The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-06-04
LOCAL MATTERS

Of May, near the corner OF 18th and Maiu streets
As the Is of great interest to the public we
propose giving In the brefest possible space an
outline history of II, by commencing at the begin
ming of the difficulty, and following It to It's unior-
tunate termination. In order to do this however
we shall have 10 place the witnesses in their re-
spective positions to complete the chain of eyj.
dence, and not promiscuously, as they were exam
ined before the Mayor.
David Grooms and James II. Saunders were
10 the employ OF Mr.. Joseph II. Coquit the first as
a saddler and the last as a collsr.maker Mr. Col.
quits store where his work Is cold Ia Mt the
Northeast corner of 12lh and Main streets but his
Workshop. where his journeymen employed,
ts 10 TrueheRrts Alley. between 18th a1d I4th sts
and In rear OF Mr.. William Ira Smiths clothing
store, on Main.
At early hour on the morning of the affair
Mr.. Smith stepped into his back yard aud seeing a
large amount OF straw used for suing collars
scattered near bis premises called at Mr.. Couutts
store, and directed his attention to the danger of
| this combustible matter, Mr.. Groom being In the
store on business at the time. Mr.. CoIquitt immed.
ateiy promised TO allow no more TO be put there
remarking that he would get a room to keen il in
| When Mr.. Grooms returned to the back shop be
mentioned the circumstance of Mr. Smiths com
paint in the presence of Saunders, who, being
| nigh tempered man, as we'll a vindictive one
became offended, and shortly after left the shop in
| all probability to get something TO drink.
| About II o'clock, Saunders, In company with
| William Jeffrles, returned to the back shop and
| pulling off his coat, took his seat for work Mr.
Jetfres who had also worked In the same shop on
| a former OCCASION proposed sending for sone
| brandy, to which Saunders first objected, Grooms
remgrking that he would not take drink Of bran
| dy tor $40, and James T. Crowds suggesting the
purchase of bounce but Jetfries preferred brandy
| and one OF the boys was sent out to buy it, When
| tle liquor came, William Jet1ries, Saunders, and
| Crowds drank, when Saunders insisted that
| Grooms should also drink, which he finally con-
seuted to, and took about teaspoon full to crafty
Saunders, whose dspleasure was greatly dreaded
| by all who worked with him. Up to this moment
not an unpleasant word had passed between the
parties, and all were perfectly sociable; but the
| brandy drunk by Saunders seemed to have aroused
the devil In him. and he soon thereafter walked up
| to GroOms, who was engaged at his work took him
by the collar, and ordered him to go into the back
| yard to take whipping. Grooms having given no
offence and knowing the vicious, overbearing dis
position of Saunders well, threw himself back on
| his bench, and asked him, "Why do you want to
| whip me Don't hit me have neither said nor
| done anything to you," and this too, In the most
humble. submissive manner. Saunders then re-
| leased his hold on GrOoms' collar, and walking
| around the work bench, picked up a round knife
| az made at Grooms; seeiug which, Grooms sprang
from his seat and run for is life, leaving his coat
| and hat behind remarkiug es he fed out of the
| door, do you suppose am going TO let you kill
| me2'"
| Finding that he coald not then catch Groems
Saunders returned into the shop, and approaching
Jeffries and Crowds, laid his arms on their shout
| ders and told them that be would not iDjure
| either OF them, but would kill Grooms before he
/
| rage than ever, and began throwing his tools
| about the shop, seeing which, Crowds walked
| to the door, where lad named Miller was
| standing but he had only been there few Sc
| conds, when Saunders picked up a knife and
| started after him. Crowds and Miller both
| fed Saunders pursuing them into the yard,
| where he came up with Mr.. John II. Folks,
| in the employ of Mr.. Smith, and demanded to
| know who had complained about 1t. Mr. F.
| assured him he did not know, but supposed Mr.
| Smith had done so. He then asked who Smith was
and where he lived, but before Folks could answer
| his questions declared that Grooms was concealed
in F. room, and that he intended to follow him
| there and kill him. Folks told him he did not
| know Grooms, but that he (Saunders) could 20 up
| and search for him coon az he could draw .
| pitcher of water. Mr.. F. then stepped to the hy.
