Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-02
THE CLARK-FEWELL TRAGEDY.
RhOda FeweH Shoots Clark in Prison
Report of the Physicians-Clark,s


BRENTsvILLE, Aug. 3l.-The citizens OF
our peaceful and quiet village we're greatly
alarmed about o'clock this morning by hear
Ing firing and cries Of murder proceeding from
the Jail. 1t appears that Rhoda Fewell, after
Clark was brought to Brentsviae, left Manassas
and went up the Orange road for the purpose
of putting up lightning rods. This morning,
however, he returned on the a. m. down
train, got off at Bristoe and walked to Brents-
vile unperceived by any one except the ticket
agent at that place. 1t is supposed that he
concealed himself in the woods at the back of the
Jail. About FIVE minutes before the firing COM
menced man was discovered by persons sitting
on Mr.. Kincheloes porch, stealing cautiously
toward the front door Of the Jail and observed
to enter. These persons paid no attention. sup
posing him to be the brother of the jailor. In
few minutes the firing and cries were heard,
aud Major Thornton and Mr. Lipscomb, Deputy
Clerk, both hurried to the spot, and on enter
ing the door, the Major, who was the first to
get there, saw Fcwe with pistol in each
hand in the act Of firing through the iron graf
ed door at Clark, who had been taken from the
debtor room, in the upper story OF the jail,an
placed in a cell on the ground floor, the door of
which opens on the right as you enter from the
front door Jewell states that he went direct
to the debtors room aud not finding him there,
examined all the cells up stairs, then came down
and found Clark lying on the bed 10 that CELL
Jewell had shot three times before any one ar
rived and was in the act of firing his last shot
when Major Thornton seized him and attempt
ed to take him away but did not succeed ow
ing to the fact that Jewell had his left arm
bent on the inside Of the door, and with his left
baud fired the last shot He then walked to the
door and escaped in the direction he came. On
opening the door of the cell there was great con
fusion; Clark evidently had used every means
at his disposal to defend himself; pitcher,
inkstand and IL heavy glass salt cellar were all
in nuulbcrless fragments about the door, aud he
had used table as shield, but to no effect.
Clark, after he was shot, got on the side OF the
bed, was pertectly rational, and requested that
somebody would stand outside and guard the
window, as "he was afraid Rhoda would come
back and shoot hm;" said he was shot in the
breast, and on an examination of the wound it
was discovered that the ball had passed on the
left side Of the heart and in close proximity to it
and lodged in the back bone. Upon subse-
quent examination the physicians found auoth
err wound in the back, the second ball having
penetrated short distance into the flesh. This
Dr. Simpson extracted, and it proved to
be navy ball. \ warrant was Immediately
issued for Fewell's arrest, but before it was
drawn up by the Magistrate, Jewell appeared
in our village, jumped into his father carriage
aud drove off to Manassas with Mr.. Varnes,
who, at the solicitations of Rhoda's father, who
had heard from the conductor on the morning
train that he had gotten off at Bristoe. came
over to Brentsvillc TO stop any attempt that
Rhoda might wish to make, but arrived here
ten minutes too late. When they reached there
Rhoda gave himself up to Mr.. Butler, j. p.
Clark's condition at one time was supposed to
be extremely critical by the medical men in at
tendance upon him, whereupoD his statement
of the affair was taken before magistrate as
his dying declaration. He states as islo&s:
II was lying on the bed about half asleep; I
was aroused by hearing the room door open;
on looking [ saw pistol pointed through the
inside door, in Rhoda FcwePs hand; | jump
ed up and ran tothe corner on the right hand
side of the door; asl was going to the corner he
fired on me andsmissed me; | ran to the corner
on the other side Of the door, he shot at me
again; saw him poke the pistolaga through
the door and [ grabbed it; it was about the size
of navy pistol; [ tried to wrest it from him
but failed; he then drew a smaller one and with
that shot me in the breast; just before he fired
the last shot Major Thornton came and endeav
ored to stop him from firing"
About clock this evening Rhoda Jewell
was brought over here in custody of the Sheriff.
aided by other officers He desired to obtain
bail by writ of habeas corpus, but his friends
advised him to go TO Jail and await the result of
Clark's wounds. Judge Sinclair, Common
wealh's Attorney had guard of eight men
placed around the Jail. Fewells examination
will probably take place on Monday next.
SUNDAY, y O'CLOCK, Sept. l.
Clark is still living but thought to be worse.
Five physicians have seen him and report vari
ousy upon his condition, whlstall concede that
it is dangerous wound and that symptoms of
varied character may develop themselves at
any time in the course of a few days
DR.. Lewis did not come upon the night train
as was expected here. Clark was removed yes
tcrday to the debtors cell and every assistance
rendered him.
Fcwcl is confined in the same cell he shot
Clark in.
The father Of Jas. L. Clark, came here
from Brentsville yesterday evening, but return
ed again on this mornings train with a supply
Of medicines, and accompanied by DR.. Bedford
Brown of this city. Mr. Clark entertained some
hopes of his sons recovery.
THE LATEST.
MANASSAS, Sept. "a p. n.-lnformatlon
just from Brcutsvilc reports that Clarke is sink
ing rapidly.