Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-03-06
The Richmond Tragedy.

VI OluuSoNit ave
Captain L:on testified as follows:
Ms place cf business ia at j. K. ChildreY 4
Cos factory, corner OF Ms!D and I@eUty tourtn
s.r5c:s. l suppose it IVES bstween ii sod II
O'clock on Monday morning. l was seated IL the
front part Of the Office talking to young MT.
Wil:oe. Tie deceased aud Mr. hlcGulre c1me
into the Office, the deceased preceding Mr.
Mcclure. bowed as they came 10, and said,
How IRE you Dir. McGulrt?' He asked is
Mr.. Poiadcxtcr here?.' |
Ireplied, "He is there (uoddiDg my head
back. Mr.. Curtis steppcd up to the Window
rs make remark TO Mr.. PJludeXter, WHOM
didn't exactly understand Ut the moment, but
~hich came 10 me afterwards, to when Mr.
Poodexter replied, "Y on can'5 get one. Mr..
Curtis stepped around into the rear cffice, pass
lug over my seat. and getting 10 there, MIR.
Poiudexte: made remark which attracted my
sttcu.ioo, tut brought to my mind as quick as
a H .>h what it Was that Mr.. Curtis had SAID
ghcu he spoke 10 him, which was L want an
apology" At the time he said 1t thought 1t
was something abort 'policy." Having beard
of the difficulty in the morning, it then struck
me that this was the man whom the difficulty
was With. and that he came there with hostile
ioeut. | Immediately jumped up from my
sat a0d wheeled around toto the door. L
observed MIR. p. with pistoliu his hand lac
ing Nj. C., and he said IF you strike vii that
stick | will shoot" Mr.. Curtis. said, Il am
unarmed." Mr.. P, replied, you strike me
with that slick will shoot you-l will shoot
you." Dir. Mcclure then said. "Hlt hlm-hIt
Eim-kncck him in the head-Knock him 10 the
head" or Kill hin-kill hin-kuock' him 10
the head" Mr.. Curtis then advanced on MIR.
PoiaGexter, who had rereated back to the win
dew in The end of The Office, striking him with
a stick. Mr.. p. commenced 6riug, deceased s'rk'
log aud Poirdextcr firing uoti Mr.. Curtis fell.
Coroucr: What became of Mr.. MoGuirc?
Answer: He was 10 the outer cftice when the
firing commenced; | didn't notice where he was
duriog the 6riog. He was there lust cfter the
fling, and ven! for a doctor. Immediately
upon Curtis's falling. Poindexcr' exclaimed in
words to this effect, Il did cot want to shoot
him; did not want 10 kill bim-tor God sake
t:y and do something for this man" | am not
positive about the exact language of Mr. Poin-
dexter, but that was the sentiment OF 1t. Dir.
Z. raised the mans head up and assisted him
while went cut for doctor. lie was alone
With him Tor some moments.
NIr. Elicit testified that Mr. Mcclure, bis
partner. ard himself, we're seated 10 their
Office Monday morning. About quarter to
IL U ClUlh vi, Cullis CduC III ihsuSl
aod afscr taking bis seat, said: II want to COO
suit you all on point of honor" lilo was told
to state his case, aad did SO as follows: II was
ia the store this morniug, when two men came
10, aud ono Of them asked Mr.. Carlton if ho
vas Dir. Curtis. He replied, no ; there is Mr.
Curtis, and pointed TO me. The man walked
toward mc, and asked if | was mr. Curtis. l
replied, [ am, cir. lie said you insulted lady
il this store on Saturday, sir. | replied, was
not aware of it, sir: end if did L apologize
fJr i. lie said, You did, sir, aud Grew a
cowhide ard commenced TO strike me about the
head and shoulders. ran around the end OF
the counter and Mr.. Carlton slipped in between
us. | said, i have lsuited no lady, sir. II
cid SO upwittingly l now apoogjz, for it.. l
then asked what particular case he alluded TO.
lie rcpiiet, You insulted o young lady who
was here with Mrs Cfump' sister. | then
remeub ered that young lady-a Miss Cottrcil
had como to tho store on Friday With Mrs.
C;uup's sister, sho (Mrs. Crunp's sister, re
maiong in phactou at the door. told him
thai ! had not iusulted the youog lady and said
il you are her representative l apologize to her
aud to you.
"Hc replied: Yes, damp sou. you did insult
her. MIR. Carlton interpcsed and said, MIR.
Poindcxter, can't allow apy more fighting
berc If sou want to fight you must 20 out
side. Win that the two ueu LIFT the store
And 10W have come to ask you all wat TO DO
Il (EIIett) theo said Charlie, tell US exactly
what took place between The lady and yourself
lie replied: "O1 Friday morning Miss Cot.
tJcll csoe io;o the store to return a pair OF
shoes which bad been ordered for her at tho
Moth, but which did cot suit her, uod took
aao.her pair which she liked better. sayiOg
that shc wanted heel plates put on them.
rtpli ttat did net usually put 90 heel plates
Ill; self, bu. as The mau whose business iJ was
Was out, would do it FIR her. | took the
shoes back AID put the plates on the heels
aud brought them to the front Of the sore
again. Holding up one of the shoes, | said,
this is a very pretty IiHla shoe; don't sec
ho@ you eau stand 10 it, You koow. fl.
lows, INC heos 'pitohed TO-. i would like
10 SEQ them on She replied: Nc, thank you
Ing for me- then wrapped them up and es.
cortcd her ont 10 the phaeton. The lady in the
phac.on was sitting on the side neat to the curb
stone and hold ling the reins and either raised or
lowered tho reins l (Curtial don't know exact.
" which, but think she raised them for Miss
Cottrel to get in. She lost hor balance in step.
ping over the foot Of the lady in front and l
frightened my grasp to prevent hor from falling.
This is all that know at which she could pos
sbIy have taken offence" That is all of
Curts's statement.
a ler tho examination Of other witnesses the
jury rendered verdict that the deceased came
to lis death from effects of pistol-shot wounds,
and that said shot WAS fired by John L. Poindex-
ter. The lady. Miss Bessie Cottrell, who WAS
unfortunately the cause of the sad tragedy, was
Ggsa before the jury. She was dressed in deep
mourning and when first brought before the
self possession, and answered all the questions
clearly. Poindexter will have hearing before
the police justice in the case. The funeral of
Curtis took place from st. James church yes
terday. The church was crowded, ard the
grounds adjoining and the streets adjacent were
Tiled with 81 eager crowd, not one half OF whom
could gain admission TO the church
MURDER OF A SUPERINTENDENT special
from Lexington says observation-disclosures IF
murder committed pear Manchester. KY. about
two weeks ago. A girl, aged ten years, daugh