Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-11-26
From ihe Richmond Whig.

From the Richmond hlx.
The following letter from a highly re
spectacle friend, gives the details Of an at
fair Of deep i~oterest, on more grounds than
ono. Orr correspondent has been minute
in bis account of The transaction. With Inc
view Of ailaying the anxiety Of the nIme
rons aad respectable relatives Of slr. Gar
nett, to whom the affair might have been
imperfeetly related.
LExisoTov, Nov. Z, 1885
GensIemen -Iaas1nlch as an unpleasant
occurrence which took place n the v~.cinity
Of The Natural Bridge on the Isl, will bad
lis way into tie public prints. ! beg leave
10 give Won a faithful accent Of II.
HenryT Garnett, esq late Of The coun
~ of WestmoFeland. who was on bis way
10 Alabama With his family and a large
number Of slaves, stopped 90 The road side
at a wen near the Natural Dridgc. 10 ob
tain some water for themselves aud hor
ses. Mr.. Garne.t, who was at the time
travelling in his carriage with bis vile,
was the last TO leave the well. As Mr.
was 10 The act Of stepping into bis Carriage
a negro man, Uhe properly of a lady 10
the Eeighborhood,) Who came up at The
moment, accompanied by some twenty OF
thirty slaves on their way from preaching,
addressed to him some insolent language
about shutting down the well door. Mr.
Gafneti, with great forbearaEee, replied
"Clear yourself, old man, and give me
none OF your iBselence." The negto re
torted, Borrowing Mr. G's. language, by
saying, g clear yourself, aud give me none
Of your insoiencen Me- G.. Turning round
and raising a walking cane which he held
in his hand, observed - Old man, fyou
give me another word of iusolence, III
chastise you with this cane" 10 which
the negro replied. at the same time bran
dishiug a large baw club which be held ~
bis hand, " I've got a cane, too, and III
chasiise you /" aud, Immediately adgan
eng upan Mr.. g., aimed a blow at him,
which being impeflccily parted. knocked
OH Mr.. G's. cap. Mr.. g. Immediately
drew from his belt a pistol. and was about
10 shoot, when his parpose was arrested
by the exclamation Of his wife, " fer Gods
sake don't shoot.' MIR q immediately
changed his determination, and resolved
not 10 shoot, and with bis change Of pnr
pose, transferred the pistol from his right
10 his left hand, resuming bis stick with
his right hand, at the tame moment step
ping back with his right foot 10 enable
him 10. ward of md avoid a more tremen
duous blow, which the negro was then
aiming at him. IN stepping back, Mr.
Gs. right f0ot went INTO a mud hole. and
be fell: in the act Of falling, the pistol was
discharged accidentally, the ball entering
the negro's right breast between the Sc
vcnlh aud eighth ribs, passing through bis
lungs, aud stopping close 10 the skin near
the back bone. Mr. e Immediately went
10 pursnl; Of a Justice Of the Peace, and
was on thai evening examined by two jus
tices, who, for the double purpose OF 50
tisfying the derUapds OF the law, and 10
enable Air G's. Justification TO be made
more manifest 10 the public, ordered an
Examjnjng Cont, Admitting Mr.. q. to
bail. 10 justice 10 a large crowd OF the
neighboIhoad who attended this examlna
ton, it is proper 60 remark, that there was
an immediate and simultaneous tender o!
almost every person in the assembly TO
become his bail
On yesterday, his trial came on in the
Court House in this place. when, after q
patient Investigation Of the whole matter,
he was unanimously and unhesitatrnsiy
acquitted.
at the time Of the trial the negro was
still alive, but the court decided 10 addi
ton to Mr.. G's. acquittal, that the negro's
death could not affect the case. 10 add
iion TO the opinion Of the Court, the opin
ion Of TIE community is cas- The opinion OF
one man." that unconnectei with the &C
cidentaI discharge Of tho pistol, Mr. q
would haze been fully Justified in dclIbe
rately shooting him. and that he exercised
most extraordinary lorbearanee in not DO
iBg it without a moment oi hesitation.
Very respectfully, youis,&c.