Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-11-09
MR.. GEO. A. MARTIN DISCHARGED.
The Shooting of Hiram White Was Acct
dental.


In our issue of last week we refrainec
from saying anything about the shooting
of Hiram White, which occurred on the
2Sth ult. This course was pursued be-
cause Of our close relationship to Mr. Geo.
A. Martin, who was accused of having
shot White Intentionally. We had heard
Mr.. Martins account of the incident and
we're satisfied the shooting was purely ac
cidental, but preferred to say nothing
about IT until there was full investigation
before proper tribunal.
On last Friday and Saturday, the 3rd
and 4th insts., there was thorough in
vestigation before Justices court, COM
posed of Justices Geo. w. Bandy, G. A.
Leece and w. L. Moore. The Common
wealth was strongly represented by MIR.
Barnes Gillespie, Commonwealth attor'
ney, and Mr. Martin was ably represented
by Messrs. Henry & Graham and May,
May & Smith. Mr.. II. g. Anderson was
also counsel for MIR. Martin, but because
of painful indsposition was unable to at
tend the trial, much to his own regret and
that of his friends. The examination Of
witnesses for the Commonwealth began
shortly before noon on Friday and was
concluded that afternoon.
On Saturday morning the court con-
vened at about nine o'clock and shortly
thereafter the witnesses for the defence
began to testify. About IL O'Clock Mr..
Martin went upon the witness stand and
in response 10 a question from his counsel
made the following statement:
@. Make your statement?
A. As preliminary to this "On Friday
morning, the day before the accident, l
had sadded my horse preparatory to conf
ing to town. My wife desired to run over
to her mother's-a very short distance
for few moments and asked me to re-
main with the children. did so, and
presently she returned. She remarked at
the time that she and Hiram had had
some little difference, but that Hiram had
left and that it was all over, everything
was all light; so gave it no further
thought and got on my horse and came to
town. The next morning-Saturday-I
went down through the fields and stopped
in the first corn field, which is 10 the west
of the main road and south Of the railroad.
[ had hunted through there some mo-
ments when l heard some one calling me.
The wind was blowing. saw colored
man by the name of Ambrose and boy,
Rotten by name. Ambrose informed mel
could not understand him exactly, went
closer, l gathered from him that there was
covey of birds up on the Bill Harman
place, that lie had seen them that very
morning. l did not know of the Pill Har-
man place | did not know that there was
Bill Harman place. ! did not know
when he mentioned the Bill Harman place
where it was l asked him the direction
and he pointed to me, showing me the line
fence, for | could see the fence up On the
hill. just got the idea that was the di-
recton. | thanked him and left. l hunt
ed around a little more and went on up
the railroad and there met Bllley Fortner
above the switch. / asked him where the
Bill Harman land was. He pointed in
the direction and told me up that hill.
asked him if there were any birds there.
He said yes. 1 went across the field where
he was, between the switch barn and his
house. ] went across there thinking
might scare up covey, but went in q
direct line and crossed through the hedge,
at small break in it, near pear tree, ]
went in that direct line across the road
and had gone over the fence and up came
on horse, little Ed, Peery. We stood
moment and talked about hunting.
asked him first where he was going, He