Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-08-03

Kyle also said that he might have
made the remark: HE ought to be
lynched."
P r. Davis said Sprouse drank q
g'ass of cider at his store the day of the
| shooting and from his actions he thought
he was drunk.
Edward Mossey and Robt Wilson.
colored, saw the shooting, and that
Boyd ran up behind Sprouse and held
him.
VIM. Strickler WAS positive that
Boyd had picked up and threw the first
} stone. This was a direct contradic.
sion of testimony offered nv the pros
} ecutinn. Mr.. StrickIer was riding by
in a wagon and watched the proceed
ings until he passed over and out of
sight of the men. He stated that Boyd
followed Sprouse to throw the stone
and that in his opinion Sprouse was
intoxicated. He was sharply cross
iexamined by the prosecution and made
to make an emphatic statement of the
facts as related by him.
Testimony relative to Boyd's char
acter was excluded after lengthy argu-
ment by counsel.
Frank Pleasant and John Wood. col
ored, testified along the line set forth
by previous witnesses.
James Hemp described the capture
of Sprouse after the shooting, and told
how he was treated.
r. N Newcomb said Boyd was a
stronger man and better developed
man than Sprouse. Question as to
character objected to. Never heard
Boyd use profanity.
! A number of questions asked James
Glover. were objected to, as were those
profounded to Luke Campbell.
Samuel Campbell, Ed b. Sutherland,
David Sutherland and D. M. Thomp-
son testified to Boyd's being a better
man physically than Sprouse.
Frank Sprouse, the prisoner, testified
that he lived across the hill from Port
land in Sprouse Hollow and was the
son of Jack and Frances oprouse. He
stated that he had no education and
could neither read nor write. H said
be was about 20 years of age, but was
not sure about it. SprOuse said that
on the morning of the murder he left
home after breakfast end arrived in
Fordwick at between eight and nine
O'Clock. His mission at F0rdwick was
to see about a parcel of freight which
his mother had ordered shipped to the
depot. Before leaving he drank a pint
of brandy, consuming it in about 20
minutes. After leaving the depot be
rode to Powell Davis store where he
drank quart OF hard apple cider. He
then exchanged wheels with Earl Miller
and rode around the store about half
hour, stating that though be was under
the influence of the liquor that be was
able to ride wheel while drunk. He
was in high spirits and said ne was
able to drink fright smart" He did
not remember seeing Newton Jordan,
julius Smith or W. P. Angus nor did
be know them by sight at that time.
These linen testified that they had heard
Sprouse say he was "going to get his
man that day." Sprouse said that be
might have made the remark but did
not remember saying it. He said he
met Julius Smith for the first time IN
jail where the latter was being detain-
ed as witness. Sprouse said he was
not after any man nor Gid ne want to
kill anybody. The pistol he carried be
Ionged to his brother-in law, John
Buchanan and that he had placed is in
his pocket the night before and forget
that he had it until after leaving home.
Sprouse said his acquaintance with
Boyd dated back to Boyd g first appear
ance at Fordwick and he met him first
at his mothers home where he visited
his sister, Lizzie, now Mrs. Pearl Rob-
inson. BOYD was visitor at the SprOuse
| home two or three times until be was
married. He then went on to say that
| previous to the killing he had never had
any fuss with Boyd. and that the re-
| orence made to his threat in regard to
''getting Boyd some day" at the time
of bis arrest by Deputy Bucher was
untrue. And that be did not think
| BOYD was the informant that led to his
arrest but that in his opinion it was
"Buz Montgomery. He said he never
had reason to believe Boyd told on him
and that he never named him either.
He said that he went to the cOmmls
sary after being at Davis store and
that Boyd was eating strawberries.
He heard Boyd say, I've a notion to
throw these strawberries in your face" "
He applied the remark to himself an
swering damn you, you'll have to
show me.n He did not hear Boyd make
any answer, but couldn't say that he
Ibid not as he was drunk at the time
and couldn't walk straight. Sprouse
then walked into the cOmmissary and
purchased cartridges, bis entry into
and out of the store with a number OF
other incidents being the same as was
told by several witnesses. After some
conversation with Charles Grant he
q started toward the office on his bicycle.
He fell off and came back to the COM
missary to get another start when DC
had words with Boyd but did not re-
g member what they were. He then made
another start and again fell off Al
this time he declared Boyd threw ROCK
at him which started the rock battle
He heard the crowd yell "Give it to hin
| Conrad, etc. He became frightened
and threw up bis hands after whlcf
. | Roud took hold of him nv the collar ant