The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-05
From the Petersburg VA Express. Of March Istl
THE TRIPLE TRAGEDY IN HENRY COUNTY

we hasten to correct. This we are enabled to do
through the kindness of a gentleman now residing
| in our midst, who once lived in the section of
country where the horrible tragedy was enacted
and is intimately acquainted with all the parties
who participated in this most deplorable and truly
bloody affair.
The feud existing between the Witcher and the
Clement families is of long duraton-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 dauohter of
the late DR.. Albert Smith, and a grand daughter
of Vincent Witcher, Esq. The parties are all
| wealthy, and occupy high social position in the
respective counties which they represent, the Gle
ments belonging to Franklin, and the Witchers to
| Pittsy ylvania county.
The marriage between Mr.. James Clement and
Miss Victoria Smith, was solemnized about two
years last fall, and the nuptals were celebrated
with great ecldt, brilliant party being given in
honor OF the event, which attended by the elite
| OF the two counties, who hocked in large numbers
py nVtatIon from al! parts of that section, to do
| honor to the joyous occasion. For several months
the welded pair lived together with naught bu;
the most unaloyed 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 cou-
pie, and ultimately placed such restrictions upon
the young and confdng wife to render her very
existence burden too intolerable to be borne,
She finally resoed to leave the roof of her hus-
band, and removed to the residence of her mother
Mrs. DR.. Albert Smith, in the county of Pittsylva
mia, where she now resides; and by the advice of
her 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, Plttsylvania county, for the purpose Of tax
| ing depositions Here a charge was made by the
husband, Mr.. James Clement, which involved alike
the honor of his wife and that of Mr.. William =.
| hilbert, a young gentlemen present, which was
resented by Mr.. Gilbert on the spot. Pistols were
drawn on the spot, and nine shots exchanged five
OF which took effect, iniurng Mr. Gilbert, and his
brother, as well as two of the Messrs. Clement but
none of them seriously.
This serious affray, of course greatly increased
the ill feeling which had been e1gendered between
the parties, and the matter finally became so much
talked of that most of the citizens of the two coun
ties were involved in the difficulty each party hav-
ing its warm and jealous adherents
Added to other causes which had so estranged
the two families, some time since Mr.. James Gle
ment, the husband, by some means obtained pos
session Of sprightly 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 an outrage and beey-
ing that the mother the proper custodian of
the offspring, by due process of law recovered the
infant, and restored it to its maternal parent
Last Saturday, the 25th instant, as stated yes
terday, the parties all met at locality in Fran lin
county, (some say Brooks and others Dickinson's
store,) to take further dispositions to be used in
pounded by Captain Wicher, so exasperated Mr.
James Clement, the defendant in the suit, that he
resorted to the of his pistol for an answer, but
fired too quickly to make sure of his aim. Captain
| Nltcnef returned the Hre, and Killed the husband
OF his grand daughter the spot, the ball striking
IN the forehead. Ralph Clement rushing to his
brothers aid, shared the same fate from the dis
charge OF pistol in the same hands which had
sped the messenger of death with such unerring
\ certainty to the brain of his brother James.
I Johnson Clement, another brother, fred at Mr..
JGhn Archer Smith, 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-knile, and made fatal
thrust into his bowels, the unfortunate victim fall
ing dead on the spot. The other party to the at-
fray, engaged the Witcher side, was Mr.
Samuel Swanson, Jr., also devoted grandson OF
9 Mr.. Witcher. Mr.. S. was wounded, but will re-
cover. Mr.. Smith, the brother of Mrs. Clement, II
is thought will die of the severe wound received in
J the shoulder.
I Mr. James Clement was about twenty eight years
of age, and the youngest of five brothers. He was
u farmer by occupation. His brother Ralph
lawyer, and johnson, the other brother killed. was
, like James, also a farmer. Two other brother!
! !, emigrated West several years ago. The father o
! the unfortunate young men who have thus met
= such violent deaths, is DR.. Geo. Clement, a very
: wealthy and prosperous farmer. He formerly re
sided in Franklin county, but has recently removed
: to Pittsvlvana.
: Mrs. Victoria Clement formerly Miss Victori;
= Smith), is said to be lady of about q years O
| age; possesses extraordinary personal beauty, ant
Il is highly accomplished. She is a daughter of tho
late DR.. Albert Smith, who died leaving a large
estate, and five children-two sons and three
D. D. daughters. His widow still survives, with whom
= Mrs. Victoria Clement has resided since she left The
= home of her husband.
