Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-01-12

To all appearances, when on her Meet
footed steeds, standing on tip-toe with
one leg pointing toward the setting
stars, Madame Dockrill was on the
verge of deirum.
In less than ten minutes thereafter
she had doffed her plume and spangles,
and as she rubbed her aching leg, cool
ly canyassed the respective merits OF
Hoggs liniment and Ponds extract.
The fact is, we don't always judge
correcty.-New Fork Suu.
SuoCKfNG TRAGEDY IN FARMvULE,
VA,-A Prominent LAWYER Snor
DowN-SUICIDE OF HIS MURDERER.~
The people of the town OF Farmvllle,
Va, were Mortified December 9th, by
the occurrence of terrible tragedy.
About one clock Col. VIM. Randolph
Berkeley, prominent member OF the
bar, was ruthlessy shot down 10y the
hand of an assassin, who Immediately
after the consummation Of his purpose
committed suicide Col. Berkeley was
seated in MS law Office conversing on
business with Mr. Alfred Moth, local
banker, when a knock was heard, and
the Colonel saying. "Be seated Mr..
Moth" got up to open the door. AS
soon as the door was opened Col. Berke-
lev was shot in the breast and stagger-
ed, when the assassin fired again and
shot him in the right temple. Capt W.
H. Kennedy, who had done the deed,
steped into the office, and said to Mr..
Moth, "You had better leave" and then
shot himself in the head. Several phys
icians were speedily on the spot, but
life was extinct in Col. Berkeley, and
Kennedy was only just breathing. The
cause Of this awful crime is believed to
nave been the fact that Col. Berkeley
had distrained on Kennedy's goods for
a debt due TO a client.
Capt. Armistead, the comfy coroner,
opened an inquest in the case of Colonel
Berkeley this afternoon. The evidence
of Mr. Moth showed clearly that the
facts were as stated above. DR.. Nash,
a physician who had been attending
Kennedy, testified as to threats against
some person whom he alleged had in
jured him.
Col Berkeley had been celebrating
Christmas in the old Virginia fashion,
aud had a house full Of guests. He
was to have given grand party to-
night A more hospitable man never
lived lie was prominent politician,
and bad frequently been spoken of for
Governor and Attorney-General. lie
rendered great services to the Southern
democracy during the Tilden campaign.
Kennedy was well known as former pro-
prictor of the Bolling5rook Hotel, Pc
tersburg, and the Randolph House,
Farmyille.
Col. Berkeley was the head of an in
terestipg family, consisting of wife
and seven children. He was a member
and an officer of the Presbyterian
Church, and was not over thirty seven
years CT age. For several years he was
an active member Of the board Of yisi.
tors of the University of Virginia, where
he was graduated befUre the war. Dur
ing the war, though quite young, he
was Colonel of Virginia regiment
which distinguished itself greatly. Col.
Berkeley was the representative of two
of the oldest families in Virginia, the
RandoIphs and Berkeleys, both Of
whom trace their descent in a direct
line from the Norman Conquest John
Randolph, of Roanoke, aud Edmund
Attorney General of the Uni
ted States, were Of this family. Bishop |
Berkeley, whose line, Westward the
star of empire takes its way" is
household word with Americans, was
connected by close relationship with the
Berkeleys, who at an early period came
to the Old Dominion. The Earls of |
Berkeley and Fitzhardings are chiefs Of
the family in England.
J. a. II. ST. Andrew writes to the
State, from the scene of the
dreadful tragedy, as follows
The late W. II. Kennedy was bred
to life of ease and failed to adapt him
self TO any steady purpose in life;young, |
handsome, and of excellent abilities be
became as his physician says, soured
against a world which did not go
smoothly with him, and many misfor |
tunes still further embiltered his mind. |
Wearied OF life, jisgusted with himself, |
hopeless Of the future, and suffering !
from a painful disease, be, on :hree
several occasions, had attempted to take
his own life, but without success. Col. |
had taken some proceedings
against him in the interest of client,
aud in conversation with third parties
had made some not severe reflections
on Kennedy, without bitterness and
without malice. Kennedy had always
been remarkable for exaggerated no
tions as TO heduty of resenting injuries. /
and gradually his snimosity against the
world centred ON Berkeley. The mat
Ter between them could have been easily
aud satisfactorily explained, for Colonel
Berkely had done no wrong, and would