Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-12
THE RICHMOND HOMICIDE.
What Led to the KilIing---Curtis Wanted
to Lace Up a Young Lady's
Caters.

Inc Dispatch OF yesterday gives the
following statement of the young lady
who was the unfortunate cause OF the
killing of Curtis, in Richmond. by
Poindcxter, Monday. The statement
is not only interesting, but may be of
benefit to frivolous young men and
garrulous young ladies. The Dispatch
says
The young lady who was %unfortu-
nately and unwittingly the cause of.
this sad catastrophe, and who resides
outside OF the city, yesterday evening,
IN answer to questions, gave, in sub
stance, the following statement, which
We publish to silence the many CON
hicting rumors which have been
spread as to the nature Of the alleged
insult:
Mr.. Pondcxter was to see me Sun
day evening, and took me out to drive.
| told him what had occurred, and af-
ter having reached home, when seated
in the parlor, | again told Mr.. Pom
dexter in full all about it. | said to
him that about three weeks ago | went
to the store Of Wingo, Elicit 4 Crump
to purchase a pair Of shoes, and on
last Friday, in company with a lady
friend, again called at the store to
make an exchange of the shoes, as
they did not suit me, and to have a
pair repaired. The gentleman who
waited upon me was Mr.. Curtis, whom
| had always endeavored to avoid, as
| thought him rude. He was especi-
ally so on this occasion, when he in
sisted upon lacing up my shoes, a SER
vice which | peremptorily declined.
| have no acquaintance with him, but
he %endeavored to draw me into Il con-
versation. After ! had handed him
the shoes he held up one Of them and
remarked that it was a very pretty lit
tie shoe, and that a very pretty little
foot filled it. j asked him not to
make any comments about my
shoe, for | was very indignant
at his conduct. He then com
menced to talk to me about
the different sociables he had attend
ed during the winter, and commented
on how the ladies dressed, and asked
me my opinion in a manner which /
considered to be very impairment. II
turned to leave him, when | found
that had not obtained the heel taps
that | wanted. He left me and in a
few moments returned with them. and
when he did so, holding the shoes in
his hand, he asked me how it was that
| wore off the heels of my Shoes, and
wanted me to show him my foot. II
was SO much confused and mortified
that | did not know what to do. for
his behavior to me was very offensive.
| started out Of the store, handing
him the money in payment for the
heel-taps, and when / reached the
sidewalk and was about to get in the
phaeton, he came out of the store and
said | had not given him the proper
change. | was not positive whether |
did or not, for ! was somuch confused.
He then opened his hand andin il was
a dollar note. | told him | thought |
had paid him all. lie then returned
into the store and took from the coun-
ter the balance of the money that he
had left there. | then started to get
into the phacton, when he took hold
of my arm, and, assisting me, squeezed
il quito hard-much more so than
thought any gentleman ought
to have done. | told the lady
who was with me Of this. and
further remarked that ! would never
go into hat store again while that
young man was employed there.
After having told Mr.. Poindcxtcr
what | have stated to you he thought
he would 20 by the store and horse.
whip Mr.. Curtis, aud asked me to
give him a description of him. L.
laughing, remarked that he was any.
thing but good looking, and, really,
he is very ugly. lie then remarked
that if he (Mr Curtis was a large
man it would be doubtful whether he
would attempt to borsewhip him. for
he might in return get whipped him.
self. From the manner in which be
spoke | did not for a moment think
that any difficulty would grow out Of
the affair, nor did | think that il was
Mr.. Poindexter's purpose to mako an
! attack or to call him to account. He