Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-07-11
Especial Dispatch TO the Baltimore Sun.
Terrible Domestic Tragedy.

v
dy occurred yesterday morning at the resi-
dencc Of Franklin Little, very highly respect
able citizen of Clarke county, Va, about
seven miles from this place, lin which six
brothers, Clinton, Columbus, Gilbert, Wallace,
Oscar and Lycurgus were involved. II seems
that the brothers have been nj variance for
some time, the cause being jealousy that has
existed directly between the oldest brothers,
| Clinton, Oscar and Lycurgus.
On Saturday morning as part OF the family
were at breakfast, Oscar and Lycurgus entered
the diuing.room. locked the door after them,
one putting the key in his pocket. Then one
of them took seat rear the door the other
off from the table. Oscar, addressing himself
to Clinton, said that they had nothing against
him and did not want him to interfere in what
they were about TO do. Clinton jumped from
his seat; but before he could speak Oscar and
Lycurgus drew their revolvcrs and aimed al
him and the rest Of the family at the table and
fired woundiug Clinton and their mother,
Mrs. Little. The fight then became general
amongst NIL the brothers, lasting some minutes.
All were severely wounded except Wallace
BY this time some of the belligcrents had got
ten outside the house.
! Lycurgus and Oscar then started TO run
Columbus drew a revolver and fred at the
murderous brothers without effect, the dis
lance being too great. Gilbert, who was stand-
T
! rife, fired at Oscar at long range, wounding
| him in the leg. lie was captured by Columbus
and Gilbert and held until the arrival OF
neighbors He was taken to Berryvile and
lodged in Jail
Clinton died after lingering couple OF
hours in intense agony. The mother is in a
critical condition. A post mortem examina-
ton of the body of Clinton was held by Drs.
Somervile Miller and Wilson. Internal hem
4 r., !, al. 20
| the ball entering above the right hip bone and
! lodging in the left knee. A coroner inquest
was held, and verdict rendered that 'Clin-
ton Little came 10 his death by pistol-shot
| fred premeditatedly by his brother Lvcur-
gust The examination will take place at
Berryville, Monday. The excitement is great
| in Clarke county against the brothers Oscar
and Lycurgus.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Mr. Columbus Little, the Oldest of the six
brothers lately engaged in the distressing fam
| lily feud at White Post, near Berryville, Clarke
county, Va, has made statement 10 the
Washington STIR in regard TO the occurrence.
Columbus Little, it seems, is o coachmaker in
Washington, ON G street, near Seventh street,
a powerful man, 35 years of age. Hepresded
at the breakfast table on the morning of the
fatal shooting of Clinton Little and the wound
ing of their mother and other members of the
family. He claims that the published tele-
grams and letters ARE gross exaggerations. His
account Of the unfortunate occurrence is sub
stantially as follows:
His father is Mr.. Franklin Little, former
resident of Washington city, and canal COM
missioner under Mayor Towers. lie moved
with his family, in 1857, to the farm, about
seven miles from Winchester, where they have
since resided, the farm having been the proper
ty Of the family for over 10 years Nothing
has at any time occurred TO disturb the har-
mony of the brothers beyond the usual boyish
quarrels. week or two ago Clinton Little,
the second son, (about 81 years old came to
Washington and sold his horses, and his bro
theirs, Columbus. the eldest, and Walter, the
youngest, (who is drug clerk with Mr. Crop
ley, in Georgetown accompanied him home,
to spend the Fourth of July at the farm. Mr..
Franklin Little, the father, was busy superin-
tending the erection of a row of houses he was
having built on Tenth street. near B, and re-
manned in Washington The six brothers
were united under the family roof-tree, with
the wife Of Columbus and a sister OF the Lit
ties, and one or Two young ladies'. On the
4th the brothers were to have n shooting
match at a target, but postponed it until next
day, and went to visit a neighbor, Willie
Lewis, and they all went to picnic. Next
morning 1.-THE 5th) they all got up early to
prepare for the projected shooting match, and
and were busy cleaning their arms and load
ing thcm--some four or FIVE pistols and rife
when they were called to breakfast by their
mother. 1t being her rn]e to require prompt
attendance at meal times, the brothers sus-
pended operations and all laid down their
arms excepting Oscar, next in age to Clinton)
who put his pistol in his pocket, and Lycur-
gus, (about 20 years old, } who, with boyish
eagerness TO be ready for the first shot, took
his weapon, large navy revolver, TO the table
with him. After trifling with it awhile he
laid the weapon upon his lap the muzzle
| pointing towards the mother (next to him)
and Clinton beyond. The ladies Except Mrs
| Little) had not yet come to the table. The
! pistol, it seems, was cooked, for while they
were at breakfast it was discbarged-stil ~
| ing across the lap of Lycurgus-and the ball
passed through the thigh of Mrs. Little, and
| into the body of Clinton. Columbus Little
positively states that this accidental shot was
| the only one fired in or out of the house. Mrs.
Little had no artery touched or bone broken,
and was doing well when Columbus Little
left the farm this morning. Clinton Little
was terribly wounded, and died in the arms
| of Columbus at " O'Clock noon on Saturday,
about four hours and half after the shooting.
Mr.. Columbus Little says that there was very
naturally great excitement in and about the
| house, and that the Winchester reporters or
correspondents took down the tale MS it was
| told by gossiping country neighbors He says
| that the examination of Oscar and Lycurgus
will prove the great injustice done the family
| by the published reports of the affair.