Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-12
The University.

We published yesterday morning par
agraph from the Charlottesville Advocate,
which stated that the various accounts Of a
late disturbance at the University Of Vir-
ginia, which had found their way into the
papers, were greatly exaggerated. We
have since seen gentleman from Abe
! marie, from whom we learned the follow
ing particulars,
1t appears that, from some cause or 9th.
er, about which we are not Informed, Mr..
Scheie De We're, Professor OF Modern Lam
guages has rendered himself very odious
to large majority Of the students. On
this account he has frequently been the
victim Of their wild pranks, and has, on
more than one occasion, been subjected to
very serious annoyances. A week or two
ago several students took forcible possession
Of the keys Of his stable, while in posses
sion his servant,--carried off a pair Of
snowy black horses, painted them ,uhite.
and after riding them nearly to death. left
| them in the woods, at some distance from
the College. Three or four young men
who were suspected Of the outrage, were
arrested by the civil authorities--but no
proof being adduced upon their examina.
ton, they were discharged. The same
evening different party Of students went
down to Charlottesville, and made an as
sault upon the officer who had made the
arrest. During the fray, one Of them
snapped loaded pistol in his face. but the
cap not exploding, no injury was received.
For this wanton act the young man was
arrested the following Monday and lodged
in Jail, where he now remains awaiting
his trial. On the same day difficulty oc-
Cured between another student and n
magistrate in Charlottesville, the former it
is said, being the aggrcssor, having made
an unprovokcd assault upon the latter.
The magistrate issued warrant for his
arrest, and he was also imprisoned. SO
soon as the news reached College. large
number Of the students went dowu and
threatened to break open the jail ifhc was
not Immediately released. The magistrate
did release him, not however from any ap-
prehension of violence, but, las was sup
posed,) because the difficulty between
them was somewhat of personal charac-
ter, and the dignity Of the law had not
therefore been violated. The students
then quietly returned to College, without
committing any further outrage.
Prior to this, however, one Of them,
while standing in the door Of shop, OBJ
served, walking on the opposite side of the
street, the prosecuted officer who had al
ready so narrowly escaped, and with the
utmost deliberation fired couple Of pistol
shots at him. Fortunately for him again,
the marksman missed his aim. lie was
at once arrested and bound over to appear
at the next session Of the Court We pre-
sumo the reason why he was not lodged in
Jail along with his fighting predecessor,
was that they were brought before differ
ent magistrates.
These occurrences are certainly deeply
to be regretted at the chief institution Of
learning in the State. That they arc cal
| culated to result in serious detriment is
much to be feared. But we do not think
it is fair that the College should be made
to suffer for the follics and indiscretion Of
one or two Of its students. Where 3 or
400 young men are collected from all paris
of the country, it would be almost mi
raclc not TO find few disorderly fellows a.
mong them We have no doubt, that if,
in the presentinstance, an Albcmarle ju-
ry can be found to do its duty, the exam
pie viii exert most salutary influence in
Il t.,fYs