Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-22
WOMAN SAW MURDER.
THE KILLING OF WILLIAM VAN
OVER IN pIcKEssoS COUNTY.
HOW CONVICTION SECURED.
ars. Noah vnno~cr md Her Little
Daughter Witnessed the Crime
from Across Tao Rivcr-wiisoa
Bryant Found Guilty.
HOW CONVICTION SECURED.
Bryant Found Guilty.

FREEZING. VA, November Z.-tSpe-
ciaL1-Thc trial of Wilson Bryant. who
has Just been convicted OF murder in the
first degree, for assisting in the killing
OF William Vanovcr. lasted only about
two days. The crime was committed on
Monday evening, November 10th. and on
Monday evening. the 18th. the jury return
&c a verdict Of murder In the first de-
gree,
The crime by which William Hanover
lost his life was committed on Pound
river. about four miles west Of the town
OF Clintwood. The two Bryants, Wilson
an6 Jol-l, were charged with the homicide
and lodged In Jail. This was the most
horrible crime ever committed within the
limits OF Dickinson county. The Bryants
we're being prosecuted for numerous Of
fences under the laws of the State of
Kentucky, and William Nanover was the
chief prosecuting witness against them.
which fact engendered malice In them
against him. On Monday morning, Van
over came across Cumberland mountain
the line between the two States on some
business, when he met the Bryants near
their brother Barve Bryant's. where they
we're staying, having left Kentucky on &C
a WOMAN SAW-TfJE MURDER.
II is not known just how the trouble
arose. but Mrs Noah Hanover and her
little daughter were at their home on a
high bluf which overlooks the scene OF
the trouble. and their statements fur
;sished the main evidence upon which the
Commonwealth had TO rely. Mrs. Vanover
was in the house when her little daughter
very excitedly called TO her that some
persons We're killing a man on the
other side Of the river. The woman of
once ran out into the yard. She saw a
man crawling along the road on his hands
ana knees, IS II badly crippled or dis
abled, and trying to escape further vio-
lence at tho hands Of the assassiT3s. She
saw one of the two men run round before
him. Il trying to head him off. The
wounded man dropped upon or near a
Tat rock by the roadside. The woman and
little girl saw one Of the men take some
thing from the other. which looked bright
like the pistol which the Bryants had
when taken into custody. The ASSISTANTS
were also seen going through some mo-
lions which the witnesses described rs
The reloadng OF the weapon. Then ore
man harded the weapon 10 the other. VINO
fred three shots into the almost lifeiess
form upon the rock, which, after a few
-oryulsive shudders Of the shoulders and
limbs, cea sed to move, Next the vile
perpetrators OF the fonl deed left the
scene and came nearer TO the witnesses.
Il WIS then that the laworeakers were
recognized as the Bryants. The accused
claimed that Hanover attacked Wilson,
ana that they had 10 act in self-defence,
but the circumstances do not bear out this
statement.
THE LAWYERS ENGAGED.
The prosecution was represented by
John c. Smith, Commemorative attor- 4
nev. and Hr. o. NJ. Wears. of Wise. and
the defence by R. S. McFall. of Clintwood,
and W. G. Dotson, Of Wise. The jury
was taken to the scene Lef fiae crime to
view the grounds. Several hours were TAX
n ND in arguing the case, Mr.. Wears clos !
ing in 2 mastery speech of enc hour. The
Jury returned their verdict with thirty |
minutes.
a jury is being summoned for the trial |
Of John Bryant and doubtless the same /
verdict Will be returned in his case. as
was rendered in the case Of his brother