Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-03-09
TeErisle Henieida in rr.aAlia County,
THREE BROTHERS INSTANTLY KnLEDeTnREE
- OTHER MEN sHor AND worNpEp.


~ OTHER MEN SHOT AND WOUNDED.
The Petersburg Express - gives the fol-
lowing details of this distressing affair
The feud existing between the Witcher 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 the late DR.. Albert Smith
and q granddaughter of Vincent Witcher,
Esq.
The parties are all wealthy, and occupy a
high social position in the respective counties
which they represent, the Clements belonging
TO Franklin and the Witchers to Pittsylvania
ceunty.
The marriage between Mr.. James Clement
and Miss Victoria Smith was solemnized about
two years ago last fall, and the nuptials were
celebrated with great edat, a brilliant party
being given in honor of the event, which was
attended by the elite of the two counties, who
Hocked in large numbers by invitation, from
all parts of that section, to do honor to the
joyous occasion.
For several months the welded pair lived
together with naught but the most unalloyed
happiness shining on the rosy pathway of their
early matrimonial career. At length the
green eyed" monster, jealousy, reared his
horrid front in the household of the happy
couple, and ultimately placed such restrictions
upon the young and confding wife as to rem
der her very existence a burden too intolera-
to be borne.
She finally resolved to leave the roof Of her
husband, and removed to the residence of her
mother, Mrs. DIR. Albert Smith, in the county
Of Pittsylvania, 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, Pittsylvania
county, for the purpose of taking dispositions.
Here q charge was made by the husband, Mr..
james Clement, which involved alike the hon
or of his wife, and that OF Mr.. William P.
Gilbert, a young gentleman present, which
was resented by Mr.. Gilbert on the spot
Pistols were drawn on both sides, and nine
shots exchanged, five of which took effect, in
Turing Mr.. Gilbert and his brother. as well as
two of the Messrs. Clement, but none of them
seriously.
This serious ARRAY. Of course, greatly in
creased the i~ll-feeling which had been engen-
dered between the parties, and the matter f.
nally 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 so es-
tranged the two families, some time since Mr..
james Clement, the husband, by some means
obtained possession of a sprightly child, the
only issue of the marriage, and placed it with
=. 4v..,s l.Rs.rn Ul1 1901 cEI,n 49,
Witcher, and a large party of friends, deemed
this act an outrage, and believing that the
mother was 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 18th Feb, as previous
lyi stated, the parties all met at a locality in
Franklin county (some say Brooks, and others
Dickson's 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
In the suit, that he resorted to the use of his
pistol for an answer, but fired too quickly to
make sure Of his aim. Capt. Witcher return
ed the fire, and killed the husband of his grand
daughter on the spot, the ball striking III the
forehead. Ralph Clement, rushing to his bro
TIERS aid, shared the same fate, from the dis
charge of a pistol in the same hands which
had sped the messenger of death with such un-
erring certainty 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 shoulder. The wounded man then
rushed upon johnson Clement with a bowie
knife, and made a fatal thrust into his bowels,
the unfortunate victim falling dead on the spot.
The other party to the ARRAY engaged on the
Witcher side was a Mr.. Samuel Swar son, Jr..
also q devoted grandson of Mr.. Witcher. Mr..
8. was wounded, but will recover. Mr.. Smith,
che brother of Mrs. Clement, it is I thought will
die of the severe wound received in the shout
der.
The parties, as previously stated, are all aE
fuent-occupy high social positions-and very
naturally exert a most commanding influence
In the sections where they live.
Mr.. James Clement was about % years Of
age, and the youngest of five brothers. He
was q farmer by occupation. His brother
Ralph was a lawyer, and Johnson, the other
brother killed, was like james, also a farmer.
Two, other brothers emigrated 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
70 Pittsylvania.
Mrs. Victoria Clement formerly Miss Vic
toria Smith, is said to be a lady of about q
years of age-possesses extraordinary personal
beanty, and is highly accomplished. She is a
daughter Of the late DIR. Albert Smith, who
died leaving a large estate. and five children.
Two sons and three daughters. His widow
still survives, with whom Mrs. Victoria Glenn
ent has resided since she left the home of her
husband. =
Capt. Vincent Witcher is, perhaps, as wide
ly known in Virginia as any other man within
the limits of the Commonwealth. For Fl
consecutive years, in the popular branch, as.
well as in the Senate of our State Legislature,
he has played no unimportant part. His
speeches in the Legislature always commanded
the undivided attention of that body, and
were characterized by a force of logic and pow
OF Of reasoning that rendered them well-nigh If
resistible.
We understand that up to the time of the
difficulties growing out of the unfortunate
marriage between the two families, DR.. Glenn
ent and Vincent Witcher, Esq, were what
may be termed bosom friends. They frequent
fy 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 aslnder.
The Lynchburg " Republican =" of Wednes-
day, says that Mr.. Vincent Witeher and his
grandson, who killed the Messrs. Clements, in
Franklin county, Va, on Saturday, surrender