Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-04-02

:
but forthe fact, thai on Friday, Judson
and Mfs. 'Porter6eldw were known to be
alone together for considerable time
at thes grave yard in The vicinity If the
town. When this. circumstance was
revealed to her unfortunate husband,
he fell to the floor, as ifss bal. had PEN
etrated his heartr. He.was of singu-
Iarlyssamiable disposition, and devoted
~ attached to his wife.
In this frame. of body and mind he
proposedto his brother, John Porter
field, on Saturday, about half after 3
Qk, to take a walk, without any
expectation, it is confidently believed,
meeting Judsou. Unfortunately,
however, they met with Judson near
the Sulphur Spring, when a rencontre
took place. Three shots were fred at
Judson, as we understand, he backing
the while; and protesting disinclina-
hon-to. shoot. = After the third Shot, he
fired and shot Robert Por.erfeld in the
forehead, just above the right eye, of
which wound the latter died about
eleven O'Clock that night. The news
that Judson had killed Porterfeld soon
spread like wild-fre. The public
mind, wound upto pitch of deep and
maddening excitement, was in con-
dltion TO be thrown off its balance. e.
A large crowd soon collected in and
around the court house, where Judson,
who had been Immediately apprehen-
ded, was brought before an examining
court. The court was in the act Of
preparing an order for his commitment,
when J. Porterfeid, frantic at his bro
theirs death and injuries, made his ap.
pearance IN the court room, and the
cry burst forth from the crowd, ''make
way for John rer6eld--let him kill
JudSonp' The sheriff, Lanier, who
was in the the clerk s box, where also
was Judson, sprang forward and met
Porterfld, who had Jumped over the
failing, behind the bar, about midway
between the railing and the box,
seized, and with the the aid of one of
his assistants, held him for some
moments -Porterfeld struggled VIC,
.enty to release himself from their
grasp. This he finally effected by the
aid Of some friends who overpowered
the SD erlf, and, drawing revolving
pistol, commenced firing at Judson,
who started in a run out of the house,
Porterfield followed him in close pur-
suit and firing at him, as shen as occa-
sion would permit, down the steps
across from the court house to the City
Hall, and up the staircase of the hotel.
One OF two gentlemen endeav oled TO
and Judson In escaping to the hotel,
but Porterieid and his friends follow
ed so. closely in pursuit, that they were
compelled to retire, and Judson, in
hopes Of effecting bis escape, jumped,
or more probably swung himself off,
from the porIco Of the third story, and
fell to the ground stunned by the fall.
Not less than eight or ten .skots were
fred al m-aIl, ii is said, by Porter
field, not one Of which. took effect
He was knocked down with rock be-
tween the court house and the, hotel,
and only escaped for the moment, by
jumping from the portico of the third
story TO the, ground, which he effcted
without breaking or disolcating limb.
Thence he was conveyed by the Off
GERS to jail, without further molesla-
ton Or interference on the part of any
one. -
Here we most sincerely wish we
could enc our painful narrative. But
it is not permitted TO us. About ten
o'clock that night, considerable num-
Der of persons, among whom, we are
informed. were some of our most res
pectable citizenship laboring under
the intense excitement which the oc-
cnnence Of the day bad produced
proceeded to the Jail, and against the
remohsirance, and in defiance of the
resistance of the ailor, possessed them
selves ofthe keys, seized Judson, and
and proceeded with him to the public
square, with the avowed intention of
hanging him. This, however, was
aot done. s
The rope, it is said, with which it
was attempted to hang him, broke
We suspect it was intentionally cut
Reason had by this time began. to re-
sumo its sway, and Judson was finally
carried back to the Jail and delivered
7s,sto the hands of the keeper by the
sssne party who hal taken him out
His situation we understand is some
what precafious, rendered SO by the
-bsuise he received, and possibly from
some internal injury occasioned by his
fall from the portico. @:s
= The mahogany lrnde.-Adyices
from Belize, Honduras, to the 7th
lnss., states that according to informa-
ton, derived from vorious sources,