Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-05
AMHERST TRAGEDY.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF
SHERIFF. j. Il. BEARD
FOR The KILLING OF ]. H. PARR
Twenty-Odd Witnesses Examined
story of Both EncOunters-The JUS
tice Decides 1t Was a Clear Case
OF SeIf-Dcfence.

AMHERST, VA, May 4.-(Special)-
Sheriff John p. Beard had to-day a pre-
liminary hearing on the charge of shoot
ing John II. Parr on the 18th of April.
In the absence of Captain Edgar White
head Squire Irving. from a neighboring
district, presided. There were two war
rants-one charging Mr.. Beard with a
felonious assault on John Parr and the
other charging him with the homicide
Lewis Campbelb was the first witness
examined by the prosecution. He testi-
fled that on the evening of the 18th Of
April he and several other gentlemen.
including Sheriff Beard, were sitting on
the porch of the Central Hotel in this
village, when Parr rode by on horseback.
They ali spoke to him, and nothing
further occurred at the time. About hf-
teen minutes later Parr returned, and
taking witness aside, asked him who
spoke to him as he passed a little while
before. Witness told him they all spoke
to him. He then asked: Did Beard
speak 10 me?" Witness told him that he
did. Parr said Beard had no right 10
speak TO him, and, growing excited, began
TO speak louder, using offensive epithets
toward Beard loud enough. witness
thought. for Beard to hear Beard. COM
ing UP at this time, and Parr addressing
himself to him with insulting language,
inquired of him what he meant by speak
ing TO him. Beard replied that he
was in the habit Of speaking to every
body. Parr continued his violent lam
guage. and Beard told him that he Par)
had told enough id lies on him TO give
him right to speak 10 him, but 10 go of,
that he didn't want 10 fight him, as he
was an old man. Parr then commenced
throwing stones at Beard, throwing two
or three. possibly more, in the encounter,
with sufficient force TO have killed Beard
had they struck him. When Parr began
throwing stones Beard struck him with
his fist, and during the fight Beard knock
ed. or rather pushed, Parr down sew
eral times. Parties then separated them.
Parr having been much wOrsted in the
encounter.
OTHER WITNESSES.
Lewis Campbell was corroborated by
Thomas ID. Campbell, w. b. Rucker,
George w. Hunter, and several others
who were eye-witnesses of the first en-
counter. While it was testified that
knocked or had fallen down, all denied
that he stamped him. as had been re-
ported.
n. S. Jennings was then put on the stand
as witness of the second fight, in which
pistols were used. He testified that a
short while after the first fight Parr went
up the street in the direction of Judge
Campbelrs and returned in about an
hour. passing the scene of the first en-
counter He shortly afterwards returned
and took his seat on the Central Hotel
porch In a few minutes Beard came down
the street from his livery stable in the
direction. of the Central Hotel.
COMMENCED FIRING.
When he got nearly opposite the hotel
Parr walked off of the porch in the direc-
ton OF Beard, drew his pistol and COM
menced firing Parr shot twice before
Beard shot at all. Shots then followed
i'm such rapid succession that IL was i'm
possible TO distinguish them.
James II. Williams, K. l.. Wood, lobe
Bowles, Bob Smith, and others testified
to the same effect.
GAVE WARNING.
NJ. 3. Coffey testified that seeing Parr
advancing on Beard with a drawn pistol,
he called out in warning: Look out,
John. Mr.. Parr is upon YOU" whereupon
Beard wheeled, drew his pistol as he turn
ed. and returned the fire, but not till after
Parr had shot twice. All OF the wit
nesses testified that Beard had made no
hostile demonstration till Coffey had call
ed TO him and Parr had shot once or
twice.
Dr. John Thompson testified that he
examined both men after the shooting.
Parr received two wounds-one, a slight
one In the leg, and one in the right lung
which ranged downward and entered the
abdominal cavity and caused his death.
Boards wounds were slight. but slight
detection of the ball in the stomach would
have meant death. Twcnty-odd witnesses
were examined. After hearing them, the
Justice stated that all the testimony was
one way. clearly proving self-defence. on