The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-05
THE MANASSAS TRAGEDY.
His slayer surrenders Himself to h
Law.

0GCouuL VI, tuo, puoo1uBs oA ooIuLaoJ "oihihk
last, of James F. Clark, the alleged seducer
aud abductor Of Miss Fanny Fewell, while
lying in his cell, by Rhoda Jewell, a brother Of
the young lady, who went, to the jail for the
purpose, sought the cell of the prisoner, and
fired upon him through the bars. A dispatch
to the Alexandria Gazette from Brentsville
gives the following additional particulars: ;
About FIVE minutes before the firing com.
menced a man was discovered, by persons slt-
ting on Mr.. KlGchIoe's porch stealing catI-
liously toward the front door Of the jail, and
attention, supposiug him to be the brother Of
the jailor. In a lew minutes the firing and
cries were heard, and Major Thornton and Mr..
Llpscomb, deputy clerk, both hurried to the
spot, and, on entering the door, the major,
fWho was the first to get there, saw Jewell,
with a pistol In each hand, In the act OF firing
through the iron-grated door at Clark, who
had been taken from the debtors room in the
upper story Of the jail and placed in q 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, and not finding hiEnEthere e1-
amined all the cells up stairs, then came down
and found Clark lying on the bed In that cell.
Fewell had shot three times before any one
arrived, and was In the act Of firing his last
shot when Major Thornton seized him and
attempted to take him away, but did NOT sue
coed, owing to the fact that Jewell had his left
arm bent on the inside of the door, with which
he tred his last shot, then walked to the door
and escaped In the direction he came. On
opening The door OF the cell there was great
confusion. Clark evidently had used every
means at his disposal to defend him.
sell; o pitcher, inksland and a heavy
frlaou oo1f nnlIor ynrn a In nffmhnrlono
fragments about the door; he then used
a table as q shield, but to no effect Clark,
after be was shot, got on the side OF the bed.
was perfectly rational, aud requested that
somebody would sand outside and guard the:
window. that The was afraid Rhoda would:
come back and shoot him." said he was shot In
the breast; and on examination OF the wound
1t was discovered that the ball had passed on
the left side OF the heart and in close pro1im-
lily to 1t ara lodged In the back bone. Upon q
subsequent examination the physicians found
another wound In the back, the second ball
having penetrated 8 short distance Into the
flesh, which DR.. Simpson extracted, and which
proved 10 be o navy ball.
A warrant was Immediately Issued for Few
the magistrate, Jewell appeared In our VII
lage, jumped IN bis fathers carriage and drove
TO Manassas with Mr.. Varnes, who, at the
solicitation of Rhoda's father, who had heard
from the conductor on the morning train That
he had gotten or at Bristoe, came over To
Brenlsvllle to stop any attempt that Rhoda
might make, but arrived here ten minutes too
Iale. When they reached there, Rhoda gave
himself up to Mir. Butler. j. P. Clark's condi-
ton at one time was supposed 10 oe extreme
~ critical by the medical men In attendance
upon him, whereupon his statement OF the
affair was taken before q magistrate as his
dying declaration. He states as follows:
IT was lying on the bed about half asleep; l
was aroused by hearing the room door open;
on looking I saw q pistol pointed through Inc
inside door, In Rhoda FewelPs hands, jumped
up aud ran to the corner on the risnt. nano
side OF the door; as l was going to Inc corner
he fired on me and missed me; ran 10 the
corner on the other side OF the door. he shot
at me again; I saw him poke the pistol again
through the door and ] grabbed II; II was
about the size Of a navy pistol; tried 70 WIest
II from him but failed; he then drew q smaller
lone, and with-iRa tr one. shot me- In the breast;
lust before he fired the last shot Major Thorn
ton came and endeavored to stop him from
1riug."
Rhods Fewell was brought over here 10 GUS
tody of the sheriff. aidei by other officers; he
desired to obtain bail BY a writ OF haoess cor.
pus, but his friends advised him to go to JAIL
and await the result Of Clark's wounds. Judge
Sinclair, commonwealtn's attorney, had q
guard OF eight men placed around the Jail.
Fewel's examination will probably a place
Oh Monday next.
On Sunday Clark was still living, but thought
to be worse. Five physicians have Seen bin
and report varlously upon his condition, Whilst
all concede that II Ia a dangerous WOUND, ana
tina: symptoms OF a varieu character may de-
yeIop themselves at any time In the course OF
a few days. Clark was removed yesterday 10
the DEBTORS cell, and every assistance render
ed him. Fswel is confined In the same cell
he shot Clark In.