Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-08-05
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST S. 1857.
The Tragedy in Goldsboroush.

The Tragedy in GOldsboroush.
The last Tribune continues full account Of the
personal conflict between DIR. Davis and the Oden-
heimers. That paper says:
"One F. Odenheimer had a small account against
Doctor Davis which the Doctor admitted to be just
and was willing to pay, at any moment when pres
ented. 1t was but trifing matter. In this account
Odenhemer had incorporated another contracted
with slave of the Doctor, and of which the Doctor
knew nothing Without, however, presenting either
Or both of the accounts for payment, Odenheimer
merged the two accounts and handed to an officer
collect, with instructions not to warrant the Doctor
provided he would pay the BILL including the account
contracted with the negro. The officer, without any
explanation, warranted Doctor Davis. This, with
briefly explain-irritated DR.. Davis and induced him
in the moment of excitement to cane Odenheimer,
which he Gid, week before last, in this Office.
The aggravating circumstances which led to the Ca
ming are these e:-Odenheimer keeps q store of ready
made clothes and other dry goods and groceries,
prising, among other things, cheap liquors. The
Doctor learned satisfactorily that his negro boy Will
liam had been in the habit of buying liquor by the
quart from Odenheimer and retailing it to other
groes He had also, few weeks ago, endeavored
to prevent an afray between Mr.. James Hamilton,
q store-keeper of this town. and Odenheimer, on
which occasion, he prevented Mr.. Hamilton from
splitting Odenhemcr's head with a piece of inch
plank. Afterwards Hamilton and Odenheimer got
together and the latter being pretty powerful man,
put Hamilton down, whereupon DR.. Davis pulled him
off and there that affair ended. Odenheimer mis-
constituting or disking this interference by Doctor
Davis, had taken the liberty freely to speak of it,
and indirectly to threaten Davis such at least was
the rumor that reached the of Doctor Davis but
to which he paid no attention whatever. But when
the officer came to him with the warrant he natural
ly thought that it was adding insult to insult and dc.
termined 10 cane Odenheimer which he instantly
did in our own Office and in our own presence
Thus went matters previous to the trial on last
Thursday morning. Doctor Davis was requested to
attend trial at the store of Washington and Andrews
Thither he Immediately repaired, unattended and un-
armed, having neither walking any other
weapOn-not SO much as pen knife in his possess
sion. Not so with Odenheimer. He attended trial,
accompanied by his step son, young man apparent
ly of 20 or 81 years DID, armed to the teeth. Each
had two pistos-some say the young man had three
in all carrying seventeen balls. This evident
ly in pursuance of conspiracy entered into between
them to murder DIR. Davis. They knew that the
Doctor, while he has never been known to com.
mcnce quarrel or originate fght-woud brook
an insult from no man. On the trial, they clearly
foresaw that he would object to that part of the
count contracted by his negro, the elder Odenheim-
would insult him, he would avenge the insult and
young Odenheimer would open the fire. This was
evidently the arrangement as the event proved.
On reading over the items of the account, Doctor
Davis objected to being incorrect and observed
that he had not authorized Odenhemer let his ne
he-Davis-had so authorized him. Davis remarked
if you say you say lie and if you repeat it I'll
split your head with theshove at the same time pick
ing up a small fire shovel lying near. Odenhemer
meantime replying 'ts another" whereupon DR.. Da.
Wis struck attempted to strike the elder Odenhemer
when his step instantly fred the ball taking ef
feet about inch below the right nipple and passing
horizontally through his body. Davis then rushed
young Odenheimer, when the old man fred on
Davis, his ball passing out of the window. Thcyoung-
Odenhemer then fired his shoulder, at the
Dotors head the ball missing him and lodging in the
wall Davis then rushed from the counting room into
the store, and seized a spade, the blood meantime
flowing in torrents from his side, but ere he could
place himself in attitude of defence his murder
GUS assailants were again upon him. Exhausted
from loss of blood he again grappled with young
Odenheimer, seizing the hand in which he held the
pistol and preventing him from shooting. Here
again the old man fired, and Davis having his arm
around the young man, the ball smashed his finger,
glanced, and entering the back Of the young man,
passed some four inches in upward direction .odg.
ing under his shoulder blade.--The old william then
advanced and gave the Doctor two blows on the
forehead with the butt of his pistol and Instantly
turning it, aimed deadly shot, the pistol being not
more than II inches from his head, when Winda T.
Robinson youth, less than seventeen years old
whom we are proud to call our son, who at that
juncture, arrived at the bloody scene, lifted spade,
feed the murderer to the floor and saved his honored
and beloved relative from instant, cruel DEATH An
other instant, and Doctor Davis had passed into
eternity by the hands of cowardy Williams as ever
conspired against the life Of their fellow man. Hon.
orabe and unsuspecting Doctor Davis had gone un-
accompanied and unarmed, to submit his case to the
arbitrament of the laws The two Odenheimers armed
to the teetn and burning with vindictve malice went
there to provoke him to wrath, by adding injury to
insult and insult to fasehood that they might as we
are told, the elder threatened he would do, "kill
him." Providence, we trust, thwarted their helsh
design by directing the timely arrival of the youth
alluded to- who was left only the sad alternative of
witnessing the brutal murder of his relative and best
the risk of deprving of them of the power to
do farther injury by blow that might probably de-
prive him of life. He chose the latter, if indeed
he had time to choose, and, in instant the elder
Odenheimer lay PROSTATE at his feet By this time
Mr.. Harris had seized and wrested the pistol from
the younger Odenhemer. The tragedy was thus
brought to a close. DR.. Davis exclaimed "Pm dead
mar" and gently sank to the Roor.
On examining the pistols of the Odenheimer's,
seven barrels were found empty, though five reports
are all that can be accounted for. The whole affair
was sudden and unexpected, and appeared to be but
the work of moment. Dr. Davis was taken
charge of by his friends and carried into the office
of DR.. Grafton, where he expected every moment
to breathe his last But God We trust, had ordained
it otherwise. He is yet alive. The situation of bis
young and lovely wife, on hearing that he was dead
we must pass over in silence. May God forbid that
we should ever again hear of such another.
The Doctor suffers most from his shattered finger
the pain is excruciatng. Otherwise, he feels little
annoyance beyond the deep anxiety produced by
awaiting that momentous crisis that will determine
his fate. May God grant him happy and safe de-