Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-04
Homicide in D;uwiddie.

a melancholy and fatal encounter occur
red In Dinwiddie county, on Thursday,
about one o'clock, P. NJ, near the Sussex
county line, between two highly esteemed
citizens of the two respective counties, re-
sul.ing in the death Of the former. The
parties were Mr.. Morgan Burns, Of Din
widdie, and Mr.. W. W. Bate, Of Sussex.
Some unsettled accounts were standing
against Mr. Burns in the hands Of the lat
ter, and on the. aho3e day, Mr. Bate rode
over to tie residence Of Burns for a final
arrangement. The two gentlemen met in
front of the house, and took a seat on
bench some ten or twelve feet from the door.
Vhe subject Of the accornts vas imnlediate-
" proceeded with bet in the midst of tie
conversation, some unpleasant words passed,
and at length, the dabate grew into heat
ed quarrel; which ended with Burns leav-
ing the bench, and entering the house to
procure his gun for the purpose Of shooting
his adversary. Bate instinctively followed
him to the door, ard as Burns returned
with his gun. in the act Of preparing to
level it, he (Batte) drew pistol from his
coat pocket, and presenting it at Burns
breast, fired. Burns fell dead upon the spot,
with the gun in his hands. Bate left for
home Immediately, which was only a short
distance from the place Of the hotaiciidfe, but
has doubtless ere this given Himself Up to
Che authorities. The deceased was man
of family, and at the hour Of his death, his
wife was confined to her chamber with an
infant only eight or ten days old. Pet. Eup
4 Tough Story.--Dr. Livingstone's
Travels in Africa recently republished, is
considered one of the most curious books of
modern times. Among various surprising
things in it is the following account Of a
strange deformity existing in a tribe Of ne
groes in the country he had explored. Every
man, woman and child in the tribe are with
out front teeth. Inquiring into the cause
Of the unnatural appearace it was given to
him thus: "Once upon a time the chief Of
the tribe, like many better men in civilized
countries, was possessed Of refractory
wife. He endured her impudence and an
noyanee for many years, but one day his
passion becoming suddenly aroused, he gave
her what it is termed in civilized parlance a
plug in the mouth with his fist. The blow
must have been we'll aimed, for it relieved
Che mouth Of the prerd woman Of all her
front teeth. Thus despoiled of her beauty,
the sable matron hid herself in shame and
afterwards became a tractable and obedient
wife. The warriors Of the tribe, in coun-
Gil assembled, observed the good results Of
shat one blow of the chief, and beng troubl-
ed generally with disobedient wives resolu-
ed at once to follow his pngilistie example.
Each repaired to his home. and rested not
content until their wives we're foreibly re-
lieved Of their front teeth.
/ Mysterious Muder Much sensation was
caused on Saturday last, BY the discovery
of a dead body in the woods near the Race
field, near this city On examination it
proved to be the body Of Joseph Tucker,
who kept q grocery store on tie Mechanics
vile turnpike road. There were marks 0!
violence on the body, namly, pistol wound
and a cut Of a knife, Tucker had been alb
sent from bis home since Thursday, on a
sort Of little SPREE" There is, however,
much mystery as to who killed him, and
various reports are circulated. Deceased
was about 80 years Of age and leaves aawift
and child. The body was Inferred on Sat
urday, and as there is considerable mystery
in the matter, we hope some light may YET
be thrown on this affair. Rich. Enq
Health OF New Orleans.