The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-01
Efs Correspondents o, tho Richmond Dispatch.
An Ausnentic Account OF ane heceHs
Homicide I'm Northampton.
EAsTRRN SHORE, VIZ, January A!'

Ho,nfcstfe I'm Northampton.
EASTERN SHORE, Va, January ~.
On last Friday the citizens OF cape
vile. Northampton county, were exr
cited By the appearance IN theT shlsge
of 4 man who, stating that he had shot
another man, had come to surren-
der himself to the proper authorities. The
facts in the case, as your correspondent
has received them, are these: On the Esd
instant a Mr. King fan Englishman by
BIRTH. who for some time has been re-
siding on Smiths island with family.
living on the west side thereof, was return
Ing from shooting wild fowl on the
east side Of the island. AS ne came
on home down On old railroad track, used
In shet transportation Of the materials OF
the new lighthouse from the west and
harbor side to the east, where the!light-
house stands, he was met by Jean G. Potts,
the lighthouse keeper. Both men were
carving double barrel shot-guns. AS King
met Potts, Potts commenced abusing. ours
ing, and threatening King, and finally
threatened to shoot MIN; at the same time
cooking and presenting his gun. But be-
fore he could shoot, King fired, ana fotts
fell pierced through the abdomen. The
wound is thought to be mortal.
Strange to say, political capital Will De
sought out Of this apparently justiiable
homicide. The deceased Potts, though
inst as the war was coming on a wild seces-
sionist, became suddenly on the appear
snce Of United States troops strong
Union man, and from that day to this has
heen a constant abuSer of all southern
men. The man who shot him was IN the
Confederate army. Neither Of the parties
are Eastern Shoremen-King being an
Epplisbman and Potts German. Inc
ouarrelsome character Of this man Potts
il evidenced in the fact that since he has
been chief lighthouse keeper on Smiths
island the lighthouse board have not been
able to keep any assistant at the post for
any length Of time. Some FIVE or six per-
sons have taken the position, but have
remained only short time. Very proDa-
bly, he is an efficient light keeper himself,
but the facts are as | have stated them.
He had threatened q am told) this man
King if he did not leave the island to shoot
him. some time since; but King took no
notice of him, knowing full well that he
had no authority extending over the entire
island.
Now, the strange part of all this matter
is, that Radical resident squatter has
been heard to say that Potts was aoaytasd,
and that the whole thing was concocted in
the recent Conservative mass meeting OF
the county. This meeting was public
one, and the officer in charge was present:
Such are the foundations for the Radical
lies that are hurried off to the northern
press. Your correspondent, in the name
of the good people of Northampton-ever
e-abiding-protests against any such
villainy. We sympathise with the large
and to some extent destitute family OF
Potts, and we pity the unfortunate man
who,.in self-defence, as it seems, slew his
fellow man, but, at the same time, no man
would PREJUDICE the case. King is in Jail
awaiting his trial. SEASIDE.