Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-06-04
Prov ne NsfcAes CoBr,sr.
TREADlNG IN TIE FOOTSTEPS.

.9aofber .lfroy dn1 D,aih.-In quick succession
the tidings of violence. bloodshed and outrage
pour upon us from every quarter. Tue ink with
which We record ono catastrophe is hardly dry up
on our paper. ere We arc called upon TO chronicle
another. This Is indeed a hortid state OF affairs,
bot Il, is needless TO disguise the truth, ms much as
TIA, truth viii disgrace our slate aud dishonor oar
reputation as citizens abroad.
The melancholy affair which suggested the a.
bovc remarks occurred in The adj Joining county Of
Wilkinson, ct the town Of Woodvile in the early
part Of last week. From a gentleman direct from
that place we learn that The circumstances as he
heard them narrated we're Substantially as follows
A short time previous TO the late session Of tic
Grand Jury OF Wilkinson county, a challenge was
passed and a duel was TO have been fought be-
tween Mr. Leigh, a son of Watkins Leigh Of Vir-
ginis, and Mr. w. a. Norris, Editor of the Repub-
lieau, but it was arranged by The friends of the par
tics. When the Grand Jury convened, the fore.
man IN accordance with his oath, took an active
part in endcavoring to investigate the matter, and
bringing the parties concerned in, aud ccgnizant Of
The matter before them. They oil refused TO tes-
tify, and were al subsequently, committed to pris-
on.
Sometime afler this the foreman, Mr. Al. Eos.
ter, happened in Mr. Leigh's office and %enquire1 for
some person, when Mr. Leigh called him an infor.
mer and used other abusive language to him. A
challenge ensucd and a duel was TO have been
fought by them, which was set for some few days
subsequent. A day or SO after the quarrel, Mr.
Leigh met Mr. c. Foster, a younger brother of A.
J. Foster, in the street and asked him who he was
looking at so hard : Mr. +. replied he had q right
to look as he pleased. without being questioned !;
some other words of an insulting character were
used and a general quarrel and fight ensued, com.
nencing between Mr. C. Foster, DR. Morese, and
the friends ofeach, among whom we're Mr. Leigh,
Mr. Fielding Davis. Judge Smith, and ono or two
others Immediately after which Mr. Leigh who
had received some personal injury from Mr. Davis,
sent him a challenge by Mr. II. a. Moore, and to
which Mr. Moore requested an immediate answer.
Mr. ID. replied that he would answer il in the NOR.
ming Mr. Moore then used some harsh language
to Mr. D.. and either called or insinualed that he
was a coward, upon which Mr. d. turned and
struck Mr. Moore with a whip, which he held in his
baud, and injured him very severely in the face.
Mr. ID. then went home and changed his dress
which had been soied in the ARRAY, and walked in.
to the post office. Mr. Leigh walked in immediate.
ly afterwards with a drawn knife or dirk in his
hand. Dir ID. saw him as he advanced, and told
him not 10 approach him. Mr. l.. continued to do
so. Mr. d. repeated his warning. and told him if
he did so, that he should shoot him and seeing
that Mr. Leigh did not stop, he raised a double
barrelled gun, which he held in his hand, and snap
ped both barrels at him, neither of which went of.
lie then struck him with the end of the gun, and
knocked him down, and then .etreated across the
street. MIR Leigh, after rising, continued to ad-
vance when Mr. Davis drew a pistol and shot Mr.
l.. in the side which penetrated his spine. Leigh
after lingering two days, died Of the wound. Da-
Wis was Immediately arrested, and after an exam
nation was admitted to bail in the sum of S l5, 900.
is there no remedy for this state of things D.
Are we to become a ~bye-word and an opprobrium
throughout the civilized world