The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-03
Virginia Items.

toemeu fr1euu we opUdiu Uic Ptl tlCulilIS
of Iamentable and disastrous difficulty
which occurred on the morning of the
26th of July at Powhatan Court House,
between Mr.. George Homer, wheel
wright and blacksmith, and Mr.. Patrick
Atkinson and his father, Mr.. Milton P.
| tkinson, the latter enc of the hotel
keepers of the place. All of the parties
| have long been residents of the county.
| A misunderstanding has existed for sew.
eral weeks past between Horner and the
Young Atkinson, growing out of a dis
| pute about bill for work done by the
| former for the latter person. For certain
reasons alleged by Atkinson, he refused
to settle the bill, whereupon Homer
avowed his purpose to dun him for it in
any and every place and company he
| might meet him. Meeting on the
morning of the Goth instant, in the
Court House yard, in the presence
of some Union soldiers, Horner again
applied to Atkinson for settlement of
his bill, which resulted in a fight, in
which Atkinson is said to have been
worsted. After this he (Atkinson)
went to his home in the hotel kept
by his father. The son thus seen
by the father, bruised and bloody,
as soon as he had ascertained the cause,
he (the elder Atkinson), though
nearly seventy years of age, armed
himself with stick and advanced
upon Horner in threatening manner,
when the latter seized the heavy bar OF
door and dealt the former so severe a
blow as that he was stunned and pros
trated. Consciousness and vitality
speedily left him, which prompt and
skilful medical aid failed to restore. He
died in a few hours. The Federal SOL
diers present We're indignant against
Horner, and, not knowing all the cir
cumstances, it is said, threatened his
life. But he was rescued by the officer
in charge, who afterwards determined
to arrest him, when it was found that he
had fled from his home. He has not yet
been captured. Fear of the soldiers and
of the penalty of the law is supposed
to be the cause of his flight. The
elder Atkinson, the victim of this
deplorable affair, leaves an aged wife,
now quite i'll, daughter and one
son, the latter of whom to avenge he
lost his life. Young Atkinson is un-
married. Horner has wife and several
children. This sad occurrence is deeply
regretted by the community, and the
| families of both parties are sincerely
| cOmmiSSrated. --Repu0ttc.
The Republic publishes an order OF
Gov. Pierpont to Justices throughout
the State, and makes the following eX-
PLANTATION:
In another column of this paper will
be found an order from the Governor of
Virginia to the Justices of the County
Courts, in relation to the qualification OF
State officers, which clearly shows that
the trainers of the Constitution designed
to exclude from office all persons who
had held Confederate or State offices
during the late rebellion. 1t does not
follow, because of this action, that the
Convention designed questioning the
loyalty of officers more than privates
of the Confederate army, after they had
taken the oath of allegiance to the
United States, but merely to say to those
gentlemen: "You who were leaders IN
breaking up the Union are not the pro-
per persons to aid in its restoration. You
must take back seats for the present, and
let the people select new men as Their
leaders in restoring the State Govern
ment." Many officers were for the
Union as long as they could preserve it,
and may now be its fast friends; but
MANY of the secession leaders become
Confederate and State officers, and to
exclude this class the clause quoted by
the Governor was doubtless adopted.
We refer the. reader to the Governors
notice.
FATAL ACcIDENT.-Mr. Tho. Cole
man, a very intelligent and estimable
Young man of Dinwiddie county, was
killed near Ford's depot several days
ago, under very affecting circumstances.
He was driving some young ladies from
one neighbors to another, when in de-
scending a hill, themules became fright
ened and ran off. In his efforts to save
the ladies from all injury, he attempted
to lump from the wagon to stop the
mules. He unfortunately tripped and
fell, and the wheels ofthe wagon passed
over his head. He was so seriously
injured that death was caused in less
than two hours, though the best medi-
cal attendance was called in. He was
about twenty-one years OF age.
MARRIAGES LAST MONTH. - During
the month of July, just ended, there
were twenty-eight marriage licenses is
sued in this city by the clerk of the
Hastings Court. This number is almost
unprecedented in the hymenial annals
of Petersburg, and it may be considered
the more remarkable in view of the fact
that for ten days during the month, the
clerk was prevented from granting Ii
censes, because his Office was declared
vacan. by the Governor. He can only
account for the large increase of marri-
ages on the ground that better times are
here, everything is cheap, our popula-
ton is increasing, and the negroes
adopting the system of marriage. Pet.
Egpress.
ELECTION IN PRINCESS ANNE.-At an
election held in Princess Anne last
week, the following were the successful
candidates.
County Clerk. J. Burroughs.
SHERIFF.. B. Ackiss.
Commissioner evenue-H. M. Wood
house.
Commonwealth Attorney-A. B.
MalbOne.
The Republic says: Mr.. Francis j.
Smith, of this city, has received the ap-
pointment of State Treasurer, and yes
terday gave the usual bonds and entered
upon the duties of his office. Mr.. Smith
has ever been conspicuous for dev oted
fidelity to the Union, and his fine bust
ness capacity and urbanity of manner
eminently qualify him for this impor-
tant position.