New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-04-17
Deadly Duelists.

A dispatch from Crisfeld, Md. to the Bal
tlmore Gasette says:
A shooting aifray took place between Maj.
Sidney Pitts and A. P. Thorn at Eastville,
Accomac county, Va, on Thursday last,
which resulted in the almost instant killing
of Pitts and the fatal wounding of his an
tagonist It seems that Pitts INDUCED in
gambling occasionally, and on one occasion
he had borrowed 500 from A. Birmingham,
who has since died, and A. P. Thorn, Young
lawyer Just admitted to the bar, became coll
lector for the deceased's estate. Find
ing an account against Pitts,
he presented the claim, which he
Pitts acknowledged, but said he would paw
it when he pleased declaring his intention to
go West. He started by the steamer Maggie
from that point to Baltimore. Thorn, the
lawyer, procured a warrant to arrest Pitts,
directed to the sheriff of the county: but
Pitts escaped arrest by defying the officer
and posse, and went to Baltimore on the
steamer Maggie for the West. He SUISSE
auently determined to return and avenge the
insult, and cid return and asked Thorn for
III explanation, to which Thorn exclaimed,
Il want nothing more to do with you!''
Pitts insisted on an explanation. when Thorn
just what [ want you to do and drew his
revolver. They then fired without
serious effect. Both kneeLed at the
same time to fix their pistols, that
had failed to revolve, and both rose at the
same time, firing simultaneously. The
charge of Thom's weapon took effect IL the
heart of Pitts, while that of Pitts took effect
in the head Or Thorn. Pitts died on the
spot and Thorn lies in dying condition.
Both Of them are young men and of re-
spectacle families. Alfred P. Thorn is o
son of Judge W. A. Thorn, of Virginia, and
nephew OF DR.. j. Pembroke Thorn, of
Baltimore, member of the city council. He
is unmarried. Sidney Pitts was nephew
of Senators George r. Dennis, of the United
States Senate, and James U. Dennis, of the
Maryland State legislature He was also u1l-
married, and both his parents are dead. Both
of these were under % years of age.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
he Norfolk Virg5nsan gives the follow
ing account Of the affair: The steamer N.
z. Banks, Capt. P. McCarrick arrived at
her wharf yesterday evening from Cherry
stone, Va, having on board the remains of
Maj. Sidney Pitts, second son of the late
Judge r. p. Pitts, of this city. It appears
that about three weeks ago young Pitts
s'OiLoWeu IIclu NIL. ILl1Jd bI1lt1uSlIdl1l, Lie
postmaster at Eastville, the sum of 800. In
the meantime Mr.. Birmingham was taken
sick and died. His securities sought to col
lect the same from Mr.. Pitts, whom they I'M
derstood was on the point of leaving for the
West. MI. Pitts acknowledged the indebted
ness, but consulted his brother, Mr.. E. p.
Pitts, a practicing attorney in Eastville, to
know if he should pay the amount to them.
His brother advised him, as an attorney as
we'll as a relative, not to pay until curator
to settle the affairs of Mr.. Birmingham
should be appointed by the court, otherwise
he might be called upon to pay the amount
a second time. Mr.. A. P. sThom was APP
pointed curator. A capias was issued, and
the services of the jailer, W. E, Collona,
were called into requisition, who, in COM
pany with Mr.. Thorn, proceeded to Hunger's
wharf, on the morning of the 18th, where it
steamer Helen for Baltimore.
On arriving at the wharf it was found that
Mr.. Pitts was on board the steamer; Collona
approached MIN and handed him the paper.
remarking, 81 arrest you" Pitts, not recog-
nizing bis authority, took the paper and de-
hberately tore it in pieces. Some harsh
words then passed between Mr.. Pitts and
Mr., Thorn, and a posse comitatus was sum
moned to effect the arrest, but without sue
cess, the steamer Helen, when her time came
for departure, moving off with MIR. Pitts on
board. On Monday morning Mr.. Pitts re-
turned to Eastville, from Baltimore. On az
irving he spent part of the day at Eastville
and afterward went out to the residence of
his brother, Mr.. E. P. Pitts, about three
miles from town, where he remained until
Wednesday morning, when he returned to
Eastville. On Thursday morning Pitts, with
a number of other gentlemen were seated on
the steps of the store of R. V. Nottingham,
when Nr. Ihom was seen approaching, IN
company with negro boy, whom he en-
ployed to attend att his Office, which was To-
Gated between the store of Mr.. Nottingham
and the court house. After passing the
store he was hailed by Mr. Pitts, who stated
that he wished to see him in order to get an
explanation for his action in seeking his
arrest. The two men were by this time with
III six Or eight feet of each other. Mr.. Thorn
replied, "that he had no explanation to
make 1t is then stated that Pitts used
abusive language, remarking, s'You are
ID coundrel and id
rascal, Whereupon pistols were
drawn and the two commenced firing.
each discharging two shots, and both falling
at the same time, Pitts, it is thought, shot
through the heart, expiring Immediately;
Thorn received Pitts shot lust under the
nose, slightly to the right, breaking the up-
per jawbone and several teeth, lacerating the
roof of the mouth, and burying itself in the
neck, near the vertebrae. The physicians.
Or. George Ker, DR.. g. w. Smith, DR.. w.
s. Stokley, and DR.. John T. Wilkins, had
not, up to the latest reports, been able to find