The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-20

patch, our friends along the railroad routes can
avail themselves Of the messengers Of these enter
rrising news dealers in forwarding their orders,
SHOOTING AFFRAY on BROAD STREET, AND
SOMEBODY HCRT.-Ah, me- one more shooting
affray on the public streets, and this time
under aggravated circumstances for not only
were the lives of innocent bystanders and way
farers-men, women, children, and negroes,-
endangered, but the windows and doors Of
noisy Broad street, and the engines, cars, and
paraphtrnalia generally of the Fredericksburg
railroad were placed in imminent peril by one
of the twain engaged. At one hop, perfection
cannot be reached, and dignity and sublimity
must be attained by short and easy stages, so
that when few more shooting affrays have
come off, these last have done, we may hope
that they will attain their climax Of heroism,
and excite a feeling Of public indignation that
will cause the cessation forever of n practice
which has never, of late years ut all events,
resulted in any real or substantial good.
The persons engaged in the "murderous du-
cling on Broad street yesterday were two in
number, exclusive of the disinterested crowd
of intelligent spectators and the engines on
the track, which snortcd in horror when the
of the parties, is we'll known rs resident of
this city during the war but concerning the
other, Mr. w. Vernon, many strange and invi
dious tales are persistently circulated. 1t is
stated that Vernon was 4 quarter gunner on a
Confederate gunboat, and afterwards became
Il lieutenant in the Confederate army, but be-
fore the war closed he was accused of being
n United States detective, and placed under
arrest. However true all this may be, it seems
to be certain that he was caught in the act of
dese~tion-and last week came off second best
in n fisticuf encounter at the SpotswOod Hotel
with Captain BraXton.
1t appears that DR.. Maddux had, under
some what pecuiMr circumstances, attended
Ternon's uanarried sister professionally, and
he accordingly presented his bill which
amounted 10 forty dollars, to her brother.
The payment of this was disputed, and the
evidence on both sides was heard yesterday
before Recorder Regnault, but no decision
was made. Later in the morning, Mrs. Mad
dux heard Vernon say that he 1c0uLd XII -Hdd-
d,sr or get killed himself bJ0re ntgH so
soon as Dr. Maddux heard this, he armed him.
self, and while standing at the door OF his
office, on Broad, between Sixth and Seventh
streets he saw Vernon near the corner OF Sixth
street. MadduX was armed with an army
revolver, and, accompanied by friend, who
was unarmed he started up the street. Before
they reached the corner of Fifth street, Yer
non had disappeared, and MadduX then endea-
vored Intellectually to obtain a pistol for the
use Of his friend. Shortly afterwards MadduN
saw Vernon on the south side of Broad, be-
tween Fifth and Sixth streets and advanced
ToII
middle of the street, by the railroad track,
and called to Vernon, who was standing on
the sidewalk in front of :. r. Rosenthal ;
store, to come out. This, Vernon respectfully
declined to do unless Maddux would disarm,
which was also respectfully declined.
Such was the position of affairs MadduX
on the railroad track with hand and arms
all ready for the fray and Vernon on the
sidewalk thinking perhaps couh mn" Sp"re
That tree, or something equally appropriate.
Maddux could not wait, and called Vernon
very ugly name, rejecting npon the credit OF
his nearest female relation, to which Vernon
replied. " Tou're diHo'' This could not be
borne, Maddux called on his opponent 10 de-
fend himself drew his pistol, took deliberate
aim and fired, striking Vernon, who Is LETT
handed upon the left wrist. Al this moment,
Vernon started TO run into q store to get some
more -per2,"ps-but he was selzed
by ay oung man in grey, who did not compre-
hend the purity of his motive, and very eX-
cusably said, lOU -, phy d0at yon Stdad mp u
him lire II adR. In the mean while, the ever
vigilant" was alarmed, and Policeman An
gle caught MadduX BY the hand and seized
his pistol. Just then, 0ui tChle his foe todSheto
IN Hc seer. .rigiiam" p0lice, Vernon, with
head ups treet and beard on shoulder, fired IN
turn, the ball taking effect in DIR. MadduX' s
right leg near the ankle, and causing painful
wound SO soon rs this shot was fired, Il Mr..
H. c. Smith grasped Eernon's pistol, which,
TO every ones surprise, acciden tally exploded.
Both the combatants were then taken to the
Second Ward Station house, and appear before
Mayor Mayo this morning
Dr. MadduX's wound may cause him some
pain and inconvenience, but is not likely 10
result in any serious injury.
So has ended another shooting fray. 1t Is
the old tale with some improvements, as one
somebody was hurt, and several other
''somebodies' - might have been hurt. One
thing is certain: pistols, under some clrcum-
stances, and in the hands OF some people may
be- dangerous and the more dangerous the
closer you 90 to their uncomfortably cool
looking muZZle.