The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-05-31
LOCAL MATTERS

San ArrA,R-MAN SHoT.-Yesterday al
ternoou about o'clock, a most unfortunate diHi-
cultv occurred on IL h and Main streets, between
DAVID +. GRooMs and JAS III SAusDERs, wntSn
resulted In the latter being shot la the head with
ravolver and killed. Grooms and Saunders were
both In The employ of Mr. Joseph II. Colquitt, the
first as sadler and the last collar maker. Yes
terday morning, while both were engaged al tneir
business in the back shop Ia Trueharts alley,
Saunders left bis work walked to Grooms' bench,
took him by the collar, and told him he intended to
yybip him Grooms, knowing that Saunders bad
bee drinking, humbly begged cf, and finally got
swsv from Saunders, who Immediately after seiz ID
a knife and started in pursuit of Grooms, but did
not catch him, G. having fled for his life, leaving
bis coat and hat behind him. Finding that his vio-
tim lad escaped him, Saunders became exceeding
Iv violent and sppar emily bent shedding the
blood of some one, made at two OF Mr.. COlquitts
aoprentices, who also ran OF.
The shop being now clear, poor Saunders, 10 a
uaroxism OF rage went to Mr.. Colquitts store and
beesn TO abuse him without cause provocatiOn !;
hui Mr. C. knowing hts violence of temper, talked
calmly 10 him. and got him nearly passif ed when,
untortuu atsly, Grooms, who had been off and pro-
cured arms to protect himself, stepped In, not
knowing that Saunders was there. He had barely
nessed the Threshold of the door, when Saunders
made at him with all the ferocity of a wounded
tiger Grooms instantly drew his pistol and pre-.
sented it. telling him TO stand back and retreating
all the time Mr.. Colquit seeing the danger OF
blood shed, caught hold of Saunders and succeed
ed In restraining him until Grooms had got into
the street when he broke loose and pursued him
Grooms again drew his pistol, and warning Saun-
ders of his DANGER told him to advance no further
at the peril of his life; hearing which, Saunders
dropped bis head and continued to advance until
getting half way across l2th street, when Grooms
fred one barrel of revolver, the ball penetrating
the top of Saunders head. directly In line with
his nose passing through the skull into the base oil
the brain, and producing death In few hours
thereafter AS soon as Saunders FELL he was taken
into Mr.. Coguitts store, and Drs Hancock and
Burwell for, but they found it impossible
| to do the dying man any service.
The report of the pistol instantly attracted q
large crowd, to whom Grooms delivered himself
| up, and was Immediately taken into custody by
Sheriff Hutcheson, of Henrico, who detained him
until the arrival of Policemen Tyler and Seal. -
Grooms seemed almost frantic ct the thought oil
having taken the life of fellow being, aud declar
ed that be had only done so to save his own He Il
| a man Of family, and bears the character OF
peaceable harmless man.
Saunders was a widower, and leaves two ANAL
children. lie is said to have been a qusrrelsome
disagreeable, dangerous man when drunk, bul
when sober, just the reverse His end has beer
truly sad one.
Grooms Ia now confined Ia the cage, and viii I'M
dergo an examination before the Mayor this morn
ing. If the evidence proves all that has been rela
ted to Us by those who saw the difficulties we dc
not see how the Court can do otherwise than se
him at liberty.