Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-01-04
w VA,
Dec. 27th, 1875.

WYTHEVILLE, VA,
Dec. 27th, 1875.
Editor NeJUs:
Alter II pleasant ride over the A NJ.
d. .. II. r., with that excellent and
courteous conductor, John Sumpter.
we arrived at Wylheville abrut |
O'clock p. M, after an absence of near
ly three years. We received quite n
pleasant greeting from old friends and
acquaintance. This town has not inn
proved much comparatively speak,
ing, in the past three years, though
here and there can be seen few sub
stautiHl buildings that have been re-
Gently erected. Mytheville, though a
pretty place, wears the foggy-like dig
nifty OF age, and hence it lacks the en-
ergy, enterprise, and gO-anead aC-
tivcness of Bristol. There are several
good business houses here, bat | am
credibly Informed that the msI chants
dOu't make much effort to build up
the produce trade of the town. They
will not pay all cash for produce, and
consequently a good deal of the trade
of this rich section of country, is
shipped elsewhere The secret of
Bnstols having produce ,rade, is, that
the merchants will pay cash for it
The business men of this place are
gentlemen Of stability, however, and
failure among them is rarely heard
of On Thursday niEht, Xmas eve)
mob tar reiyRed supreme in this uu-
usually quiet place. The facts so far
a. | could learn, are simply as follows,
viz: y. Mr.. +. ii. JDhnsou, s0n.iu-
law ot Capt Lcttrick, and IA merchant,
had been drinking very hard for u
week, and on this occasion was in his
store with Il woman of questionable
character, and was also very much in
tOX Gated \ bout half past seven
O'Clock, IA young nian by the name of
Moore. came into he store with some
dishes he had borrowed from Mr.
johnson. Johnson was up stairs and
heard the footsteps of the man down
stairs, and from his actions, it APP
prared that he thought some burglar
was in his house, 20 he started down
stairs, gun in hand, ana SaId ne would
shoot nlm and Immediately fired, hut
the load went into the ceiling over his
own head. From This, one would con
clude lie merely wanted to frIghteh tho
party in the house. Young Moore
quickly made his escape and went
home, and there being white man
and negro close by, wAo also rushed
down the street excited, aud reported
that young Moore was shot and prob
ably killed, 10y johnson. This caused
general excitement, and party,
principally young blOods, rushed with
guns DC To the store of Johnson to
avenge the death of Moore. Johnson's
doors were locked. but they could see
him through the windows, sitting on
tho n hand IIA had
his store lit up brilliantly. The crowd
demanded an entrance, but Johnson
would not open his doors, ana they
BEGAN to kick and ureak open the
door. when lie (JOhHson) snapped a
cap at them, but his gun did not go off.
some two, it seems, of The party out
side having good view of johnson
them-elves in the dark and the light
ed inside shot at him through the
window, striking him in the temple
aHd killing him almost instantly. He
was shot twice. The crowd then
forced the door and went in and found
no person hurt save Johnson, whose
lftles- curpse lay on the floor, with
has blood aud Dralns oOzing ont. The
news soon spread over tine town. and
many OF the good law abiding citizens
of the place were shocked at the ter
rble deed, but no move has, as yet.
been made to meIe out Justice to the
guilty parties. Notwithstanding the
fact, il is generally known who the
p, operators of the bloody deed are
The states Atty. we understand, has
not made even an effort yet TO vIudi-
cate the majesty OF the law. The peO-
pie of this place throw up their hands
in holy horror and righteous indigna-
ton when they hear of such deeds in
other places, and here at their own
doors, the most wantOn, cruel, and di-
aholiCal crime has been committed
the most cOwardlY and blood thirsty
deed has been perpetrated, and not IA
move hus been made in the cause of
law, order, aud humanity. If this is
Virginia Justice, as eNemplitied in
WYlheville so fa? then need 1 add
that law is delusiOn and justice u
mOckery. Let Johnson be what he
may, let him he n prnhigate. drunk
ard, yea AN Outcast from all that is
good aud noble, stlll the good of the
com munity, the good of law, the good
name of the town, demands that these
men be brought to trial and made To
suffer the penalties of that law the
majesty of which they have trampled
under foot Mr.. Johnson l am in
formed was northern man, who a
while after the wal was connected
some way with the Freedman's Blu
reau, aud no doubt rendered himself
somewhat odiOus in that capacity
Bat be that a. IL may, it does not Ii
cence the murderer to satisfy his
fieudish appetite ty so cowardly TAX
ing his life, by shooting him through
his own window, protected by tae
darkness of night.
OBSERVER"