Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-18
LOCAL ~ EWS.

DRIVING OFF DEpREDATORS. 1t was stated
in yesterdays Gazette that the origin OF the
rumors about the killing Of colored men IN this
neigh borhood arose, doubtless, from the fact of
certain black berry gatherers having beeu shot
az hy the owners of the lands upon which they
w.rr rrcspassiug Que Of the rumors was to
,be effect that Justice j. 0. Kirby had shot
and killed man yesterday mornlug. This
morniDg the Justice was 10 the city and gave
The following account Of the origin of the re-
mort: Ga Thursday morning last he was H.
frmcd that some men we're shaking June APP
MES from a tree in field on his farm. HASTILY
ru;tiug revolver down his boot leg, he ran TO
,hr designated tree, telling his boy to saddle
his horse aud bring him on. The apple thieves
when they saw him comiug left tue tree and
commenced picking black berries, and when he
came up to where they were, and not before,
.,r he is extremely short sighted, he found
gang OF about fourteen or fltecD full and halt
grown men, whom he at ouce ordered Oft his
land. They replied insolently, saying this w=s
y free country, and that the blackberrles they
we're picking were as much theirs as anybody
S. aud refusing to obey the Justice sG"peat-
ed commuuds to 20 off his land the latter crew
his revolver and shot at the spokesman OF tbe
party, the ball going through his bucket tut
MT woundiug hun. AT the report OF the PTS,
toll the whole party dropped their buckets aud
tel, preeipi'atly clearing bitches at leap,
aud fences at bourd, uatl they reached The
road leading to the city. lu the meantime the
Justice had mounted his horse, aud, pursuing
the tugitives managed, by making him jump
guIes and teuces, to approach them agalu,
but they seeing hun, rapidly scaled the fences
l. IL, nd
era of 30 quickly that though he fired at them
srveIa times, they Were too lar ut for HIM to
SCOT val any precision, and so escaped. Yes
to-day mc-ning he saw two men and woman,
ali white, gathering black berries on his farm,
and approaching them the men disappeared.
He ordered the woman off, and upon her retus-
ins to 90 and saying that she was protected,
ne b,came more emphatic in his commands,
and gave them IN louder toue, at which the
Two men rcappcared, and saying that they
would not leave, aud that he must not ia K to
the woman in the style he was using, advanced
upoa him in belligcraut attitudes. The Jus:ic.
immediately removed his >pectacles, aud de-
posting them by large rock So that he could
iad them again, he struck Que Ut the men Il
tremendous blow in the face. which felled him
TO the ground as though shot, with blood w
Ing in streams from his nose and mouth. The
otuer one took 10 the condition of things at a
glance, and de, ming discretion the better part
Of yalor, ran off as fast as his legs could carry
hun. The woman having disappear the
Justice thought it probable they might steal
his spectacl,s, aud caching him foul, take ad
vantage of his semi-bliud condition, so he hur-
rid back after his glasses, and when he had put
them on he saw the man he had Knocked dowo
staggering off towards the road leading to the
city. Blackberry gatherers had better avoid
Justice kiroy's fields