Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-07-15


Brown is man of about 80 years OF
age. Of his antecedents very little
is known, except that he has worked
about for different persons in this
comm unity, and was considered, by
those for whom he worked, as good
hand. He was q man somewhat
given to drink and, when drinking, ii
said to be what is known as ugly. .
He was accompanied into court yester.
day by his brother James Brown
He is not man of repellent counten-
ance nor is he what might be termed
a "good looking man. He is about
six feet tall, rather slender, dark hail
and eyes, wears short thin dark mus.
tche and is somewhat bleached by his
confinement. His victim, Perry Hoy,
and his would-be victim, Abe Hoy,
were his companions, associates and
friends, occupying the same relative
position in society and often worked
together at saw mills, and probably
other places. Edward Hig IS, whose
little boy was killed, is also an ac-
quaintance, and lived in the same
neighborhood. The Ross family, at
whose house the killing occurred,
were tenants of Mr. John Irvine and
friends of both Brown AMI the Hoys
The first witness called was Mrs
James Ross, preposseessing, young
dark haired woman, VINO told of the
Hoys and Brown coming to her house
that morning and having with them
liquor. Of Bown's attempt to get hel
to drink, of Abe Hoy and Brown going
into the meadow to shoot craps, OF
their return, Of the circumstances
leading up to the shooting, and of the
shooting itself, also giving the lam
guage passing between the men and
the circumstances as stated above cor
esponding with the reports of the
Killing, and the staten ents made by
her to representative of the Dispatch
on the day of the killing and the day
following. She was cross-examined
at some length by Mr.. Blease for the
iefense, but ne elected no variation
from her former statement. He how
ever, asked her some questions which
were seeminIy intended to lay a
foundation for contra 1icting her as to
certain material matters. She was
,sked if she had not made certain
statements to brother OF the prison
,r in the presence of another party,
which she denied.
The next witness was Abe Hoy, who
told of being with Brown on Satur-
day evening before the killing, OF
drink ing with him in Staunton, of
taking him out in his buck board, of
leaving him at Mr.. Irvine's of going
nome and returning to Ross the next
day, of Brown having liquor, or offer
ing some to Mrs Ross, of the crap
game, of the dispute and fight, Of the
subsequent making up, of Brown get
ting the Ross gun, and going away
OF his retnrn with the Irvine gun, OF
the killing OF Perry Hoy, Of his own
fleeing to avoid death, of being shot at
and wounded of his reaching the
Erwin house, hiding there and subse-
quently getting home that evening.
Jim koss was next on the stand,
but did not witness shooting, said
Arch Brown had only had two drinks
that day. Other testimony of no ma
terial value.
Edward Higgs testified along same
lines as previous witnesses, saw
trouble coming made for door with
his little boy, was SO badly frightened
could hardly get to door but noticed
what was going on outside. Just as
Perry jumped over fence he heard
shot outside which went through
Perry's hat. in moment heard second
shot, after about the same interval,
third shot was fred killing his SON.
Few minutes after Abe had gotten out
of back door, Brown came around
and crossed over the dead body of his
child. Begged Brown not to shoot
him. Brown replied that he had
nothing at all against him and would
not touch hair of his head. Brown
then saw Abe Hoy who was running
up hill, and he saw Brown fire two
shots at Abe.
Mrs. John M. Irvine next took the
stand. She testified that Brown came
to their house for the gun, seemed to
be much excited and staggered little
going up stairs. Brown told her the
Hoys had either cursed him, or threat
ened him. she, did not know which, but
thought he said "cut.'
Mary Desper stated that after the
shooting he, Brown, came to her house,
that he wanted to get some shells also
told her he had killed three people,
that he was pretty tolerable drunk, {"
and that he drew gun on her.
Pete Desper. a son of Mary Desper,
vas next called. He cOrrObOrated his
nother's accounts. Said Brown was
lawful" drunk and that he drew gun
On his mother.
DR.. H. H. White testified as to ex-
animation of dead body of Perry Hoy,
found body cold, presumed it had been
lead about an hour. Endeavored to
tell of conversations with different
mem bers of the family but was inter.
-upted twice by Attorney Blease.
Said that he took gun from house.
Bro yn hollered at him from hill
could mt hear what he said, but re
| nlied to Brown that if he came am