The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-04-12
FIGHTING AT THREE PAGES.
A sauguInary Street Duel Between Two
Young virginians.

A s>ueuInary Street Duel Between Two
Young virginians.
The brief particulars received here OF
the duel at Eastville, Va, says the Bal
timore american, excited great interest,
as both parties are well known In Balti-
more society circles, and one OF them,
Mr.. Thorn. is nephew Of q city Coun-
Gilman. DIR. j. p. Thorn. A gentleman
who witnessed the duel gives the fol-
lowing account of the sanguinary en-
counter:
On the day OF the duel, as Pitts was
seated on the steps of r. V. Noting
hams dwelling, adjoining the Court
House in Eastville, Thorn passed by.
Pitts sprung up and exclaimed, hold
ON, Thorn, want to see you. Thorn
stopped, and the two met nearly in front
OF the Court House. Pitts said that he
wanted an explanation from Thorn for
his action in attempting to arrest him.
Thorn refused to make an explanation,
whereupon Pitts exclaimed, "You are a
damned scoundrel and liar" Thorn
flushed up angrily, and, drawing back
a pace, put his hand in his pocket and
drew his pistol. Pitts said. Oh, if
that's your game, can shoot as quick
as YOU can" and he drew also. They
were standing scarcely three feet apart,
when they both raised their weapons ana
fired. The ball from Pitts pist" struck
Thorn in the hand, while Thom's ball
made a furrow along the lower side of
Pitts right arm. They instantly stepped
back, and both slightly stopped over
their weapons. turned the cylinders, and
in the act of strengthening up they
again fired simultaneously. Pitts in
stantly fell to the ground, the ball from
his opponents revolver having entered
his right side just above the nipple,
penetrating the right lung. He was
picked up by the horror-stricken specta-
tors and carried into a neighboring
house, where he breathed his last with
out speaking a word The smoke from
the pistols had hardly cleared away be-
fore Thorn was discovered staggering
back, and making desperate but unsuc-
cessful effort to get hold of the fence to
support himself. He sank to the ground
insensible. The ball from Pitts pistol
had entered his face just above the
right corner of his mouth, and, knock
ing out two teeth, had crushed the jaw
bone and passed entirely through his
head, lodging just under the skin at the
back of his head. The course of the ball
was within hairs breadth of the jugu-
lar vein. Thorn was removed to his
home, where he now lies in a critical
condition, and little hope is entertained
of his recovery. His head and neck yes
terday were much swollen, and he was
suffering intensely.
The affray caused intense excitement
in the county, and much sorrow is ex-
pressed at the rash conduct of the two
young men. They are both connected
with the best families of Virginia. AL
fred P. Thorn is a son of Judge w. A.
Thorn, of Virginia, and a nephew, as has
been stated, of DIR. j. Pembroke Thorn,
of this city. He is unmarried and a law
yer by profession. Sydney Pitts was
also well connected, and is nephew of
United States Senator Geo. r. Dennis,
of Maryland, and of James A. Dennis, of
the State Senate. He is also unmarried,
and both his parents are dead. Both of
the men were under % years of age.