Norfolk Virginian, December 14, 1890

Untitled

Moral -- MurderTransportation -- Railroad - Barges and floats

Onancock, Va., December 12.

Monday, December 29th, County Court day, the case of the Commonwealth vs. Samuel Lewis, indicted at the March term for the murder of George Twiford, will be begun. The trial will probably not hold the attention of the court over a day, or at the most a day and a half.

No one saw the shooting at the time, but Lewis was strongly suspected and the evidence against him almost conclusive. He was accordingly arrested by some bystanders and some one dispatched for the constable. In the interim Lewis asked to be allowed to go to a neighboring store to get some one to go his bail, which privilege was allowed him. Wending his way in that direction, he suddenly darted for the wood and successfully escaped.

The constable arriving and finding the prisoner gone, and the circumstances seeming to implicate a relative of the man -- Orris Lewis -- he was placed in custody and brought before the magistrate at Accomac Court-house for a hearing the next day, which resulted in his discharge.

The grand jury met and found a true bill against Sam Lewis, who had not been heard of, and so the case lay, until last month, when a man answering Lewis' description, became involved in a difficulty at Salisbury, Maryland, and in the heat of the affair, exclaimed: "D--n you, I've killed one man and will kill you."

The authorities hearing of it, arrested him, he giving his name as John Reeves, and being convinced that it was Lewis, Sheriff Wise was telegraphed for. Going there he identified Reeves as the man, who consented to come back without requisition papers. It is said he has been in the county weeks at a time, visiting his relatives.

During a storm at Cape Charles, the other day, the barge Canton, of the N. Y., P. and N. Railroad, was driven against the piling upon the south side of the slip at Cape Charles harbor, the concussion causing the demolishment of a great deal of piling.