Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-06-17
FATAL AFFaAY. IN LYScuBUgG.

OH INST, On the streets ul Bynch0urg, be-
tween sen Of DR.. James Saunders, q
mem5er Of the State Convention, and A..
w. C. Terry, Esq, Editor of he Trgia-
ran. Of that place. 1t arose from some
sharp structures in the Iirgiaian on the
course Of DR.. S. on the Basis question:
Saunders attacked Terry with cane, and
the latter drew revolver. They fred
five shots, and each received two balls
In his praisewolthy efforts 10 separate
the combatants. M. Biggers,a police Off
Ger. received shot in the leg, and Sc
verer one in the arm.
On the day after the rencounter Mr..
Saunders died, and on Sunday Mr.. Terry
also expired
The following announcement Of the
catastrophe was previous TO the death Of
Mr.. Terry:
From the Lynchburg Republican,
A MOST PAINFUL TRAGEDY--On
Thursday morning last, there was enacted
in the streets Of this town, the mos, pain
ful and fatal tragedy which il has ever
been our misfortune TO chronicle-a trag.
edy tha. has cast over this community the
profoundest and most universal gloom we
have ever wiinessed--one that has caused
The shedding Of mote tears, and wrnng
with deepest anguish more hearts, than
any similar event that has occurred per-
ba7s in the country for many years.
To many of our readers. the circumstan-
ces which led TO this painful occurrence,
are sufficiently we'll known, but that the
public generally may understand them, il
is proper TO remark that, in last Mondays
Republican there appeared letter from
DIR. James Saunders, member in the
State Reform Convention from this dis.
trici. criiicising the course Of the Virgin
ian Of this place towards him in relation
to The basis question. Thursday the Vir.
gnian contained reply 10 the letter Of
DR.. s., which led Immediately TO the rem.
contre which terminated SO sadly. About
8 o'clock on that morning while Mr.. Ter.
~. EDITOR Of the Virginian, was standing
on the pavement immediately in front of
the Market House, in conversation with
gentleman, he was approached by Mr..
James d. Saunders, eldest son of the doc.
tor. After drawing Mr.. It's attention to
him by touch upon the shoulder, and an
inquiry il he were right in supposing this
Mr.. T. flor the parties were unacquain,ed)
Mr.. s. struck Mr.. T. over the head with
a cane whereupon the latter drew from
his side pocket one Of Colts FIVE shooters,
and fred at Mr.. S. In the meantime,
Mr.. $. drew single barreled pistol and
fred also.
The firing then became general, until
some FIVE shots were exchanged between
the partes-three by Mr.. 4. and two by
Mr.. S.,-when they closed in upon each
other, and were in The ACT of doing farther
violence, when they were separated by
bysanders. On the parties being releas-
ed, Mr.. 7. staggered back against the
Market House without falling, giving ev-
ident signs of being severely wounded, :
when he was taken by the arm by Col.
Brown, and led 10 the residence Of DR..
Blacklord, about twenty PAGES distant,
where he is now lingering from The effects
Of hrs wound. Mr.. S., without giving
immediate signs Of being badly wounded,
was led by friends aboutthe same distance.
to the law office Of Mr. Roane. /. was
soon found however, that he was mortal.
ly wounded, having been shot about the
centre OF the stomach, the bali passing out
at the left side, just above The hip bone.
He died about 5 o'clock in the afternoon
in much pain. AID amid the most heart,
rending family scene ever beheld. Mr..
Terry was shot about The same part ofthe
body, the ball passing, it is supposed. into
The stomach. A first i, was thought that
his wound was more Immediately fa,al
thaa that Of AIR. SIS, but be rallied some
what about two o'clock Thursday night,
and was considered much better, until
Saturday morning. when change took
place for the worse. But faint hopes are
now Saturday night entertanedsof his
recovery. r
We regret 10 stale further, tina, Capt.
A. F. Bggers, one of our oldest and hes,
Police Officers. having from the bes, Of
motives, stepped in 10 arrest the afiay,
received severe pistol shot in The leg,
and severer one in the arm-the one in
The arm is supposed TO have been that first
fred by Mr.. Terry. and the one in the leg
the first fred by Mr. Saunders, He is
now lying al his residence very severely,
though i, is hoped. not dangerously woun.
ded
MIR. Saunders was young gentleman
Of a5ou. % years of age, generous, noble
and chivalrous. and had not an enemy we
presume upon the earth. In gall.ntly
laying down his life in vin1icalion Of what
he regarded his fathers sacred honor, he
has left young and interesting wife 10
whom he had been married bu, six weeks,
and large and extensive family Of rela-
tives and friends TO mourn his untimely
fate. Mr.. Terry is a gentleman of 80
years Of age, highly respected and much
beloved by all who know him, and has an
amiable wife and an interesting family of
four children, together with large and
respectable family connection,
II IS OF course no! our province. even if
il were proper TO do so. TO speak Of the
merits oil the circumstances which have
ended thus tragically and painfully
Still less shall We attempt TO paint the in
expressible anguish OF The interesting fam.
lily of him who has gone--of thai Young
and lovely wife but six weeks from The