Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-09-22
CITY ITEMS.

~ DxrloRABLx SHooriso AfFAiR.--On Tuesday night
the Exchange Hol the Of murderous assault
which has produced intense excitement and Indignation
In the community. The assalant a negro-trader,
named X. H. Melton, mailing from Richmond la Madison
Parist La; the victim T.. Oliver Sims the ycntemsnly
and popular bookkeeper OF the Exchange Hotel and Bal
lard House The particulars Of the sad Affair."
ncsed To as by some OF the witnesses NJ iollows
On Tuesday night, about halt past o'clock, the bell of
26i, Exchange Hotel occupied by Melton rng yio-
ienuy. Mr. w D. Hopkins, assistant clerk. sent
want TO the room Immediately. Almost smuta neously
one OF the chanbernaids down and mplanei to
NJ H. that she had been sent to 2Gi" short time pre-
.ioasly aud had been roughly treated Presently the
bell was again rung, aud another Ia
Meltons room. In Few minutes, Melton made his APP
peirancc at the Office, aud demanded his BILL complain
Ing violently the OF the inattenton OF the
servants and applying harsh ephets the clerks Mr.
Suns made out the BILL reccpied IT, aud handed IL across
the desk to Melton After looking the account and
commenting upon the rates OF charge NJ returned h,.
paper to Sims with the remark that he would not settle
until the morning when he would leave the hotel Mr.
Sims a-sented to this arrangement Melton then went
btck TO sGt and was followed thher by Mr. Uopkins
who stood at the closed door lew ninn,es and n.s,,
ming that NJ had retired proceeded to his own apart.
ment About 10 o'clock, Melton the following note
Dear Sir You have said you would have mi bag ,o.
put ON the street because called know wi mi bel was
not anscred Am now To sec IL Done shall wait
oil nInits After you receive this K H. MylroS"
This note, evidently written by unsteady hanJ and
almost illegibe at fret sight, received by Mr. Sims
who remained on duty at the desk. Before he had de-
n
newed his harsh language Sims told him he must lea,.
the hotel he would have him taken TO the acl house
n bis abuse was nsuferabe. Melton d,ied Sims or the
Ponce 10 Interfere with him. and declared that his bag
gage should not be removed from his room Fu,S
Melton struck Sims In the face with his hat and SIM
sneF IN ~srding on second blow iesignedy struck
NJ IN Tho face with his open hand lie then seized
wooden gaskey, used in lighting chandeliers and came
from behind the desk to the place where Melton was
sanung lie warned NJ not to draw his pistol he had
threatened aud again directed of the servants n
go to No 26i FOR Melons baggage. Melton dared the
negro 10 do so, and the order being reiterated NJ pulled
OUT MS Derringer barrel pisioland dis
chuged IL at sims lie then up stairs To his room,
and threw the pistol into the alley which separates In,
Hotel IRON Trinity Church, where it was afterwards
found.
In about ten minutes after the shootinp occn,roi
whtchmen Ball and Mann proceeded to 26I arrested Mel
Ton and conveyed him tn the watch house lie denied
hi- guilt and when searching the burea in his ,o,,
pistol was found he wished the officers TO take noti
that was loaded This happened before the other mis-
tol-ihe two making par-was found in the alley Yes
erday morning ut Ia O'clock the prisoner was takcn "a,
Tue Mayors Office la leaving the cage and aony the
route To the City Hail. goup. of citizens wer
eohect.d eager TO obtain view of the prisoner III,
was not disconcertsd by the gaze of d.. nnnn,..o
and in passing the Exchange Hotel salued an rcn,;n
anee whom he recognized in the crowd by wave of hi
hand. The Mayors Office thronged with men and
boys, who had assembled hear the cxpec,ed
uoh AS wen "a to see the prisoner but the Mayor post
Poned the examination until Tomorrow (Friiay \ and
remahded Melton to jail Melton Is a man of abon CnrtY
years OF age. He was dressed in diner resn aInoc,
frock coat, trab pants aud drab SLOUGH hat npJ ai
with shutting gait, if of his hips had been snr,ir
ed or hurt HIS face Is sharpfeatured and unprepo.
ses'ng and altogether hs general appearance il NOT al
cuia'ed to produce favorable impression or to coun
sraSt the current of prejudice directed against him by
Tie lamentablc deed of the previous night
Mr. Sims was badly wounded and nov lies Ia critical
snnlon at the Ballard House The hall entered about
nh inch and halt above, aud the right of the navel
penetrating the abdominal cavity and lodging in the kid
hey or bladder Drs. Conway and Peacliy are the nj
tending physicians and they have r.sorteJ In cv.ry
Pedient to alleviate his suerngs and prevent fatal re-
ant 'hat surgical skill could suggest or humanity promp,
There Is senree CLEAN of hope for his recovery AZ The
wound - OF character which almost invariably proves
is'a Yesterday his deposition taken by Alderman
.askle The prisoner brought up from the i,iI for
luenheahon, and was readily recognized 10y Mr Sims
ns the person who had shot him
The following Witnesses for the Common ,ltI b,y.
been summoned to appear tomorrow before the N,yor
AZ 10 o'clock DR. 81. Geo Pcacy, DR. Jas H. Conway
Richard l.. QuarlcS John K. Eaiy VIM r. Honkius
Alex. Dudley, and David ). Walton '
h'ssrs MarmatuLe johnson, A. h. Guiron and JnJ..
trump nave been engaged counsel for Melton w,
understand that the friends Of Mr. Suns will also secure
the services OF able counsel to aid in the prosecution