Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-04-05
Tragedy in Northampton County.

TRAGEDY in Northampton County
Alfred 2. Thorn is the son of DR.. VIM.
A. Thorn, of EastviIle, Northampton CO.,
Va, and young lawyer of only twenty
three. who graduated at the University Of
Virginia. He is general favorite in his
neighborhood. He is relative of MI.
James Thorn, and the Messrs. Ker, of
Staunton. M. Sidney Pitts was twenty
two years of age, a son of the late Judge
E. P. Pitts, of Norfolk and nephew OF
u. s. Senator Dennis, of Maryland. He
was young man of fine appearance and
had been Adjunct Professor at Bethel
University where he graduated. He resi-
ded with his brother E. T. Pitts, an attor-
ney at Eastviile. On the 18th ult., young
Pitts being indebted the sum of 500
to the estate of the deceased postmaster,
at Eastville, of which Thorn was curator
and being about to leave for Baltimore,
Thorn made an attempt to arrest him on
the steamer on capias, Pitts took the
document from tho officers hand and tore
it up. Hard words passed between him
and Thorn at the time but the steamer
moved off with Pitt on Board. He came
back on the next trip. The Norfolk "Vir-
gilman" says:
On Thursday morning, Pitts, with a
number of other gentlemen, were seated
on the steps of the store of r. V. Noting
ham, when Mr.. Thorn was seen approach
ing, in company with a negro boy whom
he employed to attend to his Office, which
was located between the store of Mr.. Not
md tho hnnco a flor
ing the store he was allied by Mr.. Pitts,
who stated that he wished to see him liz
order to get All explanation for his action
in seeking his arrest. Tho two men by
this time were within six or eight feet of
each other. Mr.. Thorn replied that ''he
had no explanation to make" 1t is then
stated by two of the witnesses who gave
their testimony at the cOruner's inquest,
Messrs. John K. Winder and George Toy,
that Pitts used abusive language, remark
ing, GU are damn scouudrel and a
damn rascal" wliereupon pistols 'were
drawn, and the two commenced firing,
each discharging two shots, and both fall
ing at the same time, Pitts, it is thought,
| shot through the heart, expiring immedi-
ately; Thom received Pitts shot just I'M
der the no slightly to the right, break
ing the upper jawbone and several teeth,
AsSOAHNlh6 AllC AOoi VI OliO III IL duu Jul
ing itself in thu neck near the vert ehrae
The physicians, Dr. George Ker, DIR. G..
W. Smith. DIR. W. S. Stokley, and DR.
John T. Wilkins, had not, up to the latest
reports, been able to find the ball. He bled
profuse!y, having hemorrhages up to a late
hour Thursday evening, and it is feared
that there is not much hope for his recov.
cry.
The pistol used by Thorn was a seven,
inch-barrel Colts tiuted navy revolver
That used by Pitts was of the Hopkins 8
Allen s make-fve shooter. Both when
picked up had two chambers empty.
A report states that the evening previ
Gus to the shooting Pitts went to the I'M.
dertaker in Eastville and told him to take
hismeasure for burial case, as he expect
ed it would be required the next day. 1t il
also stated that on the first shot Pitts wal
wounded in the right wrist, which disabled
him from cooking his pistol, and that be
went to the corner Of house and pried
the trigger up, during which time Thom
cody waited until his adversary was ready
when the two fired simultaneously, each
fell at the same moment, and with such
heaviness that the fall was heard a hun.
dred feet off. The entire affair occurred
within the interval of two minutes. After
the shooting, the rem aims of Mr. Pitts WERE
taken to the Powell House, and Mr.. Thon
was removed to the Taylor House. T,t
father of Mr.. Thom-Dr. VIM. A. Thon
was immediate ly notified of the affray
and MIR. E. P. Pitts, of the death of hi.
brother. Both gentlemen shortly after
reached Eastville, grief-stricken at the ter
rible tragedy that had bereft one of bro
ther, and possibly the other of his son.
The coroner jury found verdict il
accordance with the facts.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The latest news from young Thorn is
that he is likely to recover from his
wounds. The Baltimore "American' says
of the tragedy:
Alfred 2. Thorn was about twenty three
years old. the son of DIR. William Alexan-
der Thorn, brother of DR.. J. Pembroke
Thorn, of this city. and a well-known
| practitioner on the Eastern Shore. His
family, like Pitts's, is among the best in
| the State, having connection with the
Parkers Of Northampton and the Taze.
wells, of Norfolk, among whom Governor
Littleton Tazewell, of Virginia, is too well
known to need mention. Thorn was q
talented young lawyer, graduated few
years ago with distinction in several
schools of the University of Virginia, and
had for the last two years pursued his pro
fe, sion with marked promise of success in
his native town. At the University he
conceived an attachment for a beautiful
lady, who had for several years been re-
garded the belle of that section. A few
weeks ago this lady was stricken down by
| q dis ease that for while threatened tC
cost her life, and young Thorn left East
| vile to be in instant attendance upon he1
| in her sickness in Richmond, VIII ither she
had been conveyed to receive the best medi
cal aid the State could furnish. She was
| in the course of few days pronounced
| out of danger. At this time it is believed
| Thorn is her affianced lover. In 1875 Thorn
came to this city for the purpose of EN-
barking in mercantile life, but failing OF
his expectations, returned to the Univel.
sity, where he tudied the law. During
| this year he was prominent member OF
| the Jefferson Literary Society, and was
| honored with the position of their orator
at the final commencement. He always
/ sought the best associations, AMI was re-
| garded as high toned young fellow. He
| was temperate in his habits. never drink
ing nor yielding to any Of the tempta.
| tiops which qnded him ON all sides
His reputation at G llege was that of {
| man who, understanding his cleverness
was the mcst ple-mlnded and contdIn&
student at The University
PREVIOUS THREATS.
Sidney ,1itts, his antagonist, was il
this city twice "a d few days before the oc
currenee above relatta 0n tss s iI5a n
and other :ssloo on y''' At one # these he
told the proprietor of the trouble he sxpee'
Ted in Eastville on his return to that place.
fo the inquiry from the proprietor. ''Well.
when shall | hear from you again ?'' he
replied: "Oh, you'll hear from me through
the papers," His manner was not thought
threatening, and nothing was said of the
affair until the sequel had followed. A
gentleman in this city states that the quar-
eel had been brewing for long time
Some time ago Fhom. in a conversation
with Or. Robert Taylor, of Eastville, Was
L. o.,Jl