Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-06-15
The FORDMCk TRAGEDY.
Conner Boyd Shot to Death by
Frank Spr0use---The CuIprit
Chased and Captured after being
Wounded Prompt Action by
Officials Saves Probable Lynch
ing---Sent to Grand Jury.

uI4---ooiIt ~ uFd0u Jury.
Augusta county is face to face will
another murder proposition. Th
Ia tragedy occurred at Fordwick Satur
day morning last, 10 which Come
Boyd lost his life at the hands o
n Frank Spronse, the self styled Jess
James of Sprouse Hollow, a noted ba,
It character. Sprouse is a familia
= character at the StauntOn jail, wher,
he now is, awaiting trial in the deatl
cell formerly occupied by John Kenne
dy. The prisoner has twice ESCAPED
jail here. aud has fire quently facet
charges both grave and petty in hi
Z short career of % years. There ar,
e manv stories rife. but as + ar as " a.,
able to learn the facts of the TRACED
are as follows:
Saturday morning Sprouse came tc
FOrdwick on his bicycle and stopped
in front of the company's store. There
he met Conner BOYD. foreman
against whom he is said to have had q
grudge. Boyd was talking with an.
other man. but SprOuse managed to
Interfere in such an offensive way that
a fight soon ensued, in which Sprouse
WAS badly worsted. Boyd assuming
that the difficulty was ended, went
into the store and engaged in CONVEX
satiOn with the storekeeper, Mr.. l. d.
| No =,
ing in side door, Sprouse was seen
standing with his back toward them a
few PAGES off. with his hands in front
of him and apparently loading a revol-
yer. Both men concluded that further
mischief was brewing. and in response
to the advice, to catch him or disarm
/ him, before he could shoot. Boyd ad-
vanced from behind and clasped
Sprouse around the body trying to
hold his arms down. Instantly pis-
tol shot rang out. Sprouse had thrust
his revolver under his arm and fired
backward. The ball pierced his
own forearm, and made flesh wound
in the left side of Boyd. Four other
shots were fired in rapid succession
and Boyd fell to the earth q corpse
two balls entering the left breast and
passing entirely through the body, one
ball piercing the heart. For an instant |
Sprouse gazed upon his bloody work
and then led. the smoking pistol still |
in hand.
Several persons saw the shooting and |
the sound of the shots drew others, SO |
that in an instant many persons were
in hot pursuit. some firing at the fu |
gitive as they ran. SprOuse made for
The woods back of the old marble |
quarry, but was headed off, and then
turned toward the GreystOne Inn, at
the rear of which he was captured |
after being struck by several shots. |
For a while there was great excite
ment, and those who saw the angry |
crowd of woIkmen corcluded that |
Sprouse had seen his last day, but the |
officers of the Portland Cement Com |
pany dissuaded their men aud induce d |
them TO let the law take its co urse. |
However the excitement grew more
intense as the news became general,
and it was thought advisable to get |
the prisoner to the Stanton Jail as
speedily as possible. While prepare.
rations for his removal were in pro-
gress, Sprouse was confined and close
ly guarded at the Fordwick hospital. |
Chief of Police Simpson of this city
receivee telegram from the Fordwick |
authorities, and at once informed dep |
uty sheriff and jaier M. W. Bucher
who barely had time to catch the 1928
westbound train. At Fordwick he
handcuffed the prisoner. and with
special police officer Robt. Clifton
hurried him off to stanton on the
next train.
At the Fordwick station there was
another Large and excited crowd, but
better counsels prevailed and t he Off
GERS were allowed to bring their prs.
oner away in peace. Too much cannot
be said IN praise of the great prompt
ness and good judgment of the Ford |
wick officials. In less than three hours |
after the shooting the culprit was
captured, brought to StauntoE and |
placed behind prison bars. at Ford |
wick throughout the evening nothing |
was talked of save the shooting, and !
it became more and more apparent |
that the great promptness which |
characterized the removal of SprOuse
was all that had saved him from a |
speedy Iynching.
Tuesday Sprouse had preliminary
hearing before Magistrates ID. b Kun
KEEL of CraigsviIle, and N. l.. Wehn of
Staunton. The prisoner was repre-
sented by MIR. Chas. Curry, the Com
monwealth by Mr.. K. s. Ker. Only
two witnesses were examined, store
keeper L ID. McNulty and G. s. Bry-
ant, driver for the company at Ford
| wick. After short session the court
adjourned, sending the prisoner on to
the grand jury for Indictment. When
Sprouse left the court room he looked
much the worse for ware. His left
arm was in sling, and he walked with
limp. as the wounded heel came to
the ground.
Items from Clifton forge.
| Miss Ella Smith has raturned from