The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-31
FIGHTING AT THREE PAGES,
A ShSGUINARY STREET DUEL BETWERN
TWO YOUNG vIRGISIINS
One cf the Principals Killed and tho Oshs~
Mcrt"iiy Wounded-Thc Quarrel OrissnsA-
Ing Over n Debt for Twenty dollars.

One or the Principals Killed and tho Oshss
Mcrt"iiy Wounded-rhc Quarrel Oris,nsA-
Ing Over Debt Tor Twenty dollars.
BALTIMORE, March 90.-The brief particu-
lars received hero this morning OF tho duel aa
Eastvie. Va. excited great intcrest. rs both
parties are well known in Baltimore society
circles. and one OF thom. Mr.. Thom. IL nephov
OF city Councilman. DIR. J. p. Thorn. A gen-
ueman who Witnessed tho duel gives the follow
Ing account ofthe sanguirary encounters
Sidney Pitts and F. Thom tho principals.
wero well-known mon in Northampton county.
Virginia. The quarrel that led TO tho duci
originated in the refusal Of Pitts to pay Thom
$40 due to the estate Of Elijah Bullingham. do
ceased. of Eastvillc. and OF which Thorn who
Is lawyer was the administrator. Thorn
procuroda warrant for Pitts's arrest and on Fri
day inst. lust as the steamer Maggie Of the East
ern SHORE Line was about to start from Hun
gar's wharf. in Accomac county Virginia. q
Deputy Sheriff Of Accomac entered tho tlckcs
office and attempted to arrest Pitts on war
rant charging him with being an abscondns
debtor from tho Stnte of Virginia
Pitts resisted the officer at first saying that he
wis In hurry to get aboard before the steamer
started. Tho Sheriff. who was much excited.
drew his pistol and summoned farmer to as
sist him. The deputizcd officer. by mistake.
seized the lawyer who. in conjunction with the
Sheriif. had the matter in charge, and nearly
chokod him to death before he could be per-
suadcd that he had got hold Of the wrong man
Pitts. taking advantage of this diversion. got on
board the steamer. Tho officer followed him
and another lively scuflo cnsued in which tho
officer WIS worstcd and thrown overheard. hav-
ing narrow escape from drowning. Pitts came
to Baltimore on the steamer. and remained hero
untll lnst sunday then he returned home.
Oh Ihursdhy. the day OF the duel, ns Pitts
was seated on the stcps Of r. v. Nottlngham's
eScamsd Iold on Thqm fpTTnR waat "S 70 9%s sss
YOU" Thorn stopped. and the two met ncarly
in front OF the court house. Pitts said that hs
wanted an explanation from Thom for his ac-
claimed. You are II damned scoundrel and
lar Thorn flushed up nngrily, and. drawing
drew his pso PITS It's Iaa a oh . ai Il sts' 2sts yoai S"q
snInei snI ! GnIn Gan shoot IA ,1uick as you can"
scarcely three ioct apart. when they both
raised thoir - weapons and fired Tho
in the bnmd b2 While Thoms S.G ball SrHs mSds furrow no
along the lower side Of Iitis's right arm. They
ed over their weapons, turned tho cylinders.
nnd in the act OF strengthening up they again
fired simultaneously. Pitts instantly. fell to tho
hayps entered mt his rshi SJs just above Sus tSe
Nipple, penetrating the right lung. He was
picked up, 10y the horror stricken spectators
ana cnrried into ncighOorng house. where he
brcathed his last without speaking n word Tho
smoke from the pistols had hardly cleared away
before Thorn was discovered staggering back.
and making desperate but unsuccessful effort
10 get hold OF the fence to support himself. He
sank To the ground insensibic. The ball from
pitis pistol had entered his faco lust above
tho right corncr Of his mouth and. knocking
out two teeth, had crushed the jawbone and
passed entirely through his head. lodging lust
under the skin at the back OF his head. Tho
course Of the ball was within hairs breadth Of
the Jugular vein. Thom WAS removed TO his
home. whore he now lies in II critical condition.
ana little hope is entertained OF his recovery.
| His head and neck yesterday were much swol-
| len, and he was suffering intensely.
The afrNy caused intense excitement In the
county. ANA much SORROW is cXarcss ri at the
rash conduct oi the two young men. They nro
both connected with the b. 81 families OF Yir-
ginia. Alfred p. Thom IL Il son of Judge W. A.
Ihom Of ,Nirsinig, ana q nephew, rs has been
stied. of Do. J. Pembroke Ihom of this city.
llc IS unmurr' II AMI II lawyer by profess!o on.
sydney Pits VAS also well conn"rtoi. and IL a
nephew Of United States Senator Goo. Il. Dem
nj OF Maryland and Of LAS. \. Dennis oi tho
state Senate. He Is also unmarried. and both
his parents arc dead Boil II tAr mon wrro
under 25 yrgrs II age. An inuu' - was held on
the body of liits, and aVcrli rendered in ac-
cor'!nnr" with the above iu"-. His remains
y r. taken t. Norfolk Yesterday ON the stcamor
y. L. Banks. and Inferred ia the family burial
ground.