Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-12-01
The Shooting Of B. Rives Pollard.
arrest of the Assassi;n !


H. RIvEs POLLARD, we'll known as the
editor of the Southern Opinion, published in
Richmond, was killed in that city on Tuesday
last by man named Grant. The Richmond
papers contain the following particulars of
the affair =
About half past nine o'clock, Mr.. Pollard
and Mr.. Hanna, his associate in the paper,
came into the city from Mr.. Pollard's resi-
dence, on the Grove road, and alighted from
the vehicle in which they came into the city
at the corner of Main and Fourteenth streets.
Mr. 2. started Immediately to his office door,
on Fourteenth street, but ashort distance from
Main. When about halfway between the
corner and the door the report of a gun was
heard, and Mr. p. fell forward on his face, to
all intcnts and purposes dead, He spoke no
word or and gave no sign of life after receiving
the charge from the gun, save to utter groan
as he fell.
Mr.. Hanna was Immediately behind him,
almost touching him, and was so overwhelmed
with establishment that he was utterly unable
to form an idea of the direction from which
the shot proceeded His first impulse was to
draw his pistol, thinking that in all probability
another shot might be fred, and that he might
be the victim. He saw no one, and no one
appeared on the street until the detective
officers Knox and Craddock, whose Office was
near at hand, ran out and arrested him on
suspicion of having fred the shot that killed
Mr.. Pollard. His pistol was examined and
found to be loaded. This, of course, exon,
Grated him, and the next impression was that
one of Mr.. Pollard's pistols had exploded
accidentally and killed him. lie had two
Derrngers in his pockets and a revolver in
his belt, all of which were examined and
found loaded.
Without making further investigation at
that moment as to where the shot came from,
Mr.. Pollard's body was taken up and carried
up stairs to his Office. 1t was deposited on a
Mattress and it then occurred to the officers
J to examine the building opposite, the lower
story of which is occupied by Messrs. w. b.
Isaacs g. Co. as banking house. The second
story is occupied by the American Improved
Gas Light company, and the third by Major
II. p. Clinton and Mr.. +. D. Patrick as a bed
room. Detectives Craddock and Knox went
Immediately to the third story and found tho
first door they camo to locked. They knocked
at it, but got no response. They went to
another door and knocked, and voice, which
was recognized as that of Mr.. James P. Grant
asked, lis. that you, Bob?" Mr.. Craddock
responded in the affirmative, when Mr.. Grant
told him the door was locked, and he had no
key, and that if he wanted to get in, he must
break the door open. Chaddock broke out
the upper panels and went in.
On entering the room he found Mr.. Grant,
and no one else, in the room. lie had a
Derringer pistol in his hand, which he handed
to Mr.. Craddock, and gave himself up. Before
going down stairs an examination was made
of the ROOM and double barrelied shot-gun
one barrel Of which had recently been dis
i Al. IL
near a window, which was partially raised-
A desk which sat against this window had
been partially moved out into the floor, and
the frame and sill of the window were black
ened with burnt powder. This window was
in the cornOr of the room next TO Main street,
and fronting on Fourteenth street.
Mr.. Grant was taken into custody by the
officers, and they brought him down into the
street on their way to the station house.
The cause Which led to this sad tragedy is
said to have been the publication of the fol>
lowing article in the Southern Opinion of
Saturday, the 2lst ult:
AN ELOPEMENT, so CALLED, ON CLAY STREET
AN UPPER TEN FAMILY CONCERNED
DREADFUL DENoUEMENT.
E'Oh no we never mention 'em'-oI5 air.
The Indian Summer has passed away, and
with it has passed 4 fair and radiant daughter
Of one of our first citizens-a nabob Of Clay
strcet-a gentleman who, suffice it to say,
holds the very first position in the wealthy
and fashionable circles of the city. The
daughter, tho rebelant Helene of the family,
is beautiful beyond description, but her beauty
did not prevent her from falling desperately
and irretrievably in love with young gentle
man of semi D1Hitairc connections, who, it
;uI,E 4 l.
ndacccpted the tiny hand, grasping it within
his own
"Ncver to be parted; never for aye"
Nobody suspected a messaUiamce, much
less the father until last Saturday night, when
the daughter, who was the light of his house
hold, fed to parts unknown, or at least only
guessed, in company with one Ca masculine)
who should ere then have been proclaimed his
sonin-l law.
The runaway parties have been heard from,
and it is now said that the lady proclaims her
self wife of some six months and that her
afianced is the choice of her after life.
"what God hath joined together let man put
asundCr."
The gay young man, who has wisked away
the angel, is Lothario named Horace Ford,
of Goochland county, which county ought to
be proud of him, as it doubtless is. Horace
is an orphan, just plunging into his teens,
and has lost both of his parents by Death
Much property accrued to Horace in the
shape of money, chatteIs, goods, &C., and
having converted the whole into "ready
rhino," Horace ventured for a swim in the sea
of gay life and love. He met Miss Mary
Grant-a beauty
''NIet perchance the usual way;'
Talked delicious nonsense, won her heart,
then half inclined to earnestness, threw it
away. All me !
Then he sailed
;lnd Oh LIZ 10