South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-07-21
The Paw Paw Shooting Affrav.
Doctor CdnfeiTs account Of the Fatal
Shooting A6dir on The 4h inst.
From the Cumberland Daily News.


MEssRs. EDIToRs At tue REQUEST Of
friend of yours seize this, my first OPP
portunlty since the request was made, TO
give you detailed account Of the sad affair
of the 4th inst. Mr.. Bevans requested me
to take charge Of his saloon and store on
that day, as he wished to attend the pic
mic to be held about mile from here. |
did SO, and, as usual, everything went on
orderly. About 1U O'clock, as suppose
party of boatmen camo in and called for
drinks-principally lemonade and beer.
They evidently had been drinking, and
several of them were in what some call bioh
! spirits-but not 10 be termed intoxicated
just before they left, one produced half
gallon jug and asked the price of whiskey.
lie tasted It, and had n quart put into the
jug, saying to one near him they Should
want 1t when they got to the boat Two
others then asked permission Of him to add
| each pint. He consented, and the liquor
was drawn and paid for; they asking me
to retain the jug until called for on going
home. They then left for the picnic. Be
tween II and l o clock, Judge, one of them
brought an order from j. Wagner for the
jug, which, when taking, be said be was
going to take over. A short time after they
came together; said they were going over
there was no fun there, aud Wagner called
Tor drinks, lemonade but flco | think,
| called for Jeer.) They handed the lug o.
yer the counter for me to keep ! think it
was two-thirds full at this time Nose was
leaning on the counter, with his arm or
arms, do not recolect precisely. Wagner
paid, and placed the money in the drawer.
Nose coutt not reach IL where lac stood
Wagner then went out on the porch and
called the others out came in again and
called Tor lemonadcs, (some little time had
passed, IN which several cans Of oysters
we're eaten by different members Of the par
ty,) as before. While | was mixing the
lemonadcs he counted out the pay in ten
cent notes, rolled them in a wad, and
handed them to me in that shape | step
ped to put them into the drawer, and saw
face, (the impression on my mind is very
strong that it was Moses face, at the win
dow, which | was about to raise, and which
Is near the drawer | do not recollect dis
tlnctly whether Nose was then leaning on
the counter or not, but few moments aft
er he acds. Wagner went out and called
the others, who went out In moment
they commenced throwing boxes, barrels,
&C., off the porch, aud drove the end of a
board through the window They then
came In the store Wagner with a club in
his hand struck the stove pipe two furious
blows, the second bringing 1t down, while
he said, that's Cd ID strong pipe
seized the upper part of the stove Gan egg
coal) and hurled it over the counter at me,
simultaneously with a shower of stones,
blocks, boxes, etc. | took the money from
the drawer, put ii in nay pocket, and start
cd. Wagner cried out, Grab him Hughn
L was seized, but got to the door, and, aft
er short struggle, off the porch to the
ground, with only one ahold Of me. As
we fell from the porch ! seized piece Of
barrel bead which lay there, and blow on
the head freed me from him. | thon ran
around tho house and over to J. Xylors
store, across the railroad called on ESQUIRE
Flora to enforce the peace called for a pis-
tol small Householder was handed me
ran over to the store all but Wagner and
Nose had left Hcy tccrc tisi,1c order
ed them out. Wagner wanted to know
What | expected to do with that ID
thing he had seen too many of them, but
he came to the door and tried To get me 10
the house to find Noses hat; Nose at the
time was holding the bat by his side; they
then started 10 leave; ! told them they
must not 60 Wagner wanted TO know what
L would do about IL, with gross and pro-
fame language; ! told them thay must stop.
still keeping between them and tho river.
TIL, having crossed the railroad, they com
mcnced 10 divergc. At this time / aoain
ordered Wagner to halt he made o rush at
me- hredj be cried ont i surrender .
throwing up his bands, then took from lie
bosom lump Of tobacco, weight fraction
over five pounds, which he throw At me
with both bands, and spraur Oh "a bo
struck the ground, ] fred again. and re-
peaicd. At this time Nose. who was pear-
est to me, came for me, aud, as be- was nm.
on me ! fired We clcnchcd and fell. in an
instant his hand was upon nv throat
man rushed in and turned him FROM mo
~ an instant be again bad bis hand uuon /
my throat / raised upon my left hand and.
with the pistol in my right, dealt him
blow upon the head which lcf him my
prisoner. In few minutes Esquire Flora
came with a force. ] gave him over 10 him.
The Esquire directed me 10 hold him in
custody ull he returned, as he must leave
Tor a time, as be was watching on TIC rail-
road. While holding him in custody i
was myself rudely maltrcatcd for irving 10
rescue him from further injury, and before
the magistrate returned hc was rescued
from me By force, and taken across the riy-
or. Wagner | have never seen since the
third shot--the FIRST was received by the
tobacco. Several If The others who were
out Of shot l saw with bottles, &c, which