Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-11-09
TAZEWELL. VA. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER g. 1899.

! was not there. told his wife had shot
Hiram and wanted her to take little
rope, and 60 up there and bind it around
his leg above the wound, and tie stick
in it and twist it as hard as she could fas-
ten it, that wanted to go for the doctor.
l saw that she hesitated, and told her
My God, 90 on. | then went to Chafe
Fortner's house. ! told there the same
thing. Theie was no man there. Mr.
Fortner was away. l then went from
there across the corntield to the switch
barn, thinking l might find there man,
Price, who is lumber agent and stays
there most of the time. He was not there.
I then came out to the road and crossed
over some little distance this way when |
met Ed. Peery. l called him and said:
"Ed., have shot Hiram accidentally in
the grave yard field, go for the doctor as
quickly as you can for Gods sake, for the
nearest" Doctor Gillespie was the near
est. l then hurried on home. told my
wife in as few words as possible the Cir
cumstances. l told her was going up to
deliver myself to the authorities. l
thought l would go over to Mrs. Peery's
to relieve her. There came, as | after
wards learned a man by the name of Ca
sey. He was tearing by very rapidly on
his horse. halloed and said, you needn't
90 any further, l have sent for doctor,
but he didn't halt at all. He waived at
me and said, am going to attend to you
or get doctor for you, SO paid no more
attention. Presently then l came on TO
town walking didn't feel able to ride.
I walked as fast as l could. had gotten
to DR.. Gildersleeve's when met Mr.. Al
derson and Sheriff Crockett. Gentlemen,
so help me God, this is the regret of my
life. 1 had no idea of shooting that man.
1t was purely accidental
Mr. Martin was subjected to a rigid
cross examination by the Commonwealth
Attorney, but did not waiver in his state
ment as first given. DIR Isaac Pierce, who
had gone in response to Mr.. Martins mes
senger to try to save the life of Hiram
White, had testified prior to Mr.. Martin as
to the nature of the wound, and his testi-
mony showed clearly that the wound
could not have been made otherwise than
by an accidental discharge of the gun. At
the conclusion of Mr.. Martins statement
there was no doubt in the mind Of every
intelligent listener that Hiram White had
come to his death in the manner detailed
by the witness, and that it was the result
of an accident for which the unfortunate
dead man was alone responsible.
A few witnesses, gentlemen OF the high
est chal acter in the community, testified
to the character of Mr. Martin, all of them
uniting in saying that lie was gentle,
quiet and most worthy gentleman, and
did not meddle with other persons affairs.
After the introduction of some rebut-
tai evidence by the Commonwealth the
case was submitted to the Justices. In a
short time they announced their decision,
acquitting Mr.. Martin of all blame and
dischareing him from custody.
As we have before said Mr.. Barnse Gil
lespie made the strongest case possible for
the Commonwealth, fully discharging his
duty as its representative. The defence
was conducted with the best judgment
by the able gentlemen who acted as coun-
sci, they all the time insisting upon ard
treating the shooting as purely accident
al affair.