Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-17

II is very true. as stated ny u. W., that
when Mr.. NORRIS, his son and daughter,
reached Lovingston. they found the vii
lians's ct the olly Hotel in the place, and
they had no alternative butte go on some
ten miles farther, or stop there. II being
night and very dark and the road very
rough, and withal, Mr. Morriss and his
daughter being both, much wearcd, they
determined 10 bespeak apartments ina part
Of the house where they would not be
thrown ia contact or collision with the VS..
and remain all night and pursue their jour
ney early next morning. In order, more
certainly, to avoid collision or contact with
the VS.. Mr. NJ. requested supper to be
furnished him. his son and daughter, in his
own room, which was promised, and he
exhorted his son not to go TO the pubic
supper table. or in any manner come IN
contact with or enter into collision with
tho VS., which he solemnly promised he
would not do.
Some short time after Mr.. Ms. arrival,
and while he and his son were sitting in
their room, Mr.. Samuel II. Shelton. who
had accompanied them from Lovingston to
Charlottesville. came into the room and
invited young Mr.. NJ. to walk with him,
which Mr.. NJ. demonstrated against for fear
it might lead to some difficulty. but on the
assurance Of Mr. S. that nothing of a hos
tile character was intended, and of his son
tina, he would avoid any thing of the kind,
Mr.. NJ. waved his objection, and urged
his son to return speedily.
After Mr.. s. and young NJ. left the
room, Mr.. NJ did not know where they
went or what occurred. he remaining in
his room, until he heard the discharges Of
the pistols; when. fearing the worst, he
rushed down stairs, and near the foot of
the stairs, met his son, MORALLY wounded,
clasped him in his arms, laid down with
him on the floor and there held him until
some time after he expired.
What induced young Mr.. NJ. to go to
the supper table. or what occurred there
to produce the collision which resulted so
disastrously, Mr.. NJ. does not know, and
cannot say, except so far as he can gather
from the conflicting statements OF those
who were present and saw and heard
what TRANSFERRED. His son, in the short
space of time which was left him, between
the receiving Of the wound and his death
told Mr.. Morriss, that when he took his
scat at the table, he found. without design
ing it, that he had taken his seat opposite
Ro. Williams. who, gave him an Insulting
scowl. That, Immediately on perceiving
this, he threw his plate in WIS. face, when
the three Williams and Edmund Hill,
who had accompanied them, rose from
their seats, and seemed to be drawing
their pistols That he as quick as he could
drew his also, and levellcd it at Robert
Williams. but the cap DID not explode
About the same time, four pistols wcrefr-
at bin, neither of which took effect, and lie
Immediately fred at Hill and DR.. L. d.
Williams, both Of which, he thought took
effect. That supposing the ARRAY was
over. he started up stairs and on his way,
was shot behind from the opposite side OF
the table in the room, by Robert Williams,
which took effect and was mortal. This
was the dy ing statement ofthe son to the
father-a son that had never deceived and
never told an untruth to that father,
as the father directs us to state. OF the
truth of this statements made under circum-
stances so solemn and so impressive, Mr.
NJ. does not doubt; nor does any one who
knew young NJ. doubt, that he died fully
impressed with the belief. that Ro. Will
liams offered him the insult ofwhich he
complained, and that he received his death
at Ro. Williams hands.
Under circumstances so exciting, and
confusion SO COMPOUNDED, it is not to be
wondered at, that there should be conflict
ing statements by those equally honest, and
that some should have seen and heard
what others did not see and hear. 1t was
very natural Against these statements
thus getting nhoat, Mr.. NJ. and lis friends
although much afflicted by them, have nc
complaint to ultcr-it is what was to bC
expected. But against the many rumor:
| thrown into circulation, the product o.
mischievous and inventive minds, and which
have no foundation in truth he does com
plain. He regards them as cruel and un
feeling.
With the question Of the reasonablenes;
or unrcasonableness of his objections to The
inier-marriage Of his daughter with Mr.
Williams, Mr. NJ. thinks, and we heartily
concur with him in opinion, that the pub.
lie had nothing to do and should not have
'meddled with it. Miss NJ. is lis daughter
and by the laws of the land, she being UNI
der age, he is entitled to her custody and
bound to protect her. He thinks that he
is as capable of judging of the fitness OF
unftncss ola match proposed for his daugh-
ter, as those Lasy bodies who, infest societ,
and annoy families by their unsought and
undesired intermedding. He thinks his
feelings might have been spared any allu-
sion to this part of this unhappy transac.
ton. He thinks his affection was suff;
oicntly severe inihe occurrence itself, with.
out these aggravating and false rumors be-
ing put in requisijion, as if to mock him in
| his calamity.
we do not ascrbe to the correspondent
the Advocate, "R W." nor does Mr.
Morriss, any feeling of hostility to Mr.. NJ
or his son or family, or any purpose to dis
color tins transaction to young Ms preiu.
dice. We are gratifed TO learn that sucl
a feeling or such purpose is incompatible
with the character of the gentleman ,c
whose authorship it is ascribcd; but Mr.
Nj. thinks as we do, that his communica
ton betrays feeling somewhat partial tc
young Morriss's adversaries and not very
liberal TO him. He certainly seemed dis
posed not to let the slightest indscrction O
young Morriss upon that occasion, escape
exposure, when we find him in his com.
munlcation, tracing young Nj. to the "Cof
fec House" and proclaiming to the public
that he had taken small jalp.' But We
torhear any comment upon this commune
cation. Mr.. Nj. and his friends have deter
mined TO leave it whcra ii is, to be estimat-
ed by generous and enlightened public
for what it Is worth, and not doubling that
the author himself will ultimately do JUS