Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-03-06

PTTsYLvANIA COURT HOUSE,
March /, 1860.

The Laie Terrible ARRAY I'm Pittsy l.
| ..rlaal sania.
PnTsYLvANIA Court HOUSE,
| lsa March l, 1860.
To the Editor of The Examiner:
You no doubt have already heard of the
late ARRAY which resulted in the death of Jas.
| Clements William Clements, and Ralph Glenn
cnts and the wounding of Oliver Smith aud
- Smith, his brother; but you may not be
in possession of all the facts and circumstan-
ces Herewith connected.
Some two or three years since, Jas. Glenn
ents married Miss Victoria Smith, the grand
| daughter of Capt. Vincent Witcher, who was
a lady Of extreme beauty and charming char
| acter. Shortly after the marriage, Clements
commenced q course of harsh treatment to
his wife, which terminated, some four months
since, in her being compelled to leave his
house at midnight, in her night clothes, TO
escape from his fury. 1t seems he was the
victim of wild suspicious of her fidelity. and
as "trifes light as air, to the jealous mind,
are COMBINATIONS strong as proof of Holy
Writ - he soon arrived at a definite conclu-
sion in regard to her guilt, and charged her
publicly with the crime. This, of course.
arous.d the Indignation of all her friends,
land their name is legion.l and from that mo-
ment the "war of the roses" commenced. Sue
filed her bill in the Chancery Circuit Court
of Franklin county, praying divorce ct men
sa etfhoro Notices were served for the taking
of dispositions, and some four months since,
at Sandy Level, in this county, when the TAX
inc of The depositions was being conducted,
Mr.. James Clements and Ralph, his brother,
got into free fight with Mr.. William Gill
bert and his brother, about the charges
against Mrs Clements, IN which there were
some fifteen or twenty shots fired, and three
or four men wounded. Time rolled on, and
each party-the Clements and their friends
on one side, the Witchers. Gilberts, and their
friends on the Other-swearlng vengeance.
and arniing for a deadly struggle when it
should come.
On last Saturday. at Dickinson's store, Fl
miles west of this place, the taking of depo-
stions in this divorce case was being con-
Quoted when one of the three Clements gave
Capt. Vincent Witcher the id lie. Capt.
Witcher rose from his seat, and asked Glenn
ents TO repeat what be had said, so that he
might not misunderstood him.
In reply to this, James Clements, (brOther
of the one who gave the id lie,) fired a shot
from a shooter at Capt Wtcher. This
was the signal for general slaughter, and
each one cried 'shavoc,D and commenced
firing with five and six shooters, and slaShing
WITH bowie-knives. Capt Witcher drew his
Colts navy sx-shOOter, and commenced the
work of death. The two Smiths, (brotbers of
Mrs. Clements,) sprung to the rescue with re-
yoIyers ard knives: Addison Nitcher, (sOn
of Capt. W. rushed ia to the scene of blood
to save his father; whilst. on the other side,
the three Clements we're firing in rapid sue
cession. eager to do all the damage they
could before they fell
The fight occurred 10 a small room, some
l6 by 20 feet. Alter the curtain had fallen
on the closing scene of the tragedy, the room
was filled with smoke, the foOr puddled with
buman gore. and all three of the Clements
stretched iSad IN their blood, riddlrd with balls
ard slashed with knives. The two Smiths
were both badly wounded by shots; Addison
Witcher bad ball-holes through his clothes
and hair; whilst Capt. Witcher remained un-
seathed. There were eight persons engaged
in the fight, three of whom were killed and
three wounded. The deceased Clt ments have
five brothers living, who now collecting
their friends and clansmen for a pitched bat
tie. whilst the Witcbers are arming and pre-
pairing for their reception. The end j. not
vet; and | much fear that eur soil will be
drenched with the blood OF many good men
vet in this deadly feud.
The charges against Mrs Clements are, in
nv opinion, false as hell" aud have never
heard, or heard of. any person who did not
agree with me, unless pariiZan ef the other
side. james Clements seems TO have been of
"A suspicious. Jealous disposition. aud had no
doubt coDjured up this suspicion from cir
eumsraDces occurring daily in che life of ali
married ladies.
Our whole county, together with the coun-
ty of Franklin. is ia a tornado of excitement.
aud every man in il has taken sides, and is
ready To fight by his decision
Captain Witcher killed ali of the Clements,
although one of them had a mortal knife
wound in the abdomen, given by Smith; for
the balls OF his Nary revolver being much
larger than these OF any other revolver used,
could Be easIy fraeed. and the post sasFtea show
ed Dis lisiol had indieted death ia all three
cases. The Clem-nts gave the lie aud fired
Tue frsi shot.
Yours. GUlLLECMO.
/ The Petersburg Express Of the Ist. gives the
following account OF Ihs tragedy
The fvud exiting between the Wiieher and
the Clements families is OF long duration
some twelve months or mofe-and grew out
OF the LsaTriagr OF Mr.. James Clements. who
il the Youngest of the i've brothers with Miss
Victoria Smith. daughter of the late DIR.
Albert Smith, and a grand daughter OF VIM
cent witcher, E~q.
The ptrgies are all wealthy, and occupy
high social ps.sitienin the respective eoansies
hch Ih-y represent. the Clements beioagiRg
to Franklin aud the Wilchels 10 PiIisylyauia
county.
The marriage between Mrs James Glenn
ent aad Ma ietosia Ssnith, MAS solema.zsd
about tao years ego lat fat, and the mp
tiais Eere celebrated With great ecta. bril-
iiaat party belng given In honor % the event.
~hich was attended hy the RAE Of The two
coantles, who rOcked In large nasnbrrz by
i1vitaiien. from aia parts Of that ssetioa, 10
do honor 10 The joyous occasion
For several moaihs the welded pair lived
together. with nnnght bat tn most unaiIoy-
ed happiness shining GA the susy pathway II
their early matrimonial career. A. iragth
the --gre~n eyed" monster. l-lossy, reared bic
horFid froni IN the hossshola os the happy
couple, aud uiilmaieiy placed saea Ersific-
tons upon she yeaak esd eaa.ssisag wife As
10 render her very sxiaeaes barsses TOO
iniolrrssle % be b rue.
she dnally resolved 10 leave he rs,of u
Der husband. aud removed 30 shH residence
OF her notber. Mfz- DR.. Alters Saith, Ia lbe
county " littzyisznia, where sbe nos Ee-