Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-01
The Tragedy in G0ldsb0rough.

The Tragedy in Goldsborough.
The last Tribune continues full account of the
personal conflict between DR.. Davis and the oden-
heimess. That paper says:
Zone T. Odenheimer had 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
Odenheimer 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 Odenhemer
merged the two accounts and handed to officer to
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
other aggravating circumstances we will
briefly explain-irrtated DIR. Davis and induced him
in the moment of excitement to cane Odenheimer,
which he eid week before last, in this Office.
The aggravating circumstances which led to the "a
ming these :-Odenhemer keeps a store of ready
made clothes and other dry goods and groceries,
prisng, 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 ne
groes. He had also, few weeks ago, endeavored
to prevent in ARRAY between Mr. James Hamilton,
store-keeper of this town, and Odenhemer, on
which occasion, he prevented Mr.. Hamilton from
splitting Odenheimers head with piece OF inch
together and the latter being pretty powerful man,
put Hamilton down, whereupon DR.. Davis pulled him
off and there that affair ended. Odenhener, mis-
constituting or dis'ikng 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 de-
termined TO cane Odenheiner, 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
Ihither he Immediately repaired, unattended and I'M
armed, having neither walking any other
weapon-not so much as pen knife in his posses
sion Not so with Odenheiner. He attended trial,
accompanied by his step son, young man apparent
~ OF ~ or II years old, armed to the teeth Each
had two pstols-sonle say the young man had three
in all carrying seventeen balls. This was 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
mence quarrel or originate fght-would brock
an insult from no man. On the trial, they clearly
fo'csaw that he would object that part of the &C.
count contracted by his negro, the elder Odenheim-
er would insult him, he would avenge the insult and
young Odcnheimer would open the fire. This was
evidently the arrangement as the event proved.
On reading over the items of the account, Doctor
that he had not authorized Odenhemer to let his ne
gro have the article in question Odenheimer said
hc-Davis-had so authorized him. Davis remarked
II you say so you say lie, and if you repeat it III
split your head with the'shovel at the same time pick
ing up small fire shovel lying near. Odenheirner
meantime replying tits another" whereupon Dr. Da.
Wis struck or attempted to strike the elder Odenhemer
when his step son instantly fired, the ball taking ef.
feet about inch below the right nipple and passing
horizontally through his body. Davis then rushed
on young Odenhemer, when the old man fired on
Davis his ball passing out of the window The Young.
err Odenheimer 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 spade, the blood meantime
flowing in torrents from his side but ere he could
place himself in an attitude of defence his murder
GUS assalants were again upon him. Exhausted
from loss of blood he again grappled with young
Odenheimer, seizng 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 an upward direction ,odo
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 10 inches from his head, when Windal T,
Robinson, youth, less than seventeen years old,
whom proud to call our son, who at that
IL
ieed 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 as cowa,dly Williams as ever
conspired against the life of their fellow man. Hon.
orabe and unsuspecting Doctor Davis had gone. un-
accompanied and unarlned to submit his case to the
arbtrament of the laws. The two Odenheimers armed
to the teetn and burning with vndictive malice went
there to provoke him to wrath, 5y adding injury to
insult and insult to fasehood that they might as we
are told, the elder threatened he would do, "kill
him." Providence, VIC trust. thwarted their hellish
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
friend by brace of cowardly villains or of running
the risk of deprving one 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 Odenheimer. The tragedy was thus
brought to close. DR.. Davis exclaimed s.Tm dead
mar" and gently sank to the Roor.
On examining the pistols of the Odenheme-'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
as the work OF moment. Dr. Davis was taken
charge of by his friends and carried into the office
Of DIR. Grafton where he was expected every moment
to breathe his last But God We trust, had ordained
u other"ise. ne Is yet aiiVe Inc situation OF his
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 excruciating 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.
liverance.
In detailing, this melancholy affair, perhaps it is
but just that the public should know the relation we
bear to Dr. Davis. He is our brother rim law Init
we can safely say, and defy contradiction, that
more peaceable, honorable and humane man lives
not on earth. He has never been kno,u, 10 80;