: : Captain Vincent Witcher s, perhaps, widely
= | known in Virginia any man within the limits o.
u the Commonwealth. For twenty-one consecutive
! years, in the popular branch, as well as in the Sen
ate, of our State Legislature, he has played un
important part. His speeches in the Legislature
> always commanded the undivided attention of tha
= body, and were characterized by force of logic
20 and power OF reasoning, that rendered them well
y nigh irresistible
| md nd hat, 70 thn 4;,,o, # Ilol
T cultes growing out Of the unfortunate marriag
u between the two families, Dr. Clement and Vincen
~ Witcher, Esq, were what may be termed bosom
~ friends. They frequently visited one another cOun
seled together, and interchanged opinions concern
u ing all the ordinary transactions of life.
lie From the Nev Orleans Picapme, Feb. 2S,l
t. AFFAIRS IN MEXICO.
of ARRIVAL OF THE UNITED STATES MARGNEs.-Th
schooner Suffolk, Capt Smith, arrived at this por
last evening from Minatitlan, Tehuantepec til
re 18th inst. She likewise brings somewhat late
e news from Vera Cruz, taken down to Minatitlan b.
1T the Mexican war steamer Wave, as also later ad
lie vices overland from the interior.
of OF the whereabouts of MiramOn we have no fur
b. ther mention. 1t is only stated that he had issue
8, approximation ordering the submission and eyacu
in alton of Vera Cruz ''within the space Of fou
20 days" This news was taken down by the WAY
r. the llth, and leaves to suppose that porto
e. Of the expedition, as before rumOred, had aread
arrived in the vicinity of Vera Cruz. The procla
I'd nation like that of last year, is probably dated
ut Jalapa or some other point on the road, whence
n, found its way into the city.
The United States Marines had landed at Nina
titan, and correspondent writes
S, The authorities of this port and vicinity, VIII
b had been planning a change of government, som
Y, time before were vsibly excited by the arrival
D. Lieut. Crosby; in fact, tried to stir up the peopl
in to attack the steamer Mnatitan, but in vain. tn
prudent and judicious, though firm and determine
10 course followed by Lieut.. Crosby, gave them n
ia opportunity. 1t must be said to the credit of tn
hs gentleman that he placed in very delicate p,
st sti0n, where irmness and sound Judgment were rt
ut quired. single misstep on his part would hav
brought about an open war.
As before said the authorities wished for n di
ly turbance the Governor went so far as to d,
of mand from the Consul explanation, by wha
d. right American troops had been sent here. He II
ceived, as an answer, that the United States
IN America had the right to send their meu-Ofwar
any part of the globe where they had fellowcour
le trymen to protect. Subsequently, Lieut. Crosb
called the Governor to pay his respects to hin
when he, the Governor, said he did not know ii
should permit him, Crosby, to remain. Crosby II
piled that he sent here for the protection
Il American interests, and that he should undoubtet
y remain until recalled by the proper authority.
lg Subsequently meeting called, at whc
only Mexicans permitted to be present, to tax
- the matter into consideration. The Governor an
ut Prefect were both of the number, and submitte
an the following propositions:
an l. Shall the American troops be cOnsidere
l friends and allies or enemies2
a 2. Shall they be attacked and driven from ii
ed country, or,
3. Shall they be treated politely, but codly.
The discussion was long, heated and acrimon
lst Gus.
he Finally after four hours deliberation, it d.
cded that the Americans in the port of Minatitar
his be treated codly but politely until sufficient fore
ar be obtained to drive them out.
nd Something important, however, has arrived iro
to Vera Cruz to-day, as a considerable change IN III
behavior of many of the officials, is visible
of We in all about 100 Americans here, and
e, they ever should attempt to modest US, don
n think would get the worst oft.
II II HEAVY LIBEL SUITs-DAMAGEs A MILLION AND
IL HALF OF DoLLARs.-The New York Tribune of ye
j., terday, has the foowing:-Gerrit Smith is ma
:, ing excellent use of his returning health. He HI
or retained Messrs. Sedgwick, Andrews and kenned
U va of Utica, to commence suits in his behalf again
no no Watts Sherman, Royal Phelps and 5. l.. NJ. Ba
us low, prominent members of the notorious Fifth nv
h i nue. hotel Democratic committee. Fifty thousar
N dollars the damages claimed in each case
There are twenty-eight other members OF th
, \ committee We have not learned when they a
~ to be sued, nor have we learned when the mar
OIL publishers Of the ''Maniesto" are to be sued. II
nd following correspondence preceded the legal pr
of ceedings
PETERBORo', Feb. 49, 1860.
Warts SHERMAN, Esq.-Sir:-My father-in-a,
re Mr.. Gerrit Smith, has at length so far walked
Sc from the eclipse of his intellect as to be able
&C. read and to hear reading. lie has Just now see
y for the first time the ''Manifesto of the New o
nj, Democratic Vigilant Association published la
in yuhi Wit