Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-03-14

NASHVILLE, March -, 1890 J.
THE VIRGINIA TRAGEDY-LegdI Enan,ina-
tion.-The examination of Capt. Vincent
WiIcier Addison WItchcr, J. A Smith, and
Mr.. Swanson. for killing The three brothers
Clement, is progressing before the Franklin
county Court. The Danville Register pub
lishes from the evidence given in Court an
account of the affray, which differs materi-
ally from other accounts published. The
parties assembled at the store for taking de-
positions. aud the morning passed off quietly
The account proceeds:
About noon, woman named Bennett was
brought forward for exaninat on by the
Clements Captain Witcher requested the
Justice 10 defer the examination of this wit
ness 10 another day, and gave as the reasons
for his request that he was fatipued was old
and infirm. and wished to leave for home. The
justice declined to reply and a recess was
taken for dinner After dinner, Capt Witch
en- renewed his request, when Ralph Clement
replied that il would take but short lime to
examine the wiinrss. Capt. Witcher remark
ed that witness had livtd with the Clements,
had perhaps heard only one side of the uucs-
tion. and lie wished, therefore 10 crosS-exam
Inc her thoroughly. which wonld require sew
tral hours Clement then remarked that
whoever said that he bad pr,jGdiced the
witness told a lie, or something 10 that effect.
Capt. Nitcher, who was seated an a chair
smoking, a. ked Clement to repeat his Ian
guage more explicitly, rising at the same
time from bis chair. At this juncture the
firing commenced. James Clements and VIM
Clements Mere in The rear of Capt Witcher
seated on bed, and one or both common
ced to fire at him. as h. IW.] rose aud at
tempted TO draw his pistol. just the Aldi-
son Nitcher seized Ralph Clement Several
individuals who were i'll the room rushed out
al The door. pushing back John A Smith who
had started into the room, at the report of
the pistols. Smith passed in and with pis-
tul IN one hand and knife in the other COM
menced an attack upon James and William
Clement who were still firing in rear of Capt.
Wltcher. though the latter, TWitcher1 had
not up to this time, fired q single shot, his
having hung i'll his pocket in the attempt to
draw it
Swanson, who fought with stick only en-
gag d one of the Clements, who was still at
tempting to shoot Witcher. When Captain
Wichsr succeeded in drawing his weapon
il number of shots he been fired by all
parties, and it is supposed that at least two
OF the elements were mortally wounded,
though all kept up their firing. Captain
''''S"Ni C"Oill ana look deliberate
ann at James Clement, who was engaged
with Smith. and at the crack of his pistol
Clement fell. the ball having entered his fore
head. He then fred second shot at VIM.
Clement, who also received the ball in his
head and fell. Lastly Capt Wiicher fired
at Ralph Clement who was likewise hit, but
fingered some two hours, the other two dying
almost instantly.
John \. Smith was shot in the right shout
der as he entered the room, and Swanson re-
crived u wound in the wrist. 1t is said th It
Smith inflicted several mortal wounds upon
James and VIM. ClrIseni, before Captain
Witcher commenerd To fire. The whole of
this cngag, ment iranspircd in less time than
30 seconds, aud after The first few shots the
room was filed with dense smoke from
the burning of powder. Tue most rema:ka-
BILE circumstance about the affair is, that
Capt. WiIcher escaped unhuri when he
seemed to be the object on whom the attack
mas chiefly direcied.
This ARRAY occurred in the counting-room
of I)ihkinsons store, small space. sixteen
by eighteen feet in dimensions. and it would
seem that the cOmDalants had scarcely elbow
room; Tor in this small apartment there were
two large desks, a stairway, table, an iron
safe, IA large bale Of raw cotton, several
chairs, large roll of sole leather aud bed.