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


sides; and by the advice of friends, during
ths fall of 1889. instituted suit against her
husband for dfvorc e. Soonzafter the inssitu-
ton OF the suit, the parties met at Sandy
Level, ftsyloania county, for the purpose
OF taking dispositions Here charge was
made by the husband, Mr. james Clement,
involved alike the honor of his wife aud that
of Mr.. William P. Gilbert, young gentle
man 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. injuring Mr.. Gilbert and
bis brother, as well as two of the Messrs
Clements. but none Of them seriously.
This serious ARRAY, of course, greatly in
creased the i'll feeling which had been en-
gendered between the parties. and the mat
ter finally become 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 adherenis. 80
Added to other causes which has so es-
tranged the two families, some time since.
Mr.. James Clement the husband. by some
means obtained possession of sprightly
child. the only issue of the marriage. and
placed It with his own relatives. The grand
father. Capt. Witcher, and large party of
friends. DEFINING this act an outrage, and
believing that the nother was the proper
custodian of the tender offspring, bv due
process OF law recovered the infant, ard re-
stored 10 TO its maternal parent.
Last Saturday, the 18th inst. as stated
yesterday, the parties all met at locality
IN Franklin county. (some saw Brooks. and
others Dickinson's storey 10 take further de-.
positions to be used in the suit now pending
Tor divorce. A question propounded by
Capt Witcher, so exasperated Mr. James
Clement. the defendant in the suit. that he
resorted to the use of his pistol for an an
swer, but fired too quickly to make sure of
MS aim. Capt Witcher 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 pistol In the same hands which had sped
the messenger of death with such unerrinp
certainty to the brain of his brother James,
johnson Clement, another brother, fired at
Mir. John Archer Smith, sroud-run Of mr.
Hitcner, WHO was present, and brother to
Mrs. Victoria Clement, severely wounding
him ia the shoulder. The wounded man then
rushed upon johnson Clement with bowie
knife. and made a fatal thrust into his bowels,
the unfortunate victim falling dead on the
spot. The other party to The affray, engaged
on the Witcher side, was Mr.. Samuel
Swanson, Jr-, also devoted grandson of
Mr. Witcher. NJ. 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
affiueni; occupy hight social positions; and
very naturally exert most commanding ill.,
fuenee in the section where they live.
MIR. James Clement was about 2S years of
age, and the yOungcs. OF i've brothers. He
was a farmer 10y occupation. His brother
Ralph was lawyer, ard johnson. the other
brother killed. was like James, also a farmer.
Two other brothers elnIgrated 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 remov-
ed TO Pittsylyansa.
Mrs Victoria Clement, formerly Miss Vic
torla Smith, is said to be a lady of about
Fl years of age; possesses extraordinary
personal beauty, and is highly accomplished.
She is daughter Of the late DIR. Albert
Smith, who died leaving large estate, and
I'VE children, Two sous aud three daughters.
His widow still survives, with whom Mrs.
Victoria Clement has resided since she lett
tie home of her husband.
Capt. Vincent Wilcher, is perhaps. as wide
ly known in Virginia as any man within the
Commonwealth. For q consecutive years,
in the popular branch. well as in the |
Senate of our State Legislature, he has play
ed no unimpOrtant part. His speeches In |
The Legislature always commanded the un-
divided attention OF that body, and were
characterized by a force of logo and power
of reasoning, that rendered them we'll night
irresistible
We understand, that up to the time of the
d difficulties growing out of the unfortunate
marriage between the two families, Doctor
Clement and Vincent Witcher, Esq, were
what may be termed bosom friends. They
frequently visited one another; couuseled to-
ing all the ordinary transactions of life. Alas,
how sadly aud irreconciIably, have the
bonds of this friendship been snapped asun-
der