The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-10
A xerrfnle tragedy.
[MarYsYtlle cal.l AppenL June 2s..


1t appears that an cid man named Shirley
and Henry Price are neighbors, and that The
latter has daughter mined Eunice, abou
seventeen years of e,yhOm Shirley W1sbee
10 marry. The old man continued to press
his suit, and to gain favor bad in some way
become the creditor of the family in the SUM
Of IA. Shirley'S affections were not rect
procated by the daughter Eunice, and the
old man, it seems, resolved upon desperate
means to bring bis courtship to an end. he
therefore, on Monday last, armed himself
with a revolver and two or three knives,
and went to the house of Mr.. Price and
demanded the payment OF the sum OF
money due him-about S44. Approach.
ing the daughter, Eunice, Shirley said
he wanted the money due him or her. Eunice
Informed Shirley that they could not pay
him the money, as they had none, but That
he could take flock OF turkeys which she
had raised. This reply being unsatisfactory
and rejection Of his suit, Shirley drew bis
revolver, levelled it at the girls head, and
pulled the trigger. Fortunately. the cham
Der failed to reyolye far enough, and the
hammer. did not explode the cap. The
father, and negro boy who was present,
Immediately interlered to prevent the assas-
sination, and a sharp tussel ensued be-
tween the three, during which Price re-
ceived cut on one Of his hands from knife
which he seized by the blade. Finally
the two oyerpowered and disarmed Shirley,
and upon promise that he would remain
quiet he was released and allowed to get up
off the floor. But as he raised up Shirley
drew another knife, which was concealed on
his person, and thrust it in the right side OF
Dir. Price, intlicting mortal wound. Her
father being slain Eunice slipped out OF the
back door with the determination OF saving
her life, if possible, by flight TO the house of
William Moore, distant about one mile. In
the meantime younger sister seeing the ne
cessity of help, and needing assistance for the
care of her father, jumped upon shlrley's
horse, which was Standing by the door. and
rode OFT to the residence of Richard Flood
and q Mrs. Norris, about 4 mile distant
in another direction from which Eunice
had started. Shirley soon discovered
the route Eunice had taken and start
ed oil in pursuit OF her. Seeing
that she was long ways ahead OF him he
returned 10 the house TO get his horse. Find
ing it gone, he mounted mule, but the
animal bucked him off, and he was obliged
to resume the pursuit on foot, the frightened
Eunice all this time fleeing toward the resi-
dence of William Moore with all her physi-
cal strength. Shirley no doubt wished to
oyertake her in the field, and there assassi-
nate or force pledge Of marriage from her.
Fortunately for Miss Price, she reached
within hearing distance of MIR. Moore before
the desperate and bloodthrlsty villain over
took her. He. however, stopped her within
about forty yards of the house, when she
cried out, addressing Mr.. Moore, Don't
let him kill me-" Mr.. Moore seemed to
loose no time in compreheuding the sitlla-
ton, and Immediately came out of the
house with his shotgun. But Shirley and the
trembling Eunice were partially entwlned
together, and Mr. Moore dared not shoot the
old gray-headed monster for fear be would
shoot the girl. AT this time the parties pre-
septed thrilling and tragic tableauX. Shlr-
lev was supporting the fainting and fright
ened Eunice by the left arm, while in bis
right hand be held large and shining knife,
with the point aimed at her heart. Dir.
Moore advanced on Shirley and dealt him Il
heavy blow over his head, but it did not
knock him down. The gun, however, was
DISCHARGED by the Conclusion, the contents
passing over the head Of Shirley. Then com
menced another struggle between the two
men for shc possession Of the gun, as Shirley
seized it rs the blow WIS struck. The parties
fought for some time most desperately
during which Shirley tried to STAB
MIR. Moore, but he escaped with long cut
iu his pantaIoons, near the right thigh. The
struggle continued till Moore picked up q
rock and gave Shirley heavy blow upon
the head, which ended the contest. Moore
then lied the hands of his helpless antago'
MIST, and led him at the end OF the rope tC
Bangor. DR.. Vance, Of Oroville, was called
TO examine the wound OF Mr. Price, arc
pronounced it necessarily mortal. Price
was wdowsr, his wife dying about yeal
ago. Though poor, the family Is respecta
bic. and the two daughters much esteemed
3y their neighbors. Shirley IS m old man
| AGED about sixty years, and is The possessol
of some property. We understand that ht
has heretofore borne the reputation OF 1
peaceable and quiet citizen.