Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-05-18

Was the Murder Of James BARLEY In a
Carriaue Tuesday Morning.

was the Murder Of James Barley In a
Carriage Tuesday Moraing.
i James BARLEY. an employee at Bur-
nett's livery stable, was killed some
time early Tuesday morning in front
of Fishburne's drug store in Waynes-
boro. The body was brought back to
Staunton in the vehicle in which the
murder was committed. Squire Arch
Kinney was notified of the occurrence
and Immediately summoned the fol
lowing Coroner's jury to examine in
to the case-J. Luther Henderson, j.
A. Fauver, j. E. Todd, II. s. Hanger,
4 William Lawrence and A. j. Livick.
After examining the body at the
stable, the jury returned to the office
of the magistrate where the testimony
was taken.
Gilmore Britt. one Of the party testl-
fed that on Monday night about mid
night he hired a team from Burnett's
stable. He was accompanied by his
wife, Lucy Britt, Luther Rowe, Mrs.
Emma Langley and by James BARLEY,
the driver. They drove to Basic City
and coming back to Waynesboro,
when opposite Fishburne's drug store
Rowe and BARLEY had some words
when BARLEY cursed Rowe, then Rowe
struck Barley several times with
his fist. Britt stopped the vehicle
and put Rowe out telling him
if be wanted to fight he would have to
do it in the road. BARLEY did not ap-
pear to be much hurt. Witness gave
him water and wiped blood from his
nose with his wife's handkerchief.
Some time after witness spoke to Bart
| ley and getting no answer went to him
| and found him dead. He then drove
ON to Staunton getting here between
six and seven o'clock.
Mrs. Lucy Britt testified in about
the same way, except in regard to the
handkerchief which she said she had
lost in the surry. When the handker
chief was produced she said it was
hers. She testified that when Britt
said BARLEY was dead she told him to
feel his heart, which he did and re-
ported that he was dead.
Mrs. Emma Langley, another one OF
the party gave about the same testi-
mony as the preceding witnesses. One
different statement was that they only
went as far as Waynesb0re. She also
testified that they had bottled beer in
the vehicle, and that the bottles were
thrown out after BARLEY was found
to be dead. She did not know who
threw them out.
Rowe. who had been left at Way
nesboro, according to the testimony,
was arrested by Deputy Sheriff E. o.
Carr, and brought to Jail hero. Rowe
was making his way to Staunton when
arrested.
On Wednesday morning DR.. B. NJ.
Atkinson testified that he had made
a post mortum examination of Bart
ley's body. Found no injury except
on head, the skull was not frac-
tured. On opening the skull found
the temporal muscle beaten to jelly.
The brain was covered with clothed
blood extending to the base of the
brain. Said death was caused by great
external force. The absence of any
scar or cut suggested the use of a
sand bag.
DR.. J. B. Catlett corroborated the
statements OF DIR. Atkinson, and said
the wound was caused by the applica-
ton of great outside force, and that if
the fist was used it would show evil
dences of injury.
After hearing the evidence the c0r0-
ner 3 jury found that deceased came
to his death at the hands of Luther
Rowe who struck him with weapon
unknown to the jury.
Magistrate Kinney fixed on Wednes-
day next as the time for the prelimi-
nary trial. Britt was released on his
own recognizance.
BARLEY is q man of middle age about
IS years old and was the father of a |
large family. His funeral took place
Wednesday morning from the United
Brethren church at 10 o'clock.
Luther Rowe. the boy who is said to
have committed the crime il a delicate
looking boy about Is or 10 years of
age.