Notes taken at Rustburg, Campbell County Courthouse, Records Room 8/31/1998

Commonwealth VS Lindsey, Wm. F. Chancellory Book Pgs. 258, 262, 268, 269.

Pg. 258, April 27, 1886
Witness called for the prisoner, W. J. Canada, Rosa F. Lindsey, Dick Jones, they did not show up and they were supeoned again. The trial was continued until the next court day.

Pg. 262, April 28, 1886
Witnesses called for the prosecution were David McGhee, R.O. Walthall, Edgar Walthall, Jn. S. Williams, Walter Williams, and Ive Bradley. Witnesses for the defendant were Role Hawkins, Jno A. Blankenship, Jno, W. Clay, W. J. Canada, A. F. Sandifer, Jas. W. Lindsey, Rosa F. Lindsey, Chas. Bradley, and Dick Jones. The witnesses that did not show up yesterday were fined $100 each. The case was continued again.

Pg. 268, October 25, 1885
The judge for this trial was G. A. Wingfield. The jury members were:


E. M. Hobron                        J.R. Daniel
R.O. Hunter                         Leroy W. Dunnavant
J.T. Falwell                        Wm. F. Asher
A. M. Finch                         Thos. J. Bailey
H. M. Callahan                      W. H. Russell
Chas. B. Russell                    H.W. Clemment
The jury did not decide on this day and had to be brought back again.

The Daily News, Pg. 3 Col. 1 Saturday, November 7, 1885
Homicide- The Campbell County Record says: Information reaches us of a homicide near Marysville, this county on Monday week. It appears that William Lindsey was engaged in firing tobacco in a barn on J.W. Clay’s plantation when Charles Rice and a man named McGhee, it seems had a jug of whiskey and concluded to go in and give Lindsey a drink. They first became merry and then boisterous, when McGhee concluded to leave. Sometime after a gentleman came a long and found Lindsey sitting straddle Rice beating his head in the fire with a rock. Rice’s head was in the fire and was burning while Lindsey was beating him. The gentleman pulled Lindsey off, when Rice was moved to a house and aid summoned Rice’s head was fearfully mangled; he lived two days. Lindsey was arrested and is now in jail.

Pg. 269, October 26, 1885
Jury found Lindsey guilty of murder in 2nd degree and gave him 10 years in the "penitenuary house."

The Lynchburg Virginian, Lynchburg, VA, Tuesday Morning, October 26, 1886
"The fall term of the Circuit Court of Campbell commenced yesterday. There was an exceptionally large attendance of the "sovereigns" for Circuit Court. Judge Wingfield put in an appearance by 9 o'clock. The entire day was consumed in the trial of a criminal case. The evidence disclosed a sad and deplorable affair. A good-looking man, of amiable and pleasing countenance was arraigned for the murder of an old man named Rice. The homicide was committed with every apparent aggravation of fiendish malignity. And yet, as was conclusively shown, there was not a particle of premeditation or malice. The provoking cause was in this, as in a majority of like causes, that dread demon whiskey. The old man, Rice, as it seems had bought a jug of the cheap poisonous medicated stuff that is sold by unscrupulous scoundrels as pure whiskey and had given it freely to Lindsey. Too later soon become not only drunken, but demented from it's effects, and in a wild delirium of savage rage excitement brutally beat the old man, who in a few days thereafter died from the effects of the injuries inflicted upon him. Thee never was a more pitiable spectacle than that presented by the accused. When under the influence of this demoniac monster whiskey, he is a madman, a brute. What a moral does this tragedy inculcate! The cross-road dram shops where this vile stuff is vended are the pestilential sources of a thousand crimes that cry to heaven for fearful retribution. When the reporter left the jury had not brought in their verdict. The general surmise was that they would find a verdict for imprisonment in the penitentiary somewhere from one to five years. The session of the court will be a short one. The probability is that the "orders" will be signed tomorrow. "

The Lynchburg Virginian, Lynchburg, Va., Wednesday Morning, October 27, 1886
"Judge Wingfield closed the fall term of the Circuit Court at noon on yesterday. This is his last term in Campbell and in signing the orders the old gentleman wrote beneath his name the word "finis." On the tenth of next he holds his court in Lynchburg and will then hold the last court of his long and distinguished judicial career in his native county and home, Bedford. May a serene and happy old age close as with a benediction the honorable and upright life of this strong minded, clear headed, pure-hearted jurist and gentleman. Lindsey, the criminal who was tried for murder of the old man Rice was sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary, a longer term than was anticipated by most of those who heard the testimony. You may trust a Campbell jury for inflicting the severest penalties of the law upon the evil-doers. As the attendants upon the court, jury men, witnesses, suites, lawyers and lookers on started for their respective homes a gentle and grateful and much needed rain commenced to fall. Doubtless every one was willing to be wet in order to have the long desired rain. It will not only prove a blessing to the farmers, but will be a most acceptable to travelers on the country roads in laying the dust which was ankle deep. "

If anyone has any information about any of the people mentioned above, please contact me.

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