Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-07-18

cIsrY-Two Sons MURDER BROTHER
AND SHOOT THEIR MOTHER THE TROUBLES
ORA FAMILY BRo1L-STRANGE RETIcEKcE
OF THE SURVIVING Observation-Disclosures
AMONG THE PEOPLE,
&C., &C., &c.
The fearful tragedy in the family Of
Franklin Little, residing seven miles from,
Winchester, in which brother was killed
It'd The moth dangerously wounded in a
remeditgted melee at the breakfast table,
Vas noticed last week The letters of cor
e. poudents from Winchester, and an ac-
cunt in the News" Of that city, give adj
iitional particulars
THE SCENE OF THE HOMICIDE.
The Little mansion, rendered memorable
~ this beart.rending affair, is substan i
ial three-story stone ructure, with man
ard roof and many modern conveniences.
Last summer it was filed with .boarders
from the cities, who we're drawn thither by
he attractive surroundings and a fine sui
phur spring in the vicinity. The house,
in its int rnal and external appearance, and
all the appointments Of the premises, present
an air of thrift ard comfort, which is in
great part due to the exertions of Clinton
the deceased. The diliug-room, which is a
large apartment on the basement floor, ap-
preached from above by stairway, bears
evidence of the dark deeds that were en-.
acted within its walls.
SKETCH OF THE PARTIES.
It was at this house that this terrible
tragedy occurred. The Little family con.
sists of Mr.. Franklin Little, former canal
commissioner of Washington city, and wife,
six sons, named Columbus. Clinton, Oscar
Gilbert, Lycurgus and Wallace, and one
daughter, Miss Amanda Of these, how
ever, only the daughter and four of the sons
resided at home, Columbus and Wallace,
the oldest and the youngest, living in Wash
iDgton city, the first following fancy paint
ing as profession and the latter being a
druggist. Mr.. Franklin Little, or family,
owns considerable property in Washington,
and at the time Of the murder be was in
that city experimenting the erection of sew
eral buildings On Wednesday night Col
umbus and Wallace returned home from
Washington on visit, and thus all of the
family, except the father, was united under
the roof-tree and around the family board,
thing which he'd not occurred fer
many years before
Clinton, the murd red man, for some
time, has been the manager Of the estate,
and besides carrying en- the farm has raised
and dealt pretty extensively in horses, finding
an excellent market for them in Washing
ton. In fact, he had just returned from a
trading trip to that city short time pre-
vious to this affair, where he had disposed
of number of animals Oscar, usually
known as the Doctor, since the war, up to
within the last year. has been carrying OF q
drug store in small town in Missouri, and
Lycurgus, the next to the youngest brother,
has been engaged with him. He, however
eturned with the Docter home, where both
nave remained ever since. but, it appears,
taking no part, or very little, in the cultiva.
I ion Of the farm. Gilbert, the fourth bro
her in regard to age, has also been at
nome fer some years, although he resided
for years in the western country. He re.
turned, however, some years since, his
health being broken, and has been an inva-
lid SINCE Wallace is the youngest Of the
tamily, lad, perhaps eighteen years Of
age. and has been absent for some months
in. W ashington, engaged in the druggist
business. All of these boys are muscular
and powerfully built men, Columbus and
Lycurgus in particular, each being over six
feet in height and perfectly developed.
THE TRAGEDY.
sOn tho morning ia question, Mrs. Little
and her sons--Columbus, Clinton, Gilbert
and Wallace-sat down to the breakfast ia
BILE, in the dining-room, which is in the base
ment of the house, the room connecting by
a door with passage leading out into tie
yard, and by steps into the upper portions
of the house Whilst engaged at breakfast
the Doctor and Lycurgus entered the room,
the latter advancing farthest from the door
and taking chair, sat down, the Doctor re-
naming nearest to the door, locked it, and
also drew out chair aud was seated. This,
it must be confessed, should have seemed to
those at the table most unusual act, and
put them on their guard Lycurgus spoke
to Clinton, the purport Of whose words we
have not learned, and the latter was in the
act of raising up to reply, when Lycurgus,
or Kirk" IS be is Familiarity called, drew
a revolver and fred at the brother. Mrs.
Little, seeing the state of affairs ran be-
tween them and received the SHOT in her
thigh, making serious flesh wound, she
since having been threatened with erysipe.
las. The second shot from Kinks pistol
struck Clinton several inches above the
right lip, the bali coursiug downwards and
lodging in his left leg few inches above
the knee. The Doctors found it at the post
nsoyaenp examination htld on Sunday. The
bullet had been Clipped off to make it fit the
bore of the revolver Whils this was 60
ing on, the Doctor Lad also raised up and
leveled his revolver at Columbus, who was
endeavoring to get to Aycurgus, but the
weapon missed fire. Then commenced an
indiscriminate fight. Columbus and GIL.
bert were cut about the head by the pistols
in the hands of their brothers, while the