Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-03-07
SUMMARY OF NEWS.

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.-We learn from the
Petersburg Express that a terrible tragedy
was enacted in Henry county Va, last Sat
urday, in which three brothers named Clem-
mems were killed. One of the Clemmens'
had, several years ago, married a Miss Smith,
a granddaughter Of a Mr.. Witcher, with
whom he lived happily until about eighteen
months ago, when becoming jealous, unne-
c~essarily, he sued for a divorce. The parties
met last Saturday for the purpose of taking
dispositions, with the view of ~effecting the
divorce, when on the examination of witness
ses Mr.. Clemmens, the husband, became ex-
asperated and fired a pistol at Mr.. Witcher,
the grandfather of the wife. Thus began a
tragedy which resulted in the death of the
three Clemmens', and the wounding of sew
eral other persons.
The Lynchburg Republican of Wednesday
says that Mr.. Vincent Witcher and his grand
son, who killed the Messrs. Clements, in
Franklin county, Va, on Saturday, surren-
dered themselves to the authorities, and were
promptly acquitted, on the ground of self de-
fence.
Gov. WIsE-has been summoned to appear
before the Harper Ferry Investigating Com
mittee of the u. S. Senate.
PoLIT1cAL.-Judge Douglas, it is given out,
is very much dissatisfied with the principles
of the democratic party agreed on by the late
Senatorial caucus and reported to the Sem
ate. These principles utterly repudiate the
doctrine of popular" or 'squatter" sovereign
ty, indicative of the course of the Charleston
Convention. The Chicago Times, Mr.. Doug
las home organ, says Mr.. Douglas will not
abide the decision of that Convention, unless
the platform is made to suit him: and on re-
fusal to make it so, he will run as an indie
pendent candidate.
The Legislature of Texas has adjourned
without taking any action on the South Car.
: DINA resolutions. Texas will therefore not
be represented in the proposed conference q
q Southern States. South Carolina herself AL
ALBANIA and Mississippi, seem likely. to be the
only States which will take part in it. AL
n though the Convention is to be held in Geor
gia, there is no authority vested anywhere t
II appoint delegates, and wherefore no author
lied delegates, from Georgia will be present
ar augusta Dispatch.
- MONTGOMERY, Ala, Feb. 9th.
?; The State Legislature adjourned this morr
err ing. The Governor failed to approve of tn
by Convention bills.
" SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN TExAs.-The Crock
- ct (Texas) Planter says that a most shockin
: tragedy took place at or near Hunts Blui
~ on the Trinity River. Mr.. Robert E. Herr
'm don, an intelligent, stirring, young bushes
~ man, kept a store at Halls Bluff. Some d
~ fculty occurred between him and DR.. A, I
", Steel, who, it is said, was intoxicated, al
SO threatened to shoot Herndon, who, thinkir
the gun had no cap, made no effort to e
~ out of the way. But Steel had replaced Il
:. cap, the gun exploded, and Herndon fell
7 corpse. A clerk seeing his employer tn
~ coolly shot down, seized another gun and
'Sy stantly shot Steele dead upon the spot. II
a. clerks name is not certain, or that it was t
es' clerk. Some say Mr.. Dickson, others \
no Nixon, and others that it was a friend of \
Herndon's. We only know that Hernd
and Steel are dead.
lis
rit- |0---I pl.aL H.. 800 ,,Ho.;,u
yerely, for several days past, with an ats
of neuralgia rheumatism. He is somewI
better and his physician is of opinion that
will be able to be up in a few days.
: ef- FATAL ArFRAY.-On Wednesday morn
last a difficulty occurred at Emory & He
College, between a student from Geor
named Reece, and John B. Brownlow,
n a Knoxville Tenn, son OF Rev. w. u. BROWN
Or in which the latter struck the former on
on head with a stick. Reece died the same nj
Daily Trans.