National Republican., 1883-05-26
The southampton County Homicide.

On BOARD STEAMER GEORGE LEARY, May
23.-On my arrival in Norfolk this afternoon
from Jerusalem G. H., Va, where have been
for the purpose of attending court, a copy
of the Washington Star of the twenty second
ultimo was handed me and my attention
called to the following article:
A Political HOMICIDE IN ViRGiNA.-The
straightOut republicans and readjustcis are at
daggers' points In Southampton county, Va, and
the enmlty resulted yesterday in fatal quarrel
a. Jerusalem, the county seat a political meet.
Lewis, n white readIuster, and John l.. News0me,
colored observation-disclosures involved In Ght.
Newsom was shot by Lewis ana instantly killed.
The meeting broke up in great disorder, and ex
element in the county is intense.
The facts in the case do not warrant any
such statement as this.
was present when the affair took place
w@j in close personal conversation with Mr..
Newsome twenty seconds before he feb NOR
tally wounded.
Here are the facts Slade Lewis, tho mu~-
derer, Is u white man without character, or
any kind of decent moral standing in the
county. He has been before the courts of the
state recently for various oifenses, the latest
bsing only a very short time ago for rape on
child. Being possessed of means he has
managed to escape punishment for his numer-
Gus crimes such as cutting, shooting, and
otherwise assauting citizens.
Lewis has been in Mr.. John l.. Newsomes
debt for some timo-the sum of forty dollars
or thereabouts-on purely business transaC'
tion. On more than one occasion Mr. New
some has asked for settlement, and it is cur
rent rumor that each time the result was
threat from Lewis. On last Monday after
the speaking (the meeting had adourned),
Mr.. Newsome and myself repaired to Mr..
Gardeners for refreshments. After l had got
through, asked him, Mr. Newsome, if he
could get me to Franklin He said, see Mr..
Gregory, and if he cannot tnke you will
n4ke some arrangement to get you down.
| started out, and when twenty PAGES Off |
heard the report ofa pistol shot. / turned and
looked in the direction from when j sup
posed it came and saw John Newsome
reeling out the door that had just left with
his right hand on his left breast, bleeding and
showing that he was in agony and pain. He
pulled his pistol fired one shot into the house,
and two down toward the river then stag
geiCd about ten or fifteen PAGES, feel and cX-
| pired in "a very few moments afterward. The
| facts as above stated were in substance whst
was elected at the coroner's inquest.
Slade Lewis was in Gardner's but Newson y
did not notice him while l was in there
Lewis made his ", schce known TO Newsome
in an instant, and theecvidence is that New
some said to him, " l would like TO have that
money, Mr.. Lewis" to which Lewis repi ed
| Cd d-n you, you are always aGor me
only wanted what was his and raised tum
bier of water to drink. Then it was
that Lewis drew from his hr
pocket bulldog revolver, self-cockcr and
holding it on his hip fired, and the fata
bullet hit Newsome and sent him to death
| Politics had nothing to do with this diaboli
CAL premcditated murder. Neither of then
had spoken publicly that day. Nor had
they exchanged any political cross firing.
Lewis is one of that school of mon, o
which there are yet maay in the south, tha
do not consider it crime to shoot down
colored man in cold blood for any iancied OF
implied insult-and this is what Lewis con
sdered when John Newsomc asked for wha
he Lewis) owed him. Every state in th
south has this class and they continue TO d.
their work. and will go on until the law shal
make capital case out of some of them.
GEo. NJ. ARNOLD,
506 p street, Washington, ID. G.