The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-03-31
From the Nashville Wing, March II.
MOST LAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE

MOST LAMENTABLE OCCURRENCE.
Our community was, on Saturday last thrown
into state OF the most painful excitement by the
sudden and violent death of one of its most wor.
thy and esteemed members. OF the crcum,
stances which led to this melancholy event, and
oi the deeply exciting occurrences which follow
ed it, We propose, in discharge of our plain duty
as conductor OF public press, 10 present
brief narrative.
Robert Por,erlield, whose untmely death a
whole community is now deporng, having learn
ed that F.. II. e.. Judson had stated that he had
had criminal intercourse with his, Porterfields
wife, sought interview with the latter, on
Wednesday last, in presence of several individ
uals, to one of whom, it was said, .Judson prompt
~ answered in the affirmative. Judson srenu-
ously denied it; but, Porterield, placing no con
fdence in his denial, drew pistol, and would
have shot him on the spot, had he not been pre-
vented from doing so by those who were present
On the evening of the day in which this inter
view took place, the individual at whose office it
was held, made known to Mr.. Porlerfied, the
brother of the deceased, that prior to the inter
view, Judson had called upon him and confessed
that he made the statement in question TO the
individual about to be brought forward as wit
ness, but that for the purpose of saving his life,
which he knew would be taken by The Porter
fields, if the fact were proven upon him, he in
tended TO deny ever having said any thing of the
kind. Both The Messrs. Portereld became en-
tireIy satisfied that JudsOn had made the infamous
statement charged upon him, and, we are inform
ed upon reliable authority, that there cannot be
doubt Of his having made it.
notwithstanding this, however, the affair
might have been dropped here, but for the fact,
that on Friday, hudson and Mrs Porterfed
tcere kno,cn 10 be alone for a considerable time
al The Craze yard in the uicinity Of to,cn =
When this circumstance was revealed TO her un-
fortunate husband, he fell TO the floor, as if ball
had penetrated his heart. He was Of a sinpularly
amIable and confiding disposition and devotedly
attached to his wife. He had in the depth of
his attachment, and in the purity of his own pure
heart, hitherto shut his eyes to certain acts of
improperly on the part Of his wife in connection
with JudsOn, which came to his knowledge, and
he apparently refused to deduce from them con-
illusions which readily found their way to the
minds Of others. But when apprised Of the in
erview at the grave yard, his agony of mind
was beyond description. He suffered more than
thousand deaths. His nerves were wholly I'M
strung-he became sick in body as well as mind
lit seemed as if lie would be berelt of reason
aud apprehensions entertained lest he might
do some act of violence ON himself. In the
language Of one who was with him in his agony,
"he looked far worse before death than he did
dfterwards!"
IN this frame of body and mind he proposed to
his brother, John PorieTield, on Saturday, about
half after three o'clock. to take walk. without
any expectation, it is confidently believed, of
meeting with Judson. Unfortunately, however,
they met with JudsOn near the Sulphur Spring.
when rencounter Immediately took place
Three shots were fred at Judson, as we under
stand he, backing the while, and protesting
disinclination TO shoot. After the third shot, he
fred and shot Robert Pororfield in the forehead,
just aoove the right eye, of which wound the
latter died about eleven o'clock that night. The
news that Judson had killed POrlerield soon
spread like wildfre. The public mind wound
up TO pitch Of deep and maddenng excitement,
was in a condition to be thrown of its balance.
Here was young nan in The prime Of manhood
Che was not thirty years Of age) the dutiful and
ahectOnate son Of widowed mUther--a tender,
cOnfiding and devoted husband--mOst exemplary
aud highly esteemed in all the relations Of life
first stricken to the heart by his wiie's Jishouor,
as was believed, and then shot through the head
by the author of The destroyer Of his happiness
A large crowd soon collected in and around the
Court House, where Judson, who had been i'm
lncdialely apprchcndcd, was brought before an
examining Court The Court was in the act Of