The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-21

prising news dealers in forwarding their orders.
DESPERATE AFFAIR IN WARWICK CorN-
rY-A CITIZEN OF RICHMOND KILLED BY A
NrcRo.-A few days since we had a rumor
of the death of Mr.. W. 5. Bransom, clti-
zen of Richmond, at the hands of negro,
in some one of the lower counties. Being
unable TO obtain any authentic particulars,
we withheld its publication, and had
given il mp as an idle rumor. Not SO,
however, We received on Saturday
positive information that the murder
had been committed, together with the
following particulars of the horrible aflair
Mr.. BranSom left Richmond In the carry
part OF the month on business IN the lower
counties. On yesterday two weeks he was
stopping at the residence of Mr.. X. ID. Lee,
in Warwick county, three miles from
Yorktown. Towards the afternoon Mr.
Edward Lee, that gcntlcman's son, went
to the stable and directed negro in the
employment of his father to feed the
horses. The negro refused to do SO,
with the remark, 81 am free; | wont work
every day and Sunday too" The young
man wisely made no reply, but imme-
diatcly went to work to feed the horses
himself. Whilst he was doing so the negro
again repeated his remark with others
more impudcnt and insulting. The young
man controlled himself, said nothing, and,
returning To the house, informed his father
of what had passed. Mr.. Lee went out,
and asked the negro what he meant by his
impudcncc. The negro, without further
to do, seized him by the collar struggle
cnsurd, during which the negro drew Il
knife and commenced cutting ut his en-
plovcr. The knife made many Sits i'll Mr..
Lees coat, but fortunately did not cut
him. Young Lee, seeing the struggle, i'll
tericrcd, and the negro, releasing his father,
threw him down, and inflicted severe
cash in his neck, and another in the lett
arm. Mr.. BranSom, who was in the house,
hearing the noise of the struggle, rushed
ont. He found the negro upon young Lee,
with his knife raised, about to Kill him !;
and, running towards them, he rescued
the Young man by striking the negro a
smack with his open hand, which Knocked
him down. The negro Immediately got
m. rushed towards Bransom, infict ed Il
severe stab in the lower part of his abdo-
men, another through his right thigh, and
made his escape. All this was but the
work of a moment, and neither Mr.. Bran
som nor Mr.. Lee knew that they had been
cut until the latter'S father saw blood
trickling from their clothes. Mr.. Bran
som in few moments sank from loss OF
blood, was carried in the house, where he
fingered until last Tuesday, when he died.
4 negro girl living with Mr.. Lee testified
that few DAYS before the murder took
place she saw the negro whetting his knife,
and heard him remark that he intended to
kill somebody. Old Mr.. Lee expressed an
opinion that he intended to kill his son.
Mr.. BranSom leaves a wife and three
children. He was Il native Of Fluvanna
county, and took up his residence in this
CITY few years since. He first kept the
Piedmont House, on Main street, and has
lately kept the Central House, on Broad
street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets. We are told that he was man OF
uneXceptionable character, and much cs-
tecmcd by his friends. His guests were
much attached to him and his family, and
speak in the highest terms of their kind
ness towards those who were with them
During his suterings he requested that ms
family should be kept in the dark as to the
affair, expressing a faint hope OF getting
well, and wish that they should not be
made to suffer uneasineSs on his account
Finding that all hope of frecovery was over,
Mr.. Lee wrote to Mrs. Bransom that her
husband was in a very critical condition,
and requested her to come to him as soon
as possible. She FASTENED down, but when
she arrived her husband was no more. lie
had nobly given up his life to rescue that
of a fcllow-man. lie was buried near the
spot where he died.
We have the rumor that the murderer
has since been arrested, and is now in the
Warwick county Jail.