Norfolk Landmark, March 13, 1889
MURDER AT EASTVILLE.
Moral -- AlcoholMoral -- GamblingMoral -- MurderMoral -- Vandalism
Killed Almost Instantly over a Game of Cards -- The Murder Man did Not Fall From His Chair.
Intelligence was brought to this city yesterday of the murder at Eastville, on the Eastern Shore yesterday, of Peter Smith by Jefferson Adair. The murder took place between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning and was over a game of poker. The exact cause of the shooting was not learned. The weapon used was a pistol and the bullet of the only shot fired took effect in the brain of Mr. Smith, his death being almost instantaneous. After the shot was fired the wounded man did not fall out of his chair, but died where he sat. Mr. Smith was from one of the best families on the Eastern Shore and brother of Dr. Charles Smith of Onancock. He leaves a wife and several children. During the late war Mr. Smith served in the Confederate army, and during one of the engagements in which he took part a shell exploded near his head, rendering him almost totally deaf, and from which he never recovered. Adair, who is the proprietor of a bar at one of the hotels in Onancock, was taken in charge and locked up.
EASTVILLE, Va., March 12. Eastville, and the country adjoining thereto, was much excited and greatly shocked this morning when it became known that during the night Jefferson Adair, a resident of Onancock, had shot and instantly killed Peter B. Smith, a highly respected and well known farmer residing just outside the town limits.
The facts are these: Some time during the night the prisoner and deceased went to a well known place in Eastville to join in a game of cards which was in progress. Everything ran along smoothly until a late hour, when the effects of liquor were felt. Finally Adair picked up the cards and dealt the hands around. Mr. Smith received three jacks and Adair three queens. Betting became lively and a call was made. The hands being shown Mr. Smith pulled in the pile of money that was upon the table, remarking that Adair had cheated in the deal. Mr. Smith was entirely deaf but was made to understand by signs given by Adair that he must give up the money. Smith refused saying he would not be cheated by anybody out of his money. Without another word, and while the rest of the party was sitting at the table, Adair jumped up, drawing his pistol simultaneously, and fired, the ball entering just below the right eye and entering the brain, causing instant death, he dying as he sat in the chair. It was several hours after the occurrence before anyone was permitted to enter the room, and then his corpse, almost rigid, was erect in the chair with his head bent forward.
The murderer was immediately placed under a strong guard until placed in jail. The deceased was a son of the late Dr. W. G. Smith and served in the Confederate army, being at one time a member of Otey's Battalion. He leaves a wife and six children, most of them grown, to mourn his sad and untimely end. He was well know throughout the Eastern part of Virginia, and in Baltimore and Philadelphia, where he has many friends and acquaintances.
His death was a terrible shock to his wife and children, who loved him devotedly. He was a kind and indulgent father and husband.
A jury of inquest was held this afternoon. After the testimony in the case had been heard the jury rendered the following verdict: "That Peter B. Smith came to his death by a pistol bullet, fired from a pistol in the hands of Jefferson Adair, and fired by said Adair without any provocation."
The remains of the deceased will be interred to-morrow. After the rendering of the verdict, Adair was brought into court for a preliminary hearing, but he waived examination and was committed to jail for the action of the grand jury. The prisoner expressed great sorrow for his crime, and attributed it to the effect of liquor.
Yesterday was the first day of the March term of the County Court. On account of the illness of the Commonwealth's Attorney the trial of Samuel Roane and J. J. Bunting under indictment for house burning in January last, were continued until next Monday.
The Want an Experimental Agricultural Station.
Farmers -- Innovation
Eastville, Va., March 12 -- A large meeting of the farmers of this county was held here yesterday, and resolutions adopted urging the authorities to establish a branch experimental farm station at some point on the Eastern Shore.