Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-07-06
Brutal Tragedy in Virginia.
RICHMOND. Va june 2s. 1909

RICHMOND, Va June 2S, 1869
Yesterday morning, duel extraordinary tock
place between two urgro amazlus on Garnett 8
farm, ia lI.nticO couaty, which terminated 10
the death of one Of lheD. II seems that George
Gllls, who under the law had been living with
Julia Ann Gill; US bis wife since the close OF the
war in q state of c0nuubial bessedness thai was
TO ssy the least OF ii, ehviabie, recently became
ensmoured Of another sable damse who was
known as Ella Woodson. They lived together,
and 70 near to tue dOmicil Of the deserted wife
Us not only to make the crime more h1gr.nt but
to enragc her beyond all human endurance
Once or twice, while OF work on the farm the
two women were about to come 10 blows when
heated by one Of tbeit fierce disputes, hut some
others always near prevented on encounter.
II was evident such a state OF Affairs ucui1
not last long A jealous aud enraged wife could
not live and SEE her lawful spouse openly desert
her. and though exceedingly ooae u their NOR
als, negro women nre peculiarly sensitive on
this tender point AT last this unpleasant stale
Vi aiihrs eliminated n "A terrible tragedy Yes
terday m,rn ng the luortf,d NIfa, after com
plet,ng htr toilet and probably eating her break
fasi, mArched to The house ~ whlch the de-
strpyer Of bur happiness lived, aud challenged
her TO fight, us the best maaus of te,minat.
ing tue ftud, and deciding whlch should here
aittr live in sole aud undispuied possession of
the amolous Gtorge. Elm, lLu mistress, Gag
erly accepted the pruherrd challenge OF the wife
and without the arrangement Of any OF those pre-
liminarics about which modern duellists are so
nice, tney departed alone for the scene Of the
| combat
EIch of the women was black US ebony. the
wife having considerably the advantage Of her
| antagonist in proportions hhd weight but either
b ing IL leaIly every other spect the uual of
the other They were armed with heavy clubs,
aud dep ravine was the place selected for the
| tight. Arriving at u sufficient dist. nee to ex-
cluis tue possibility Of being en-, they stopped
as il by mutual consent, nnd then com.
MI need one Of the most famous amazouian en-
counters on rtcoId Al first they dealt in blows
which were given aud received by each on the
htada aud bodies, tho blood H. wing freely, and
each club descending with all the weight and
| force savage fcrooity could give them. RaPe.
hate and Jealousy wers mingled IN that terrible
| light aud as if the cubs were hut tedious wav
OF bringing ii 10 M end, these iwO women flung
| them nom them, and with teeth and nails eut-
| tnu the fchrfnl struggle he thick wool on
their heads WAS torn fIom il, roots. blood be-.
sineWred their Isees aud arms, nails were sunk
deep into the flesh Of both, and they Bit 10 a
manner that only wild beasts would be sup
posed eapatle Vi They had now come IL the
grouud Julu Ann, the wife, in the struggle
got her fUger INTO the mouth Of Ella, who, af.
ter biting II 10 the bone, tnleavOIed. if po sible
to sever thut with her sharp incisors With a
desperate effort Julia Ann got GU top Of her IN.
tagOn.st anu succeeded In getting the hand stil
free upon hsr ihfuni, whice she olutohed tightly
and held On until the jaws relaxed thtir hold
upon her other finger. Nor then did ths let 90,
but with the glre OF ligre+s, she held tighter
aud tighter, until the eyeballh OF her victim
turhtd up III their seckets her Limbs 10 longer
offered resistance, AID in u few moments Ella
Wae corpse.
1Le survivor returned 10 her home, but the
murd'r wgs To- discovered I'll lute 10 the day,
when the mOngled aud bloody remains of Ella
were found by a negro, lying wh,re the fight
had ,ccuIrei. corOner's inquest was held To-
day, and, uriiaI returned in oscordauco with
the above circumstances. julia Aun ia now 10
custody.