Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-11
RICHMOND WHIG.
TUESDAY MoRNING.-..JULY IL, 1865.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE SHOOT.
ING AFFAIR AT BOWMANvIiLE, CANA.
DA wEST-A MAN SHOT FOR KEEPING A
.nUta T,rrmnna


LADY's LETTERS.
The shooting of man name Kerr by young
woman named Munson, near Bowmsnville, Cana.
dl West, was announced by telegraph some days
| since. The particulars are given by the Bow.
manvie Statesman. 1t appears that Jas. Kerr
was keeping tavern in 0ronO last summer, and
Miss Munson, who was teaching school In the
same place, boarded at his house. They were
quite intimate, and rumOrs prejudicial to Miss
Munsons character obtained circulation. The
| Statesman says:
| Early in February last, Miss Munson left 0rOno
| to go West and was followed TO Toronto by Kerr.
| They met in the sitting room OF a hotel there,
| and Miss Munson asked Kerr TO return her the
letters which she had previous written him. This
i he refused TO do, and according 10 her
story forcibly detained her in an adioin ng
room all night. From that time to the present
she has been living with Miss Smith. On Mon.
| day evening Miss Munson, accompanied by Miss
| Smith proceeded by railway from Toronto 10 New
tonville, where they stayed all night On Tuesday
forenoon they came to eewcaste, and there hiIedr
| at Mr.. Bradey's livery stable horse and buggy,
stating that they wished to goio Lesksrd. They
went north TO Ballydufi, and on their return at
| night stopped at Watson's Hotel in Orono. Mr.
Kerr was sent for and obtained, and after some
| company them TO Hampton, and then leaving
| them there return the horse and buggy TO Mr..
| Bradley. With this underst ndng they left 0rO
| no, coming around 10 Hampton by the longest
| route When North of BowmanyiIle two miles
and half and Just after passing the toll gate,
| Miss MunsOn, unknown 10 Kerr, drew revolver
and shot him, the ball entering the left side and
passing through the body, lodged in the right
| side. Kerr at first thought he had been shot by
some person on the road, and at once started his
| horse on a run, and at the same time exclaimng
| Pm shot" One of the two women took the rens
| and stopped the horse. when Kerr again heard q
pistol click, and suddenly reaching out grasped
| the revolver in the hands Of Miss Munson. Not
being able TO West il from her, he threw himself
| from the carriage, and 1t passed on a short dis.
tance. Kerr then returned on foot little over a
mile and quarter 10 the residence of w. IL.
| Caud, where he sought and obtained admission.
| He was speedily conveyed 10 Brodes hotel, In
| this town, and medical aid was immed ely
procured. 1he deed was committed about
| two o'clock on Wednesday morning, aud Mr..
| Kerr reached BOwmanville about five. His case
was al once pronounced almost hopeless, and he
i now lies at the point OF death After perpetrat-
| ing the rash act, Miss MunsOn and her companion
| returned 10 Bowmanyille, and stayed at the house
Of a friend for q time; then went 10 Newcastle To
| return the conveyance, md at the same time Miss
Munson Voluntarily placed herself in the hands
| of Mr.. Bradley, as under arrest he being con-
|
inRly shot Kerr, and exhibited the utmost feeling
at being placed in such position. On searching
| her Mr. Bradley found the revolver from which
| the fatal bullet had been discharged, and also a
bottle of laudanum; both OF which are now in
| his possession. She did not try in the least TO
| escape but states that her companion was to-
| tally ignorant Of the whole affair, ant that she
alone had any knowledge OF the plOt-Miss
| smith not being party TO II either as
| an accomplice or participant. The pris-
| oner was arraigned before George Haines, Esq,
at the Town Hall. Bowmanyilie, on Wednesday,
and pleaded guilty to shooting Kerr: She was
committed TO Jail at Cobourg, TO stand her trial at
| the next assizes Miss Munson could not be per-
suaded by parties 10 plead not guilty TO the
charge she said that she had done the deed and
would not tell an untruth to shield herself -
Her only regret is for the sake of her family, for
| whom she feels the greatest grief. She fur.
/ ther states that her reason for shooting Kerr
was that he would not return her letters and me-
nnced her with the threat of making known all
their transactions II she did not comply with his
/ wishes. Miss Munson Is a young lady OF good
| accomplishments we'll educated, and holds a
| lrst-class teachers certificate from the Toronto
| Normal School. Her father is highly respecta.
! BILE and possessed of more than ordinary intelli.
gence, and must sadly feel the shock occasioned
| by the erring ones misdeeds. The family are well
| 10 do in the world, and will doubtless have the
| sympathies of the entire community in this their
| time of trial. Mr.. Kerr, has wife, who is highly
| spoken OF, and three children. They were sent
| for, and remain with the dying man.
| The ball was extracted from Kerr's side on
| Wednesday afternoon, by DR.. Reid; and at this
| time-g o'clock Thursday mo-. 'g-the sufferer
Is still alive, though very weak. 1t is thought
| he cannot live.
| Ii is stated that Miss Munson previously car
ried revolver, with the intention of shooting
| either Kerr or herself, and that K'rr took the
weapon from her and still retains it. She ex'
| pressed determination of putting an end TO her
life on the first opportunity and tried twice to
shoot herself yesterday but the revolver would
not 90 of. The unfortunate creature must be
laboripg under temporary insanity, and driven to
desperation through fear of her tormentor. We
cannot but feel panied while chronicling these
facts; but deem it best that correct version o
the affair should be given to the public, as so
| many false reports are in circulation.