Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-07
The TorrIhle Trnroar b YlrglnIa.


three brothers, F. +. VS., lost their lives,
brief account of which we copied . few days
ago from the Richmond Enquirer. Verify,
truth is stranger than fiction" The Express
says:
The feud existing between the Witchor and
the Clement families is of long duration--some
twelve months or more-and grew out Of the
marriage Of Mr. James Clement, who is the
youngest of five brothers with Miss Victoria
Smith, a daughter Of tho lato Dr. Albert Smith,
and u granddaughter Of Vincent WitcheT,
Esq,
The parties are ali wealthy, and occupy a
high social position in the respective counties
which they represent, the Clements belonging
TO Franklin and the Witchers to Pittsylvania
county
The marriage between Mr. James Clement
and Miss Victoria Smith, was solemnized about
two years ago last fall, and the nuptials we're
celebrated with great eelat, brilliant party
being given in honor Of the event, which was
attended by the elite of the two counties, who
foeked in large numbers by invitation, from all
parts Of that section, to do honor 10 the joyous
occasion.
For several months the welded pair lived
together with nought but the most unalloyed
happiness shining on the rosy pathway Of
their early matrimonial career At length the
" green eyed monster, jealousy, reared his
hcrrid front in the household Of the happy
couple, and ultimately placed such restrictions
upon the young and confiding wife as 10 rem.
der her very existence burden too intolerable
to be borne.
She finally resolved to leave the roof of her
husband, and removed to the residence of her
nw emit in fha rrr.fv5
of Pittsyvania, where she now resides and
by the advice of friends, during the fall of
1859, instituted suit against her husband for
divorce. Soon after the institution of the suit
the parties met at Sandy Level, Pittsylvanis
county, for the purpose of taking depositions.
Here a charge was made by the husband, Mr..
James Clement, which involved alike the hon
OF of his wife and that of Mr.. WIN. P. Gilbert,
young gentlemen present, which was re-
sented by Mr.. Gilbert on the spot. Pistols
were drawn on both sides, and nine shots ex.
changed, five of which took effect, iniuTing
Mr.. Gilbert and his brother, as well as two Of
the Messrs Clement, but none Of them seri-
ously.
This serious affray, of course, greatly in
creased the illfeeling which had been eUqen-
dered between the parties, and the matter final
ly became so much talked of, that most of the
citizens Of the two counties were involved in
the difficulty, each party having its warm and
jealous adherents.
Added to other causes which had go estranged
the two families, some time since, Mr.. James
Clement, the husband, by some means obtained
possession Of a eprightly child, the only issue
of the marriage, and placed it with his own
relatives The grandfather, Capt. Witcher,
and large party of friends, deeming this act
IL. AI,,Ak I.
the proper custodian of the tender offspring,
by due process of law recovered the infant, and
restored it to its maternal parent.
Last Saturday, the 25th inst az previously
stated, the parties ell met at q locality in
Franklin county, (some say Brooks and others
Diekinsons store, to take further dispositions to
be used in the suit now pending for DIVORCE
A question prOpounded by Capt. Witcher SO
exasperated Mr.. Jas. Clement, the defendant,
that he resorted to the use of his pistol for an
answer, but fired too quickly to make sure of
his aim. Capt. Wiicher returned the FIRE, and
killed the husband OF his granddaughter on
the spot, the ball striking in the forehead
Ralph Clement, rushing to his brothers aid,
shared the same fate, from the discharge of a
pistol in the same hands which had sped the
messenger of death with such unerring certain
ty to the brain of his brother James johnson
Clement, another brother, fired at Mr. John
Archer Smith, a grandson of Mr.. Witcher,
who was present, and brother to Mrs Victoria
Clement, severely wounding him in the shoul-
der The wounded man then rushed upon
johnson Clement with Bowie knife, and made
fatal thrust into his bowels, the unfortunate
victim falling dead on the spot The other
party to thea afrsy, engaged on the Witcher
side, was Mr.. Samuel Swanson, Jr., also a
devoted grandson Of Mr. Witeher. Mr.. s.
was wounded, but will recover Mr.. Smith,
the brother of Mrs. Clement, it is thought will
die of the severe wound received in the
shoulder
The parties, as previously stated, are all
afHuent-Occupy high social pOsitiOns-and
very naturally exert q commanding influence
in the sections where they live.
Mr.. James Clement was about % years of
age, and the youngest of five brothers. He
was a farmer by occupation. His brother
Ralph was a lawyer, and johnson, the other
brother killed, was like James, also farmer =
Two other brothers emigrsted West several
years ago. The father of the unfortunate
young men who have thus met such violent
deaths, Is DR.. George Clement a very wealthy
and prosperous farmer. He formerly resided
in Franklin county, but has recently removed
to Pittsylvania
Mrs. Victoria Clement, Formerly Miss VIC
toria Smith,) is said to be a lady of about 2l
years of ags-pOssesses extraordinary personal
beauty, and is highly accomplished She is a
daughter of the late DR.. Albert Smith, who
died leaving a large estate, and five children,
two sons and three daughters. His widow
still survives, with whom Mrs. Victoria Gle
msnt has resided since she left the home of her
husband.
Capt. Vincent Witcher is, perhaps, as wide
ly known in Virginia as any man within the
limits Of the Commonwealth. For 81 consec-
utive years, in the popular branch, as we'll ss
in the Senate of our State Legislature, he has
played no unimpOrtant part His speeches in
the Legislature always commanded the undi-
vided attention of that body, and were charac.
terized by force of logic and power of reason.
ing. that rendered them well nigh irresistible
We understand that up to the time Of the |
difficulties growing cut Of the unfortunate
marriage between the two families, DR.. Glenn |
ent and Vincent Witeher, Esq, were what !
may be termed bosom friends. They frequent |
ly visited one another, counselled together, and
interchanged opinions concerning all the ordi-
nary transactions of life. Alas how sadly |
and irreconcilably have the bonds of this |
friendship been snapped asunder.
The Lynchburg Republican of Wednesday |
says that Mr. Vincent Witcher and his grand |
son, who killed the Messrs. Clements, in Frank |
lin county, Va, on Saturday, surrendered |
themselves to the authorities, and were prompt |
ly acquitted on the ground of selfdefence.
Legislative ummary.
The Senate was not in session yesterday.
In the House the following bills were intro