The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-01

Courier:
WeBy Post-e6ice, Ky, July pa dc.
plorable tragedy was enacted about mile
from orr quiet little village this morning
At daylight, which resulted in the death OF
promising young man and the mortal
wounding Of another whose future was all
brilliancy and promise.
Littleton Wells and Sanford B. Roberts
were both young men Of uneSceptionable
character, and occupying enviable posi-
lions in our society. Wells was about
tYenty-tHo years old, and Roberts was
probably two years his senior. The former
was our deputy postmaster, while the lat
ter was clerk in the store of Roath s.
Strother. For some time both had been
having marked attention to an amiable and
beautiful young lady of the neighborhood,
whose name ] withhold for obvious rea-
sons. and until within o month past were
generous rivals, their relations towards
each other being on the most friendly foot
ing.
Some three or four weeks ago Wells
visited the Young lady and made formal
proposal for her hand. His proposition was
RESPECTFULLY but firmly declined, and upon
his pressing her for her reason tor her de-
clnation she indiscreetly informed him
that she had already accepted similar
proposal from young Roberts. Wells lett
hehouse, mounted his horse, and returned
TO the village. He first went to the post
Office and armed himself with pistol, and
then saw his successful rival at the store.
Here an alteration ensued, which would
have had bloody termination had not by
SANDERS interfered and put an end to the
difficulty. From that time until Saturday
they were as strangers to each other. On
that day they both attended picnic, Ro-
berts being accompanied by his .ttance. As
soon as Wells saw them together he
seemed to be imbued with the very spirit
of insanity. Approaching them, he grossly
insulted Roberts in the presence of the
whole assembly. The insulted man sprang
to his feet and started towards his insulter,
evidently to resent the insult, when gen.
tlemen present prevented collision. Ro-
berts and his fair companion, at the earn
est solicitation Of the latter, Immediately
left the ground and repaired to her home,
where she, fearing difficulty between the
parties, endeavored to persuade him to
spend the night. In that she failed, but
succeeded i'll oXacting promise from him
that he would not return to the picnic
ground.
Reaching the village, and brooding over
the gross outrage that had been put upon
him, he went to his room and penned q
challenge to mortal combat, which he in
trusted to a friend to be delivered into the
hands Of Wells. This mission was accom-
plished that night. Next morning friend
Of the challenged party called upon the
friend of Roberts to arrange the prelimi-
naries. This was soon accomplished. The
arrangement was that the fight was to
come off in meadow about one mile east
of town, at daylight on Monday, the wea-
pons to be Colts revolyers.
At the appointed time principals and
seconds were on the chosen ground. The
principals were placed ten feet apart, with
instructions to fire between the words
Zone" and "three," and then advance,
firing as they advanced, such being the
terms insisted upon by the challenged
and not rejected By the challenger. At
the word both parties fired, and so accu-
rate was their aim that Wells fell dead,
pierced through the brain by his adverse
RVS ball. Roberts received his opponents
bullet in the centre Of the breast, passing
through his body and lodging under the
skin lust to the left of the spine. Attic
moment I write he is not dead, though
sinking so rapidly that the physicians say
that lie cannot possibly live more than an
hour.
This terrible affair, it is needless to say,
has given our entire community shock
such as never pervaded it before. Both
the young men were highly respected;
conspicuous for their intelligence and So
cial qualities. Wells leaves q widowed
mother and two sisters to mourn their loss.
Roberts leaves no family bereft, while the
sad, sad fate is mourned by all who knew
them