The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-16
From the Lynchburg virsinan
The Tragedy Mt Nelson Court lIouse


From the Lynchburg virsinian.
The Tragedy ut Nelson Court-iiou.s
We have received from friend at Nelson courthouse
an account OF the dreadful catastrophe which occurred
there the st tuly but the suboined narrative, pub
lished in the Virginia Advocate is fuller and more cir
cumstantal, we prefer giving it. The writer is known
to us, and his statements may be relied on
What occurred in Charlottesville is thus related in the
Advocate: " First came DR.. Williams and Miss Morris
(he afianced loyers) with two brothers OF Dr. W. and
Mr. Hill Soon afterwards Mr.. Richard Morris and his
son Richard (he father and brother OF Miss Morris) and
Mr. Shelton arrived in hot pursuit after the ugitives
The whole of Monday evening was consumed in propo-
sons from one side to the other-Dr Williams refusing
to give ND the young lady to the father Counsel were
called in who decided that there law by which
Mr. Morris could recover possession OF his daughter
Threats passed freely both Sides and young Norris
being told that his sister would not be given up without
a fight drew pistol upon one Of DR.. Wamss BROTH
ers who showed that he fully prepared for such
and blood would have been shed had not the
bystanders nerfered TO prevent It, The parties were then
arrested disarmed and bound to keep the peace In
the course OF the evening Mr. Morris obtained posses
sion Of his daughter and thus ended the AFFAIR in Char
lottesve."
LIVINGSTON, 4lh july 1851
Ma EDITOR In order that your readers may have a
true account of the occurrence which has through the
fundamentally OF strangers, made our village peaceful
in itself the scene OF another fatal IancontIe will pro-
coed 10 detail the material facts.
On last Monday, about sunrise, party consisting OF
Dr. L. ID Williams of Amherst his two younger brothers,
and Mr. +. j Hill, arrived here in company with Miss
Norris a daughter of Richard G. Morris, eco, Of Am
hers on their way North. consummate the marriage
of the Doctor and Miss Morris. Mr. Morris being vlo-
lently opposed to the match.
Some three hours after the first party left, Mr. Morris
arrived in hot pursuit. accompanied by his son Richard
We learn that he overlook the party IN Charlottesville
Wha, occurred Is Known 10 you. !. 81 ~
Mr. M obtained possession of his dausbt n -
ams party started back, and 1.zeaed hers ~,
and Mr.. Morris arrived in about half am lpsr sfne
Out 10 at the same house-Mr. McCaurA f-~" 80
The Williamses informed the landlosd4 NJ ~ ID
not wish to 60 the public table il Mr. NJ was to- be
there They informed that Morris had ordered sup
per in his room. and requested to 90 down to the
table and they wen, accordingly. Young Mr.. Morris,
seems, left his fathers room, went TO coffee house,
got small ulep. and returned to the tavern and instead
of going hs fathers room and In spite OF request to
20 there he went the public table, al which there
fifteen more persons, several OF whom were la
dies He took his seat directly opposite DR. Williams,
hs doubtless accident) and instead OF ealing com
inenced staring him in the face. Dr. w. continued to
sin his coffee when, the CONSERVATION OF all Morris
seized plate and threw il violently in Dr. Willians's
face, at the time sprngng up with a drawn pistol
All parties followed suit The confusion and alarm, the
sheks OF the ladies' and shouts Of the men, the rush oil
chairs and crash OF ware, cannot be described The evil
dence was that MoIris's first barrel did not 20 OFT
The cap exploding The witnesses think that he and Dr.
w. exchanged shots; but by whom any OF the paries
shot is mere matter OF conjecture except Dr. w
He was shot the bar-room by young Morris for there
was general rush up stairs from the dining room, Dr.
w. ahead, Morris after, and others following. There
had been loud shout tina, they should clear the dining
room.
IL is supposed there were from FIVE to shots in
the dining room. and (others are positive two) up
stairs Hiliw certainly shot in the dlnng-Soom, on
rgh, sde about the lower part OF his vest through
which the ball passed Young Morris was caught by
some one in the bar room he was falling, taken up
stairs, and died almost Instantly He was shot from
~ k.I ha lct
here Wednesday evening for Major Yancey's. Dr. Will
liams and Hill both here, dangerously wounded.
Hopes entertained that both may recover The pros
pect for DR. WIS recovery is most faltering captain
Morris was in his room with his daughter when the al
FRAY commenced and reached the bar. room only in time
to receive his son as falling. .
Immediately arrested, al the instance OF justice, by
special constabss without warrants.
Their trial came OF on "Wednesday before Col James .1
hearing the evidence OF host OF witnesses who gave
testimony with hardly shadow of variance, all were
promptly discharged who were present. he two younger
Willamses) and the warrant dismissed to Hill and DR.
Williams, against whom Rso the process issued. This
result was inevitable from the evidence
The parties could not have been in place half
bour before these awful results followed. Hill
doubtless shot by Norris and he thinks Morris was shot
by him in the dining room though Mr. Morris says his
son told him that Robert Williams shot hun CIcum-
stances render both statements doubtful II not improbable
| am happy to say that though the dining room was
full of ladies' and gentlemen. and though II was night,
and persons passing about the tavern porch and
street fortunately no one else was injured.
The wounded have several friends and relations, and,
besides our own. their family physican-Dr John Paer-
SON of Lyncbburgwith them, and have secured every
attention that socitude and kindness can suggest
The Williamses intended under advice, to leave Tor
home Immediately after supper The evidence was con
elusive of young Mr. Mornss intention TO have DIM
Guilty at some time, il not that night.
have not heart to speak Of Captain Mornss anguish
and almost phrensy that night nor OF his saddened, ana
melancholy and unhappy state Of mind next morning,
nor vet OF the piercing shreks, the waiting and unuer
able agony OF the unhappy daughter Her father started
home The next morning, ks daughter lying down in the
carnage the picture OF the deepest suffering and broken
heart ~
Hills widowed mother is by his side. learn that the
utmost misery has been thus visited on both famiies
Old Mr. Williams 10 an invalid, and several OF his
family are ILL., The shock nj Mr. Morriss home any one
may imagine, and not estimate what heard was 's
effect
have thus endeavored guided solely BY the evidence,