drant, when Saunders walked up snd took him by
the collar, at the same time raising a dapeerous
mallet over his head and threatening to kill him
F. finding himself in hard place humored Saun
ders as best he could and by that means got clear
of him
Saunders again returned TO the Workshop nick,
eI up large mallet, and advanced on Jef'ries who
seized hold Of him, and by talking and agreeing
with him IN every thing, got him to agree not to
touch him (Jeffries); but he swore TO Mr. Henry
Baker, who had come up at the time that he would
kill Grooms-that Grooms had slaudered him TO
Colquitt-and that he would have G's hearts
blood before night Jetfries endeavored TO per
suade him to go with him TO dinner but he declined
doing so, and with a violent oath vowiug to take
the lite OF Grooms before he eat his dinner Mr.
Baker, finding that Saunders was in violent uas-
sion, and that he could not pacify him. left him
Mr.. Jettrles says that after the paroxyam of rage
had worn of Saunders put on his coat and aske3
him to go with him to C.s store On promIsiog
faithfully to make no disturbance but to settle mis-
account in quiet manner, he consented 10 accom-,
pany him, and did so. Instead of keeping his pro-
mise, soon as he got 10 the store Saunders threw
his book down before Mr. Coquitt demanded an
immediate settlement, and remark ed that he owed
Mr.. ~, pulling OF his coat and hat, and de-
nafi m hank T,Ixs i
Instantly Colquitt, knowing the violence and vim.
d1ctlveness OF Saunders, and being really afraid to
offend him In any way, talked kindly to him. with
the hope OF appeastng his temper but to no effect
The whirlWfnd OF his rage was only Iulled a mo.
ment by the appearance of Mr.. Hitchcock who step
ped into the shop on business, seeing which Saun-
ders became more passive, and walked to the rear
of the room.
In the mean time, poor Grooms who is a very
small delicate, inohensive creature, and who had
been driven from the place of hi. emplovnent half
dressed into the street, by whom he had never
injured, and who only imposed ON him and c5tfed
him about because he had the physical strength TO
do Sc, had gone 30 James Wslsh's and purcbss. 4
loaded revolver, telling Mr. w that he 5i5 Mt ,,Isb
to iDjure any one, but th>t he was POOR man with
dependant tanily-that he had been driven from the
s1oP-that be was compelled to earn iivirg-snd
that he was going back TO his work peaceably and
quietly, resolved to give offence but to protest
his rights and life. Having procured tn pistoI
GFooHis te the back shop get his coat and
ha-Saundsrs being absent, and to the store to
ordet some materials for his work AS soon az he
made known bis wants, ard Mr. Coquitt gave orders
t. have them supp I'D, Saunders rushed On him TO
execute his thre.tS. Grooms, udiug hmselfin dan.
ger OF great bodily HARM drew his pistol prese nted it
at s. ana beseechng him to stand if at the hazard of
his life began retreat clntinua ly rushing on him
MI CoIqultt fearing that blood would be SHE'D his
store caught Saunders aud endeavored to keep him
back but hndng that he could not do So called on
Grooms To leave the room, which he did retiru Q
into the street Saunders bent GA executinp his
blcoly threats seized an iron ham. and struck at
Colqutt breaking it, which made M C. Telease his
hold Saunders then rushed into the street after
Grooms, and o. seeing his approach again presented
his pistol and warned him to stand of retreatipg
backwards all the time Saunders on seeing tbs
pistol folded his arms, compressed his lips drooped
his head as il in the act of spring on his adver
saIy. and continued to approach him csutouzIv
until within twelve or fifteen feet of him when
Gro1ms again called On him and warned him IN "a
vance no further at the peril of his life Findin
the warning unheeded, and knowing that death wa
his portion il his assaant once got his hands nm
fim, 9rooms ieVelei his pistol and fred de posting
the bali IN the top of hH sdversarys he Ed aud pro
dosing death within three hours thereafter
During the progress of the exsmiration il was
proved that Saunders was blood hirsty untorgiv
log msn-that he usually went armed with a lsTgs
awl or knife that bis physical strength was az
Inuch greater than Grooms that he could readily
have killed blm-that all who worked with him
were afraid Of him that he had sworn to take G's