Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-10
The Tragedy nj nelson q. n.

We have received from friend at Mel |
son c. II. an account Of the dreadful catas.
troPhe which occurred there, the 1st July.
but as the subjoined narritive. published in
the Virginia Advocate, is fuller and more
c'rcumstantial, we prefer giving it. The
writer is known to US. and his statements
may be relied on
What occurred in Charlottesville is thus
related III the Advocate, First came DIR.
Williams and Miss Morriss (the aiiianced
lovers) with two brothers Of Dr.. w. and
Mr.. Hill. Soon afterwards. Mr.. Richard
Morriss and his son Richard (the father and
brother Of Miss Morriss) and Mr.. Shelton
arrived in hot pursuit after the fugi,ives.-
The whole of Monday evening was con-
sumed in propositions from one side to the
other-Dr. Williams refusing to give up
the young lady to the father Counsel were
called in, who decided that there was no
law by which Mr. Morriss could recover
possession ofhis daughter. Threats passed
freely on both sides, and young Morriss
being told that his sister would no, be Civ
cn up without a fight, drew a pistol upon
one Of DR.. Williams brothers, who showed
that he was fully prepared for such an O.
mergency, and blood would have been
shed had not the bys,anders interferred to
prevent it. The parties were then arrest
ed, disarmed and bound over to keep the
peace. In the course of the evening, Mr..
Morriss obtained possession of his daueh-
ter, and thus ended the affair in Charlottes-
vile.
LovrNcsToN. 4th July, 1851.
Mr.. EDITOR: In order that your rea-
ders may have a true account of the occur
renee, which has, through the instrument
tality Of strangers, made our village. peace
full in itself, the scene Of another fatal rem
contre, | will proceed to detail the material
facts
On last Monday about sunrise, party
consisting Of DR.. L. d. Williams, of Am
herst, his two younger brothers, and Mr..
f. J. Hill, arrived here in company with
Miss Morris, a daughter of Richard G.
Morriss, Esq, of Amherst, on their way
North, to consummate the marriage of the
Dr. and Miss Morriss, Mr.. Morriss being
violently opposed to the match.
Some three hours after the first party
left, Mr. NORRIS arrived in hot pursuit
accompanied by his son Richard.
We learn that he overlook the party in
Charlottesville. What occurred is known
to you. 1t seems all parties were apprc-
hended, bound over in small penalties, and
Mr.. M. obtained possession ofhis daughter.
The Williams party started bnck, and
reached here about twilight--and Mr.. Nor
riss arrived in about haitian hour after, and
put up at the same house, Mr.. McCaul's.
The Williams informed the landlord
that they did not wish to go to the public
table, if Mr.. M. was to be there. They
were informed that Morris had ordered
supper in his room, and were requested to
go down to the tablc-and they went uc-
cordingly. Young Mr.. Morris, it seems
left his fathers room, went to a Coffee
House. got small julcp, and returned to
the tavern, and instead of going to his IA
TIERS room, and in spite ola request TO 90
there, he went to the public table, at which
there were some fifteen or more persons,
several Of whom were ladies'. He took his
seat directly opposite DR.. Williams, this
was doubtless accident,) and instead of
eating commenced staring him in the face
Dr. w. continued to sip his coffee, when
to the CONSERVATION Of all, Morris seized a
plate and threw it violently in DR.. Viii
liams' face at the same time springing up
with drawn pistol. All parties followed
suit The confusion and alarm, the shrieks
of the ladies, and shouts of the men, the
rush of chairs, and crash Of ware cannot
be described. The evidence was, that
Morris first barrel did not 90 off, the cap
exploding. The witnesses think that he
and DR.. w. exchanged shots. But by
whom any of the parties were shot is mere
matter of conjecture, except DR.. w. He
was shot in the bar-room by young Nor
ris. For there was a general rush up
stairs from the dining room, DIR. w. ahead.
Morris after, and others following There
had been loud shout that they should
clear the dining room.
1t is supposed there were from FIVE to
seven shots in the dining room, and one,
others arc positive two, up stais Hill
was certainly shot in the dining room. on
the right side about the lower part Of his
vest, through which the ball passed.
Young Morris was caught by some one in
the bar-room as he was falling, taken up
stairs, and died almost instantly. He was
shot from behind, the ball entering near
the spine. His corpse left here Wednes-
day evening for Maj. Yanccy's. DIR. VIII
lams and Hill are both here dangerously
wounded. Hopes are entertained that
both may recover. The prospect for DR..
WIS. recovery is most hattering. Capt.
Morris was in his room with his daughter
when the ARRAY commenced, and reached
the bar-room, only in time to receive his son
as falling.
All the living persons, except Capt.
Morris, were Immediately arrested at the
instance of Justice, by special consta-
bles, without warrant
Their trial came on Wednesday be-
fore Col. Jas. billiard, John Horsley and
Wilson Peters Esq. and after hearing the
evidence of host Of witnesses who gave
testimony with hardly shadow Of vari-
ancc, all were promptly discharged who
were present, (the two younger Williams)
and the warrant dismissed as to Hill and
DR.. Williams, against whom also the pro-
cess issued. This result was inevitable
from the evidence.
The parties could not have been in our
place half an hour, before these awful re-
suits followed. Hill was doubtless shot
by Morris, and he thinks Morris was shot
by him, in the dining room; though Mr..
Morris says, his son told him, that Robert