The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-09-27
A Terrible Tragedy in Virginia

A correspondent of the Richmond DIS
patch, writing from Buckingham Court
House, Va, September 6, gives the fol
lowing particulars of the terrible tragedy
which recently occurred there:
The most thrilling and melancholy
affair took place here on the LIST instant
that has shocked the feelings Of our citi-
Ezens since the close of the war. The
causes and results are as follows:
About three weeks ago, or more, Mr..
Antony Walton, wealthy nill-owner of
this town, arose early in the morning with
the alleged intention of visiting his mill
and plantation, but suddenly changing
his route, returned to the house. There
he found Mr.. James Leach Ga young law
yer who makes Mr.. Walton's house his
home during the sessions of court) in the
room with his wife. Their positions rela-
tive to each other were such as to excite
suspicion on the part of the husband, who
at once ordered Mr.. Leach out of the
house., and forced the execution of his
mandate at the point of a revolver; after
which, he called for the carriage, and put
ting madam in, sent her to her mother.
Nothing farther of interest transpired in
the case, except that a bill of divorce was
fled by Mr.. " alton, until last Saturday,
when Leach again rode into town. After
,strolling about the village for some time,
he met Anderson Walton, q son of Anto-
ny by a first wife. Anderson reproached
Leach at once with the scandal, which
Leach denied with great emphasis; where
upon Anderson shook his fist in his face
and exclaimed, " You-lying@, you
did ! for pa saw you,"' at the same time
putting his hand under his coat. $50
you will shoot me, will you? yelled Leach,
and drawing his six-shooter, he fired, and
young Walton fell pierced through the
lungs, the blood gushing from his mouth
and nostrils. Just then Mr.. Walton tho
elder rushed upsand fred three shots from
his pistol directly at Leach, but missing
him entirely, slightly wounded Captain
A. T. ,Moseley and a negro. Once more
Leach fred, and the elder Walton lay on
the sward a corpse The ball entered just
above his heart, severing the main arte-
ries and causing Instant death.
Anderson fingered until Monday even
ing about,2 o'clock, when as they were
closing the grave over all that was NOR
tai. of his father, his soul joined him in the
spirit world. But the tale OF death does
not end here. The Rev. James I'll. c..
Leach, DID, u highly respected Presby-
terian minister, died soon after hearing
of the bloody drama in which bis son had
acted SO prominent a part; possibly in
consequence, though as to this no one can
do augbt but conjecture.
Mrs, Walton was one of the wives of
Hobert, the @ronaut whose ears were cut
off in Louisville. KY, for bigamy Soon
after their marriage he ran off with her
money, leaving her destitute, though le-
gally free, for he had two wives living
when he married her. Mr. Walton be-
came SO enamored with the beautiful,
widow that he bought her wedding clothes
and layished on her every luxury that
wealth could procure until the recent af-
fair which led to the double homicide.
!. Leach has been justified on the plea OF
selfdefence.