The southern press., 1851-07-08
From The Lynchburg Va Republicam.

ANOTHER DREADFUL TRAGEDY--We are
called upon this morning, to record another
most painful tragedy, occurring between gen.
tlemen who may almost be considered citizens
of this place. The circumstance which caused
it, however, being of the most delicate nature,
we shall allude to them only in SO far, as will
be necessary to make Ineligible the sad ter
mination Of the affair. On Sunday evening,
last about dark, DR.. Lorenzo ID. Williams son Of
Jno. NJ. Williams, residing just across the river,
on the Amherst side, eloped with the eldest
daughter, aged about nineteen, of Capt Richard
G. Morris, who also lives Immediately over the
river with the purpose of marrying her. The
couple, accompanied by one Of WIS brothers,
and Mr. Edmond Hill, took the Charlottes-
vile route for Washington City The family
of the young lady getting wind of the eIopement
accidentally, in short time after it occurred,
Capt. Morris and his son, Richard G., prepared
Immediately for a pursuit. They overhauled
the runaways in Charlottesville, they having
been disappointed in meeting ready convey
ance from that place The daughter was con-
cealed in the hotel, but the father and brother
got possession of her, and then had Williams
and his party bound over in the sum of a
thousand dollars each.
Both parties left for home, and on Tuesday
evening. they put up accide tally at the same
hotel, in Lovingston, Nelson county When
Williams party and young Richard Morris
were seated at the supper table, opposite each
other, some indignity was offered young Nor
ris by the other party, when he threw his plate
into the face of Williams Morris Williams and
Hill then commenced general shooting, which
resulted, after some eight or ten rounds, in the
immediate death of young Morris, and the
mortnlly woundng Of Hill, and it is said of
Williams, also. Younr Nj. was shot in the
head and in vital part Of the body, by Will
liams it is supposed Hill was shot by Morris,
in the centre Of the breast, and Williams was
shot by him in the side and the back When
this occurrence took place, the father nnd daugh-
ter were in their room, up stairs. A message
was forthwith dispatched to the families Of the
parties, and arrived here AT an early hour on
yesterday morning. The news of so dreadful
tragedy OF course created the greatest excite
ment and regret in the community. As to the
feeelin2s of the unhappy families involved,
whose cup Of grief has been perhaps forever
embittered, we shall not attempt description.
Language word be inadequate to the task.
As we have gathered these facts altogether
from rumor, there may be and doubtless are,
many inaccuracies in them. Put their is no doubt
about the sad termination Of the affair When
We receive the authentic and detailed particu-
lars, we shall give them.
p. s. The report has since reached here, that
Hill had died Of his wound.
MoRE AUTHENTIc.--Mr. Morris was shot but
once and that through the body. He was not
killed in the geWeral melee, but wns shot BY
Williams brother Robert, after he (Moris) had
shot down both of his antagonist, Hill and DR..
w. and was retiring from the dining room. Dr.
WIS first cap exploded, when he was shot by
Mr.. Hill and w. both shot after. they were
wounded, but without effect. Morris lived but
five minutes, dying in his fathers a ms, who met
him at the head Of the steps. Robert Williams
has been arrested