John Glover
John A. Glover (October 11, 1824 – April 11, 1846) was a student at the University of Virginia in the 1840's who was originally from Alabama. After taunting a lion at a traveling menagerie in 1846, he was struck on the head by a performer and subsequently died of his injuries. [1] The culprit of the crime was never discovered nor brought to justice. Glover was later buried in the University of Virginia Cemetery.
Events surrounding death
Circumstances behind murder
In April of 1846, a menagerie was holding its exhibition in the open space between the lot of Mrs. John Kelly and the University of Virginia Cemetery, with one of the event's features consisting of a showman riding in a car drawn by a lion. The route to be traversed by this vehicle extended through two or three of the cages, the ends of which were opened and joined together. A rope was stretched a short distance in front in order to keep the spectators back and an address was given that exhorted them to observe respectful silence during the performance.
Just as the act began, Glover, who was leaning against the rope, threw a lighted cigar at the lion between the bars of the cage. The aforementioned showman, enraged at this careless act, leapt from the cage, seized a nearby tent pin, struck Glover on the head with it and felled him to the ground, and made his escape in the ensuing confusion. An unconscious Glover was carried to the Farish House, where he later died after one or two days. George Nutter, a proprietor of the show, was suspected of being Glover's murderer and was subsequently arrested, being sent on for trial by the examining magistrates.
Trial of George Nutter
Nutter was tried at the May term of the Circuit Court, being defended by Judges Watson and Rives. Ultimately, the evidence that was produced failed to connect Nutter with the known facts of Glover's murder, and he was thus acquitted.[2]
References
- ↑ Web. DEPLORABLE EVENT, Richmond Enquirer, 14 April 1846, retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ↑ Web. Albemarle County in Virginia, C.J. Carrier Company, 1901