Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-04-12
RICHMOND WHIG.
THE ROCKINGHAM HOMICIDE.
Nj SnrnN Anrn : Is

MI. NOLON, ApIH - lo"''
TO tie Editor oftAe Wig:
How frequently do we hear the remark made that our
institutions in danger from that spirit OF A"lessnesS
aud disregard Ofthe rights of the peaceful and awaodg
citizen which evidently the increase in every section
OF country IL has been very long since an entire
community in the county Of Rockingham, felt it due to
themselves vndcate their rights in protecting their
lives and their property against OF those oHtdoS
whom, l blush say, cur laws found imperative
against Summary vengeance was executed upon nm.
aud public sentiment in the main, approved tue course
they took regret to say that have Just returned from
taking part in the last rites of humanity and friendship
in committing the grave the remains OF one OF the best
citizens Of tLeime cOdu "; who the night OF the
9TH inst fell victim to the spirit Of disregard of
law Three miles north OF Brdgewaer,i in Rockingham on
Thursday evening last large party assembled at the res
iltnCe of Hugh Deyers on to witness the marriage OF
one of his daughters to Mr. Sites Of Rawley Springs The
evening passing away most pleasantly, and all were
in the Enjoyment Of the festivities OF such an OCCASION
when their stunned with the din created
bv a company of low black guards with hOruS and bells,
aud othes instruments Of dscCrd who where approach
ing the house. Serenade them with their peculiar mu
sic Some of their party, too, were armed with guns
heavily charged with bucashot. As they came nearer
Mr. James II. Deyer, tue Oldest son, with younger
brother and tIOjhCru-W vit the house to meet them
and remoustrate with them and persuade them posi-
ble dsperse without further annoyance 70 the COM
plny On their approach, ahger part OF the rioters ran
but three OF their number stood th ground aud at tie
command Zone of their number wheeled aud level
ed their guns and one OF them discharged the entire con-
tents Of buckshot into the head face and neck OF Mr.
James H. Deyer twho, with the exclamation, God have
mercv" sauk down a corpse. The wrctcheS lsd-aud
two of thcmat this present writing yet at liberty
No one can describe the change which over that les
festive scene that night when the corpse OF him. ho mo
meut before in all the ygOr Of manhood beauty and
strength was brought into their midst. As stood by bis
grave this evening and his Young wife and her two
thcreSs chi iren and his tOtternS and feeble athea
aged aud'heartbrokcn mother and four brothers and
four sisters with their husbands AID children, and the
immense attendance of sOrrOwng rel1ties and trends
and heard their agouled ces-sud, the earth ratified
upon his coffin Witnessed did that poor mother sink
in a sNuou by las h!tess cOrse-my heart sank within
me-and "a dread OF ue future crept upon me-
The enquiry forced i,ss,t on nc" am | living
In a community where the nights sud immuuiues dear to
a freeman are respectedg' Alas Mr.. Editor We cannot
but admit that the immunity crime causing ta rapid
increase This young man. than any one else IN the
entire community in which he lived respected and
beloved Though Young, he held the place OF deacon
in the church ci his choice and Oycrseer Of the
Poor and Commissioner OF tie School Fund, and was
looked To bv his uegLbols The most suitable person 10
Nh the rsspajJe post of magistrate at tie ensuing elec'
on Strange TO saw he fen ~ tie haud OF one OF these
wrctches whom his bounty fed both an Individual and
u tl ap.city OF Gycrslcr There nine OF a." riot
rs three of whom respectfully connected. and all
are under arrest but TWO brothers, OF whom fired the
fatal shot 4 stood by his coAu counted the marks
oD his face of ten shsts six OF which the physicians say
would have proved fta need not say the excitement
i'm the community is inteuseA. all will unite in the de
size that the guilty may be brought 20 cOndgn punish
ment \ CITIZEN OF A!GU STA