Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-08-18

ton that the negroes were arming.-
This caused the young men of the
town TO arm themselves, among whom
was Mr.. Oscar Burton, q young man
of p or % years of age, and who is re-
garded as very desperate character
Young Burton had his double barreled
shot gun and navy six, and with them
walked over to DR.. Bells livery stable
to get horse. He first went into the
doctors residence. adjoining. for few
minutes. AS he was coming out, he
was confronted by Sheriff ]. G..
Reeves, better known as the Judge,
and his three brothers, J. Alfred, Paul
and Frank. The Judge asked Burton
where be was going, who replied that
he was "going out to meet those ne-
groes."
Judge Reeves-'So are We" to
which Burton said, 'well, will go
with you, then."
Judge R.-"you will have to leave
your arms here then"
Burton-'I guess not; I will take
them along with me-"
Judge R-'No you will not, for we
Will take them away from you now"
Burton-''I would like to see you do
it. If you think you can, come on"
The Reeves then started towards
Burton, who leveled his shot gun and
fired. The friends of each party claim
that the other fired first. The firing
lasted about two minutes, and when it
ended, Alfred and Paul Reeves were
lying on the ground close to each 9TH
er, with q load of bucshot in the Aldo
men of each the Judge got away with
a pistol bullet through the breast and
shoulder, while Burton had eight balls
in him, which came from the revol-
vers of his antagonists. Frank Reeves
escaped unhurt. The wounded men
were conveyed to their various homes,
surgeons summoned. At u o'clock
yesterday, they were all alive, with no
hopes of the recovery of Alfred or
Paul Reeves, and but slight of Burton
The Judge viii come around all right it
is thought.
The Reeves who were the principals
in the above affray, are one of the old
est families in Fayette county. They
have affiliated with the radical party
since the war, and. in consequence
have incurred the enmity of the whites
generally. At the election, Thursday,
u " 1lCCNSSg l1AC ANAIOiiAA w Slo
elected County Court Clerk, while his
brother Alfred, was elected Sheriff by
about 125 Majority.
Oscar Burton is also a descendant of
an old Fayette county family. His pa
rents are both dead, his father having
been killed before the war in a street
fight near the Worsham House, in this
city. Oscar, as young as he is, is gen
orally feared about Somerville. The
Reeves and Burton have had quar-
rel some time before, but no blows or
shots were exchanged.
To this it is necessary to add, that
the negroes have clear majority in
the county, and that the majority of
LOO on full vote. This the COnser-
vatives made desperate effort to break
down, and actually reduced it to a
hundred and five in the poll last
Thursday.
Both whites and blacks were at fe-
yer heat on election day. The whites,
stung by the brutal speech of William
son who. some weeks ago, proclaimed
that he would have his social rights,
if he had to ride in the blood of white
men up to his bride bits to obtain
them :" and by threats to burn the
town, were prepared fer fight and
the negroes were not behind them in
this.
But the fracas seems to have blown
over even more suddenly than it
sprung up. The negroes are evidently
cOwed by the wonderful gains made on
then: at the polls, and the determined
attitude of the whites, while the latter
naturally avoided q collision with
such greatly superior numbers.
Later news conveys the information
that Alfred and Paul Reeves have died,
while J. G. Reeves and Burton are re-
covering.