The New York herald., 1869-09-07
RIOT, MURDER AsD AR.os IN VIRGINIA.
Bloody Fight Between Whites md Blacls---
Black Man killed-Several Wounded
Hotel Burncd-fsreat Excitement.

From the Newtown Md.) Gazette September A. |
The Both nit. was the commencement OF what
Is usually termed the august Court" for AccOmack
county, Va, and we regret to say was also the
scene or riot and murder aud terminating in arson
Overton, and the surrounding buildings, and also
the store house and contiguous two story residence
belonging to Dr. Edward J. Young.
On the occasion Of every August Court adense con-
course OF people, both white and black, assemble at
the county seat irrespective OF business age or con-
dition In tfe and on last Monday the crowd all tod
must have numbered at least 2000 for every street
and vacant lot in the vicinity Of the Court House was
o moving mass or human beings.
Notwithstanding the dense crowd everything was
passing OF In quiet and harmony, and the citizens,
having experienced some trouble in August, 1868,
were fecitatlng themselves the good order which
existed among the white and the colored population.
But sometime between four and six T.. NJ bad whls-
key and sour cider began to develop their pernicous
efccts upon the brains OF set OF young, irresp0ns
pie country boys, ranging IN age from hfteen to
twenty years, who imprudently went in among the
negroes who had selected an unoccuped square
opposite the Court House, where they might ENJOY
themselves IN their own way without moesting or
being molested; and while the boys were
mixing In with the negroes some dlfnculty
occurred, and negro woman was seen to have
a revolver and knife, when one OF the boys,
not over sixteen, thought himself particularly
caned upon to take the pistol from her. and
IN the act OF SO dong-the woman OF course, resist.
ing-he got one OF his hands severely cut and when
we saw him vending his way to DR.. wise,s ONCE
his hand and arm were as bloody as though he had
dipped both into tub OF blood. This was the sig
nal for, seemingly, q general row. The word was
handed around that "negro woman had cut white
Doy," when number OF indiscrect young men, all
mailing from the country made general attack upon
,ne negroes, and one young man by the name OF
Mafshati, In the general scramble was pierced
tniough the side with q kuife by negro
man man named Jacob Guy. Jake was singled out
ana pursued, aud cbastlsed at every step
Dy some one OF the party, while another
hfeo upon MN with revolver. The bali took effect
pet"eeh the Knee and groin passing clear through
tne Icg, heVefng In its passage the femoral
artery. There being no bone broken the negro was
sun aple 10 retreat ieto the store OF Coburn Co..
passing from tnence into the street and over the
renee INTO the Court House yard where he fell rom
the loss OF blood. The wound was examined and
the biood stayed by DR.. Fitzhue, who pronounced
tle chances OF life against the neqro-and we here
add, Delng an eye witness, that while the Doctor
was engaged IN his examination Jake's guilt
was established OF having stabbed young Mar
shall Ny the finding Of bloody knife, some
Twelve inches long, upon his person. The negros $
wiIe was soon on the spot, cart was procured and
ehe started nome with hun; but he dlod the way.
c0roner's inquest was not held until Wednesday,
when verdict IN accordance with the facts and cir
cumstanccs was rendered.
While this tragedy was being enacted IN one part
OF the Town, another OF less magnitude was going
on elsewhere, which resulted In The beating of q
negro VINO had drawn either knife or pistol on a
white man The negro, however, would have been
killed had not few gentlemen Of influence
OF the village promptly went to his relief.
In almost one short hour from the commence
ment OF this terrible affair, the town quiet
a. Sapbath morning. general stampede TOOK