Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-01-03
MURDEROUS AFFRAY AT LOU.
ISVIIIE

BY the Western muii we have the follows
inE particulars of a bloody aiTray at Louis>
vile, brief mention Of which, we made in yes
terday's paper. Ii is II most horrid affair. 10
which colouring oi still deeper dye is
impaired by the TACT that one of the priuci-
pals in il, whose first resort was 10 the use
of the murdcruus Bow lie knIie, was a civil
officer on whom the ohlig atoms of m ainiain.
ing the iaw rested with double force. AT
the last dates from Louisville the public ex
element was very great. A number Of the
Ci.i Zens had assembled near the Jail, and the
Sheriff was unable to bring the parties out
for examination in consequence of apnre.
tensions that iolence would be done TO
them.
From tho Louisville Advertiser OF Dec. II.
BLooDy AFFAIR "A startling tragedy
occurred in this city on Saturday evening
last, in which A. n. Meek was Instantly
Killed, John Boutwell, MORALLY wounded,
William Holmes severely wounded, and
Henry Oldham slightly, by The use of Bow
lie knives. by Judge f. c. Wilkinson, and
his brother Il. K. Wilkinson of Natchez,
and j. Mutdough, Of Holly Springs, Mis-,
sissppi. IL seems that Judge Wilkinson
had ordered coat a! the shop OF Messrs.
farnum s. Redding. The coat was made 4;
tie Judge. accompanied by his brother and
MIR Murdough went to the shop OF Var
mum j. ReGiing, tried on the coat, am, wus
irri'aled because, as he believed, it did no,
fiji him
Redding undertook to convince him that
he was in error, and ventured 10 assure The
Judge that the coat was made well The
Judge instantly seized an iron poker. aod
commenced attack on RetIding The
hirw was partially wsrded off-Redding
srappIed his assailnnt, when companion OF
The Judge drew Bow lie knife, and but for
The inierpositi"n and inter ference Of The I'm.
fortunate Meek, jouFneyman tailor, and a
gentleman passing by at the moment, Red
ding might have been assassinaied 10 his
own shop. Shortly afterwards Re,,,.ing
Meek, ROCKWELL and Holmes went TO The
walt House. They sen, up stairs for Judge
Wilkinson, and he came down into the bars
room, when angry words were passed. The
Judge Then went up stairs again, and in a
short tisse returned with his comps nions all
armed with knives. Harsh language was
again used. Redding was told that he lied
and he responded 10y saying he supposed he
would have 10 take a, as he was unarmed,
but remarked. that if they would lev aside
their weapons he could whip all three OF
them Meek, in consequence Of some re.
marks made, felt called on TO state what he
had seen OF the con iIct in the tailor's sbop
and did so, and Murdough gave him the
ID lie, for which Meek struck him with
riding whip which he had brought it'll
him from Bardstown, from which place he
bod just irat eiled On horseback Onrecejy.
lag The blow with the whip, aIurdnugh in.
sisnily plunged his Bowie knife into The ain
dornen Of Meek, and killed him on the spo,
Al the same instant, b. r. Wilkinson at
tempted 10 get al Redding, and holmes ant
K';hweIi 'nteriered or joined in The ARRAY
Holmes was wounded, probably by q. r
Wilkinson; and the Judge having left III.
room Tor an instant returned ,ond finding Roth
well conIending with his brother, or bend
ing over bin, he (tbe Juaige) stabbed Roth
well IN the back, and inflicted mort.
wound. Ii does not appear that Oldham
was concerned in the conflict He wa
probably wounded by rnistnke. It~a few
moments offer The conflict took place IA,
City Marshal was on ihe spo, To spp5eben,
the offenders: ReidiDg having sent for hin
with view TO have them taken for tie ss
sanis made on him in his shop.
Such are The facts, ms detailed to tie: but
isproper 10 say that we have heard othe,
and conflicting statements Judge Wi!kin
son his brother and Murdough are in nr,son
and will probably he brought before The cx
aiming court to day, when The affair .yil
be better understood The public mind
highly excited, but we trust every ci,ize,
will feel the necessity Of calm rei,aoc
upon the operation Of the laws Let stric
justice he done. Let the laws be firmly
impartislly, aud rightly enforced. No goo
citizen can desire more. None will be con
tent with less.