Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-10-24
HELD FOR THE GRAND JURY
VIM Robinson and George jackson.
Charged with the Murder Of John
Lockiey, Heard Before JUS
tice Mesmer. william
French Released.

ui' hooinson ana george JACK
son, colored, who were arrested Oct.
18th, together with VIM. French,
COL, charged with being implicated
In the murder of John Lockley (col. },
whose mangled body was found on
the n. & w. Railroad track near
Pigeon Hill @ miles south of Berry
ville) on the morning of Oct. 9TH,
were held by Magistrate Mesmer to
await the action of the grand Jury
in hearing before him last Friday.
The warrant against the third prison
er, French, was dismissed by the JUS
tice upon the recommendation of
Commemorative Attorney Lewis
who is satisfied that the colored boy
is not connected with the crime.
The courthouse was we'll filed.
colored people predominating, who
are still manifest!ng a great interest
In the murder of Lockley. They seem
to be divided in sentiment as to the
guilt or innocence of the parties in
the prisoners box. The Common
wealth was represented by Common
wealth's Attorney Lewis, and Mr..
Charles NJ. Broun appeared for Rob-
inson. The other prisoners were not
represented before the Magistrate.
Robinson and Jackson showed much
nervousness during the trial.
About % or so witnesses were
summoned by both the Common
wealth and the defense, and only
one-third of them were examined.
the defense deciding not to introduce
any testimony. The evidence at this
trial made clear some vague illusions
in the testimony at the inquest to
difficulties between Lockley and
Robinson and Lockley aud Jackson,
aud pointed circumstautially to the
two prisoners as being the chief cul-
prits in the death of Lockley.
The evidence shows that Locklev
and Jackson had fracas in the
road leading to the house from the
pike in the early part of the dance,
IN which Jackson had Lockley down
and made threat to kill him if be
did't lay still. After this Jackson
was knocked out by Jonas Thompson
and laid beside fence some Yards
from the house, and it is not known
whether he left the dance and re-
turned or not but he was still on the
the ground beside the fence when
some of the witnesses left the dance
for home, after the train that ran
over Lockley went by. jackson had
an ugly cut on his forehead, which
is said to have been inflicted at the
dance when he was knocked out.
Bad blood is said to have been exist
ing between Lockley and Jackson
for some time, and one witness testi-
ties that when Jackson, returning
home from the dance. came to Lock-
ley's leg, severed from the BODY and
laying alongside the track, he picked
1t up and said with an oath that che
ought to have been in h-long ago"
The evidence against Robinson is
stronger than that against Jackson.
1t shows that the prisoner and the
murdered man had a fight at the
dance, in which Robinson struck at
Lockley with stick, the blow being
wsrded off, and after this Locklev
advanced on Robinson who said
"stand-back" and then threw q stone.
missing Lockley and hitting another
man. Lockley and Lewis Jackson
were together, and the former then
made threat to kill against Robin
son, who ran, and as be got over the
fence, said, never mind, I'll get
you before morning"
Lookley, with Lewis jackson, and
two white men-Lewis Smallwood
and Steve Bolden-left the dance the
former riding Jackson's horse.
Lockley rode ahead of the white
men and at Pigeon Hill had a con-
versstlon with Robinson (not known
whether pleasant or unpleasant in
front of the latter's home. Their
talking attracted the attention of the
people in the house, and Robinson's
mother asked her husband Geo. Car
teri to call her son within. Benz.
Eliot, who was IN the house at the
time, recognized the voices as Lock
ley's and Robinson's, and when be
left be said Robinson passsd him