Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-29
Terrible Tragedy iu Virginia.

The following account of a terrible
tragedy at Danville, Virginia. on Tuesday
last is from the New York Herald of the
9th inst. We have already received and
published a short account of the affair by
telegraph. The Mr.. Johnston killed is a
brother of DIR. j. M. Johnston of this city:
dsy, about one o'clock p. m, at
Yanceyyille, North Carolina, sixteen miles
south of this city, Nathaniel Johnston was
shot and instantly killed, and George VIII
hanson, Jr., was shot in the forehead and
dangerously wounded, both by Felix Roam,
Postmaster at Yanceyville.
"The difficulty which has thus fatally cul-
minated seems to have originated last Satur-
daY in pleasantly between Colonel George
Williamson, lately a member of the North
Carolina State Senate, and Postmaster Felix
Roam. The ex-senator In pleasantly rallied
the Postmaster about his receiving his ap-
pointment from a Republican administra-
ton, which was resented by Postmaster
Roam at the time. This morning, in
YanceyVille, there was difficulty between
Colonel Williamson and Mr.. Roam, the
effect of which has not been reliably ascer-
tanned; but just before noon to-day Mr.. Nat
Johnston, who was at work upon his farm
near Yanceyville, was sent for to go to the
village Immediately. He did SO, and
after eating his dinner he and Mr.
George Williamson, DR., son of the ex-
Senator, walked up the street together. At
the same time Postmaster Roam was coming
along the same street, from the opposite
direction, returning from his dinner,
with a double-barreled shotgun IN
his hands. The parties approached each
other In front of Henderson's store, next
door to the post Office, and as Johnston and
Williamson came near Roam he warned them
not to approach nearer, but they kept on,
each party, 1t seems, being armed. When
within short distance Of him Roam fired
upon Johnston with both barrels OF his shot
gun, each shot taking effect and killing him
instantly. Young Williamson fired upon
Roam with pistol, hitting him in the calf
of the leg, and Roam fired upon the young
man, also with a pistol, hitting him
in the forehead and producing a
probably fatal wound. Whether Roam or
Williamson fired first is not positively
known. The dead body of Johnston was
store and Young Williamson was taken
care Of by friends. Postmaster Roam
gave himself into the custody of
an officer. A tremendous crowd at
once gathered around the store, and there
was intense excitement but no further vio-
lence up to the time this report closed. All
the parties to this terrible affair are highly
IcePeCldoie sent1euon anu wen connected by
birth and marriage. Johnston, the deceased,
was nephew of ex-senator Williamson
and brother-in law of w. N. Shelton, the
largest leaf-tobacco dealer In Danyille He
was generous and high minded Young
man, but exceedingly hot-headed. and who
generally went armed. George Williamson,
Jr., is the son OF ex-senator Williamson.
and belongs to one of the most respectable
and influential families In North Carolina.
Postmaster Roam is son of the late DR.. N.
NJ. Roam, who in his lifetime was one OF the
most emiHent physicians and influential
citizens in the Southern States"