Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-09-22
COMMONWEALTH VS. MOORE.
WOODSTOCK, VA, Sept. l6, 800.


ly the local reports ofalleged crimes
and the preliminary trials, especially
when counsel for the prisoner.
The marked misreport Of the Smith
matter in your local columns
of the paper as of Sept 10Th, con-
straines me as counsel 10 undertake
to give a correct version Of the mat
ter, the evidence from full notes
made at the time of preliminary tr1ai
before the Mayor of Woodstock, l
do this because the crime charged is
one punishable with death or conhne-
ment in the Penitcnliary from five to
ten [5-lO] years. The jury list,
grand and petit is made largely up
of the readers OF the HERALD, al
most the first thing they read is
crimes and trials and hence the i'm
portauce of correct reports.
SMITHS STATEMENT on OATH.
| was awakened about ii O'Clock
Friday night. Sept. 9th, 1899 by
noise and screaming, got my pistol,
called for Phil Jackson, who was up
stairs, | found Perse Moore in the
outer room, he had broken off the
wooden button off the back door and
he was standing still in the room, l
rushed at him and grabbed him by
the right shoulder with my right
hand and with pistolin hand saidPerse
what are you doing here, give an ac
count ofyourselfo or | will shoot you,
Just then the pistol accidentally went
off. | then took Perse by the throat
and beat him over the head with the
butt of my pistol, up to this time
Perse had said nothing aud done
nothing, the blows rather staggered
him. then we clinched got OIL the
floor, got over in the corner both
AGAINST the wall, the light went out
that my wife was holding and when
we both had hold Of each other,
Perse cut me on the head with his
pocket knife, | cried for help, | wa;
bleeding LIZZIE Mayberry followed
bv Phil jackson came down stairs
Perse had my head under his arm
and I had hold of Pcrse. LIZZIE had
the lamp She took hold, he pushed
her away and he said | will 60 OUT
my wife opened the front door, and
he started TO run out | grabbed hin
by knapc of neck and seat of breach
IS and thew him out the door, ano
Lizzie threw hammer ut him. Perse
Jumped the fence and that was the
asst seen of him. lie and Perse were
good friends and close neighbor'
living about 30 or 40 feet apart
This is Smiths statement, there were
several witnesses but none to the
fight except Smiths wife, she sub
sianteatcd live witness.
TIE PRISONERS STATEMENT.
1 was pretty drunk, been dowr
street lac, it was dark and raining
and storming, when l started fol
home, went in the yard thinking II
was home, knocked at the door, and
sat down, it began to rain hard,
thought | was at our house and went
around to the back door | fell OF
pushed against the back door it flew
open. l went in and then Smith rush
ed at me pistol in hand, his wife with
lamp, Smith said, PerSe give an -
count of yourself or l will blow your
diam heart out Of you, | said, | ask
pardon, am in the wrong house, he
then shot at he and grabbed me by
the throat and choked re, and hit
me over the head with the burt OF
pistol, he staggered me, we clinched
and got back in the corner. | had
with one arm his head under my arm,
he still! striking me, then | drew my
pocket knife and cnt HIM. ! was
weak from blows, and up to this time
had offered no resistance, l wanted
to get out, but had to defend my
self; as soon as got loose | started
TO 60 out and Smith pushed Inc out,
l put my hand on the low pailing
fence and jump ed oyer. Inever got
out ny knife until he shot at me,
choked me, lit me over the head
with pistol.
NIB. DR.. Irwin dressed the heads
of both. Perse first. There was
other evidence but not as to the
house scene reported.
l ask as simple justice that the fore
going stat ement be published, 1t is a
full and fair statement of Smiths and
Moore's evidence, on it the Judge Of
the County Court was willing to bail
the Prisoner in the sum of $500.
I repeat again had your reporter
been present at the trial, no such re-
port would have been published, but
it has gone forth and fairness needs
correction.
Respt.
JAS. II. WILLIAMS.