Staunton Spectator

SAD OCCURRENCE—JACOB SCHERER KILLED

On Saturday night last, about 12 o'clock, a party of young men of this place, some disguised as colored men, went to the house on Market street occupied by Ginnie Sorrels, a Cyprian quadroon, with the view of ducking a man whom they suspected of co-habiting with her, and whom they expected to find there at that time. Several entered the house; a pistol was fired, and Jacob Scherer (son of John B. Scherer, Esq., of this place) one of the party disguised, was almost instantly killed. The ball entered the left side, broke a rib and passed through the heart and both lungs. A man was seen to run from the house as soon as the shot was fired. After some time had elapsed, the chief of Police, Jacob Parent, accompanied by others, went to the house of John M. Stanley and arrested him as the party charged with having fired the pistol which caused the death of Jacob Scherer.

On the evidence adduced at the Coroner's inquest on the same night, Stanley was committed to jail to await his trial before an examining court this morning.

This is one of the saddest occurrences that has ever taken place in this community. There was no malice, not even ill-will, on the part of either party. They were mutual friends, and the friends of both parties are the friends of each other. The friends of Stanley, in common with the whole community, deeply sympathise with the sorely distressed relations and many friends of the deceased, so unexpectedly and suddenly cut down in the full vigor of health and in the prime of life.