The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-06-11

~" "tD|uY ana Dedh' slip rom the Match
es Courier under date of May goth Says in quic
succession the tidings of violence boodshed an
outrage pour upon us from every quarter. TIL
NIX with w hich we record one catastrophe
haroly dry upon our paper ere we are calle'
upon to chronicle another.
The melancholy affai which suggested the Il
bove remark occurred in the adjoining count,
of Wilkinson at the town of Woodvile in tn
early part of the week. From gentleman direc
from that place we learn that the circumstances
as he heard them narrated were substantially n:
follows:
A short time pre- vious to the late session OF the
the Grand Jury of Wilkinson county, chal-
lenge was passed and duel was to have been
fought between Mr.. Leigh. of Watkins
Leigh of Virginia, and Mr. w. A. Norris, Editor
of the Republican, but it was arranged by the
friends OF the parties. When the Grand Jury
convened, the foreman in accordance with his
oath, took all active part in endeavoring to in
vestgate the matter, and in bringing the parties
concerned in, and cognisant Of the matter before
them. They all refused to testify and were all
consequently committed to prison.
Sometime after this the foreman, Mr. A. j.
Foster happened in Mr. Leighs office and en-
wired for some person, when Mr. Leigh called
him an nformer and used other abusive language
to him. challenge ensued and duel was to
have been fought between them which was set
tor some few days subsequent. day or so af-
ter the quarrel, Mr. Leigh met Mr. C. Foster. n
and asked him who he was looking at so hard?
Mr. f. replied that he had right to look as he
pleased without being questioned; some other
words of an insulting character were used and
general quarrel and fight ensued, common
cling between Mr. G. Foster, DR. Morese and the
trends OF each among whom were Mr. Leigh.
Mr. Fielding Davis, Judge Smith, and ono or two
others; Immediately after Mr. Leigh who had re-
ceived some personal injury from Mr. Davis sent
him challenge by Mr. III. A Moore and to which
Mr. Moore requested an immediate answer Mr.
ID. replied that he would answer it in the morn
ngMr Moore then used some harsh language to
Mr. ID. and either called or insinuated that he
was coward, upon which MIR ID. turned and
struck Mr. Moore with whip, which he held
in his hand and injured him very severely in the
face. Mr. ID. then went home and changed his
dress which had been soiIe6 in the afffay and
walked into the post office. MIR Leigh walked in
immediately afterwards with drawn knife or
dirk in his hand. Mr. ID. saw him as he ad.
Vanced and told him not 10 approach him, Mr. l.
continued to do so.-Mr ID. repeated his warn
ing and told him that if he did SO, that he would
shoot him and seeing that Mr. Leigh did not
stop, he raised a double barreled gun which he
had in his hand and snapped both barrels at him,
neither Of which went off. He then struck him
with the end of the gun and knocked him down
and then retreated across fhe street. Mr. Leigh
after rising continued TO advance when MIR Da-
Wis drew pistol and shot Mr. l.. in the side
gering near two days died of the wound. Da-
Wis was Immediately arrested and after an exam
lnation was admitted to bail in the sum of $l5,-
900.
very great excitement prevailed in Woodvle
and it is quite probable that affrays will grow
out of this, as both parties we under stand have
violent and strenuous friends.
Is there no remedy for this state of things?
Are we to become bye word and an approbri-
urn through the civilized word2
The Richmond Wing of Monday says, we
nre happy to be able TO contradict the report of
The death of MIR Thomas w. Leigh, son of Ii.
w. Leigh Esq. of this city, which report for the
last few days has caused great sensation here.
We have seen letter from Woodve, Miss,
'eted s'r days after the unfortunate occurrence
referred to, at which time Mr. Leigh was still
alive, and strong hopes were entertained of his
recovery. We gratified to be able to state,
TOO, that so far from Mr. l.. being the aggressor,
his conduct seems to have been highly honora
Die throughout the controversy. The violent
wound under which he suffers was inflicted up
OH him while in defenceless state.