Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-01
Alefau0rla Q6azetttte
MONDAY EVENING, APRIL l.
Deadly Anray with Pistols.

Deadly Anray With HiStolS.
Particulars reached the city this morong OF
| terrible tragedy, which occurred at E!st7illc,
Northampton county, Va, ou Thursday moru'
ing, resulting in the death of one mao and the
probable fatal wouudiDg Of another From the
staten eut of an eyewitness the following az
count of the affair is obtained -
It seems that Sidney Pitts and \. 7. Thom,
the latter nephew of Dr. j. 2. Thom, mem
Der Of the City Council Of this city, both we'll
known 10 the county. became involved 10 a
quarrel on account of an alleged insult to ths
former from Thom, which led to an affray with
pistols, resulting 10 the death Of Pitts and thn
fatal Injury of Thom. The quarrel originated
in the refusal of Pitts to pay Thom $50 due by
him to the estate of Elijah Brilllngham, de-
ceased, of Eastville, and OF which Ihon, WAC
is lawyer, was the administrator.
The refusal of Pitts to pay the debt cau:ed
Thorn to have a warrant issued tor his arrest.
On Friday last, just as the steamer Maggie.
Of the Eastern Shore line, was about to star"
from Huugar's wharf, 10 Accomac county, Va,
quite udicrGus scene was witnessed by t1n
passengers and those who had congregatcd az
the landing. 1t appears that few mlDu!ea
before the starting Of the boat deputy sheriff
of Accomac entered the ticket office aud at
tempted to arrest man Damed Pitts, on way
rant charging him with being ao absconc'og
debtor from the State of Virglgla. Pitts re-
sisted the officer at first, telling him that lie
was 10 hurry to get aboard before the steam
er started.
The sheriff, who was much excited, drew Ills
pistol and summoned q burly farmer to as:'St
10 arrestiug the accused The deputiz2d Cl!l2er
by mistake seized the lawyer, who, IN conIu"c
ton with tho sheriff. had the matter in charse
and the barrscr vas nearly chokad t. dls II
before the eouotryman could be persuaded ""t
Instead of the prisooer he was mauas 'I'n9
of the law"
Pitts having taken advantage Of the i"w ~
ments mis- spent, succeeded 10 getting 90 h'..a
the steamer. Whcu the offi:rr too@nt n
on board another lively scutll took pacc, ''''-
Jog which he, too. was wIisted au1 f'no"i
overheard, making narrow escape tr'm dro"' =
ing. Pitts came to Baltimore, and Is s!'!E It
liberty
Aswill be seen, Pitts came to B,t'm)rc i
the occurrence, Where ne remain ii u1>tl t.,
Sunday, when he returoed hcmH. o. t"1'.
dsy, the day of the deed, Pits WA. ~,a''i u
the steps Of the house OF r. V. Na-.,"c!~.@,
adjoining the Court House in Eas;v!i5e, "&'A
Tbom passed by. The icralcr spraoE ~ o"I
exclaimed:
Hold 90, Thom; I want t3 sec you,
Thom stopped, and the t,To nj n"&:'T -.
front of the Court House. Pitts ;hcn sa!I -
wantod an explaDatioo lr0ai Thom Tor t. -
ton of the latter 10 attempting to ar:es: ''.di.
Thom refused to make 40 exp!saat!on, g" :.
Pitts exclaimed, You aEc : - saouoa:4! 2-"
liar
Thon thorcupon flushed Up aas7!;y, a"',
drawing back a lace, put his hand ~ A:s ? or;
aud drew his pistol. Theo his oppohea; )
claimed "Oh, if that your game, | can :i.'l
as quick as you clu,' and drew also. IaH2
we're standing scarcely three feet apart W.>n
they both raised their weapons end fired. :'>
bali from Pitts pistol struck Thor1 10 the i'a:o,
while Thom's ball made turro| aicHE q?
lower eide of the right arm OF Pltt5:
They Instantly stepped back aud both slightly
stopped over their weapons, turned the cy!;H'
ders. and ie the act of straichteoioc up t"G!
again fred simultaneously. Pitts instantly all
to the ground, the ball from his Opponents ~
yolyer having entered his right side ju@! Sd -
the nipple, penetrating the right lung. IL = :
picked up by the horror stricken spoc;atDi>" /" Il
carried into neighboring house where ne
breathed bis last without speaking Wor'.
The smoke of the pistols had hardly cl'Gi
away before Thom was discovered stsgccr.'G
hack and making desperate but uDsuccc6s Vi
effort 10 get hold Of the fence to support hln-
SELF He sank to the grouod lnson'lb'e. ne
ball from Pitts pistol entered his face Iu1S
above the right corner of his mouth, av1.
knocking en- two teeth, crushed the Jaw bcac
and passed entirely through his head, loHg'D@
inst under the skin at the back OF his head.
The course Of tic ball was within BAR
breadth of the ;ugu!ar vein. Ihom was Ir'
moved TO his home, where he now lies 10 c'li-
ical condition and little hope Is cnterta!n2d OF
his recovery. His head and ncck yesterday
we're much swollen and be was suffering IN
tensely.
The affray caused intense excitement in the
county, aud much sorrow is expressed 81 the
rash conduct of the two young men: lhry are
both connected with the best families OF VIZ
piois. Alfred y. Thorn is a sen OF Judge W.
a, Thom, cf Virginia. and nephew, as has
been stated of DR.. j. Pembroke Thorn. ol this
city, member of the City Council lie !s uo'
married and lawyer by profession.
Sidney Pitts was also we'll connected, and is
nephew of Senators George Il. Dennis. CT
the United States Scpatc and James u. Den
mis-, of the Maryland State Legislature. llU Is
also unmarried and both his parcuts are dead.
Both of the men we're under % years OF age.
An Inquest was held on the body of Pitts end
| verdict rendered n accordance with the above
| facts. Eis remains were taken to Norfolk yes
terday, on tic steamer N. i. Banks. ana ~
| TERED 10 tho family burial ground.-Bdhtn1orr
Bulletin.