written by a gentle
tleman in Washington city to cIti-
zen Of Monroe county we are per.
mitted To make the following extract:
Congressman {. II. DOrr WAS ar.
rested at the Washington Barracks
for disorderly conduct the night be-
fore Congress met. He was drunk
rs he could be. You people ought
To hang him when he comes back"
Our very honorable and honoring
Republican Congressman supple.
mcnts the Pullman car episode in
handsome style, truly. Drunk and