The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-26

MANCHEkTER AND VICINITY.
Sunday shooting scrape.

TWO NEGROES SHOT By Y0UNG WUIGE MAN
THE AFFAIR CAUSES CONSIDERABLE EXCITE
MENT-CONDIIION or TUE WOUNDED MEN,
&C.
Our city was thrown into considerable eX-
c!tement Sunday afternoon by shooting
affair which occurred on Hull street near
the corner Of Eighth. Itappears that George
and John Meredith, two wellknOwn young
men Of this city, while coming up Hull
street met Cornelius Ophin, Edward
Jefferson, Edward Jones, and James
Emmett, four young cOlOred men, OPP
po,ite Riggins's store. When passing them
George Meredith said something TO his
brother about some work which had or was
TO be done. One OF the negroes, it seems,
thought that Meredith intended his remark
for them. and. stopping, used some insult
iug language towards him. The quarrel
terminated in a fight, and Edmund Jetfer-
son, pickiug up loose brick from the
pavement, threw it with great force at the
two Merediths, who were standing close TO
each other. John Meredith lodged the
brick. which passed Just q little above his
head and struck George square in the face,
painfully iDiurng him and knocking him
senseless for a few moments.
happened TO strike against each other a.
they passed, and dispute as to who was
entitled to the pavement arose, terminating
i'm quarrel and afterwards fight. The
first statement, however, appears to be
more probable. When Meredith regained
himself he pulled pistol from his pocket
and fired at the negroes three times. one
OF the balls struck Olphn in the body, pen
loIa hn Nal oh M ON
a hall inches beneath the skin, producing a
simple incompIica,ed wound not OF very
serious nature. Another strucS j hers0n IN
the right nosril and lodged in the heshy part
OF bis face. Tue other missed lis mark, but
came very near striking one OF tue negroes.
Before he was shot, Olphin had hold OF
George Meredith's shoulders and was try
inc TO throw him down. He called for the
three negroes 10 help him, saying "Come,
boys, we have got him now" When Olpbin
said this, Mere ditb, with his pistol in few
inches Of the negro's body, tired, the ball
taking effect a; above stated.
When the pi>.Ol.shO,s were fired there
was great stampede among the negroes,
the wounded ones making the quickest time.
After the shooting Meredith surrendered
himself 10 Policeman Smith. Jefferson,
who wss sbOt in the nose, Jump "a a
b lggy and drove rapidly towards Rich
mond. He was pursued by Chief.of Police
Lip.comb aud Mr.. Water Nelson, who
were in another buggy, OYertaken near the
Free bridge, aud brought back. OPIUM
went TO his nome, near By, and physician
was sent for 10 attend him. The two others
were not apprehended until yesterday morn
ing. Jefferson was baIled BY Mayor Taylor
in the sum Of $500 Ter his appearance at the
Mayors Court Yesterday, aud Meredith
baied in the sum cf Il 600.
When The case was called yesterday morn
ing the courtroom w9s crowded, ana there
was still considerable excitement over the
matter. Mr. Charles l.. Page appeared as
counsel for Mr. Meredith, and Mr.. Henry
w. Hobson, Of Richmond, appeared as
counsel for the ether side. Jefferson was
able 10 be AZ court, but Olphin was not, and
the matter was continued until Saturday
morning at O'Clock On that account.
DIR. Edgar Archer, who attended Olphin,
was the only witness examined, and he 0nly
testified as TO the character OF the wound,
and thought that Olphin would be able TO
attend court Saturday; that he rested well
Sunday night. had no fever, aud was doing
very well Yesterday morning.
DR.. Weisiger was sworn, but did not tes-
tfy, as the man he attended was at court
Jefferson had some fever Sunday night, and
suffered considerable from his wound.
Neither OF the balls could be extracted.
DR.. Archer probed for the ball IN Olphin,
but could not reach it. Mayor Taylor al
lowed the same bail bond for the parties
until Saturday, which was given by all ex-
cept Jones, VINO was committed TO Jail.
Mr.. f. o. Angel became bond,nan for Mr..
Meredith.
The pistol Mr. Meredith used carried
a small bail, and did not belong to him. In
half hour after the shooting occurred an
immense crowd gathered around ibe spot,
and il was estimated that there were nearly
thousand persons present. But for The
timely interference Of the police and prompt
action on their part a difficulty which per.
haps would have assumed the magnitude OF
riot would probably have occurred.