Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-07
A SAD TRAGEDY.
PARTICULARS OF THg RECENT
sHooTIsG IN tUssEx COUNTY.
The Charge and Threatening Lsttsr-story
Of the Wife Of the Muir
dered Man.
lspecl,l telegram % the pIspa.ch.l

Special telegram 10 the Dispa'chl
WAKEFIELD, Va, March Gone OF the
saddest tragedies which has ever been
recorded IN the history Of Sussex county o.
CURED yesterday Just after midday about
two and hall miles from this station. The
scene OF the tragedy was Green Level, and
the cause which led 10 the deatb OF Mr. Ma
thaniel n. Balm !. az vet underlined, AZ
though letter which wa delivered 10 bin
yesterday morning Is supposed 10 suggest
one OF the motives az least Green Level l.
NOT even village pOst.o0ice. II y near the
Intersection OF two roads. and nom tne
character OF the andnear about Mr.. Nathan
lei Balm thought it would &c httiog
70 name his handsome residence in Accord
snce with nsture's cbarscteris,ics. Mr.
Balm was about thirty years old. Ills wIe
IL about twenty-six, aud three children Dal
blessed their union. His friends In The
county, aud ne was not thought 10 nave any
enemies. regarded him a. an earnest, honest,
industrious man. He was prosperous as
well, and IN addition to revenues when be
derived from his farm he also conducted
general grocery store near his residence.
SHOT DEAD.
Yesterday he was shot dead by Carlton
Marks, young man not quite twenty years
OIu' anu tnto ~ tue sIolJ ~ ~ u w" o" '"''
yilsge;
About hali.past 10 O'Clock yesterday morn.
ing DR.. W. l.. Deyaney, Of Wakefield. and
Mr. r. W. Lynch. Of the county, went to
Mr.. Bain's store for the purpose OF deliver
lng % Mr. Balm letter written by Mr.. ID.
4. Marks, a neighDor. The character OF The
letter was Known 10 these gentlemen before
hand, and a. Or. Deyaney said 10 the Dis
patch correspondent tonight, was not de-
liYered In auy spirit OF hostility, although
the bearers knew that the allegations made
therein were OF very insulting nature.
They simply presented it TO Mr. Balm with
out comment.
TIE THREAT.
Mr.. y. A. Marks is the father of Carton
MARKS, and this ia .he threat which he is
alleged 10 have made TO the unfortunate
Balm: "You have taken IMPROPER liberties
with 10y little daughter Sallie. You must
leave the county by july lst or take the
chances Of a criminal prosecution Ion are
given Until Wednesday morning, March 6ib,
10 answer"
Mr. Marks daughter Is only twelve years
old. and the accusation was, Of course, an
exceedingly grave one. The letter was read
by Mr.. Balm. and when re had thoroughly
understood its contents he displayed great
emotion. "Why, gentlemen" he ex-
claimed. " am ast0uisbed. You certainly
cannot believe that | would be guilty OF so
heinous a crime as tina"
well. Dir. Balm" wss the response. "we
advise you not 10 act h5stiiy Ia the matter.
Wait until tomorrow before YOU take any
step. You must deliberate before yod see
Mr.. Marks"
Mr.. Balm, however, was not so easily ap-
peased lie excused himself and at once
sought bis wife, acQualntug her with the
contents OF the letter. Together they took
counsel and she was so indignant that finally
they Doth determined 10 20 down the road
10 Mr. MARKS house and seek ga explanation
Is well ~ make AL explicit dental SO
leaving their friends behind in the store, 10
company with a clerk they at once proceeded
upon their mission.
MRS. BAIN's STORY.
Here The story must be taken up by Mrs.
Balm "a given IN her evidence before the
Coroner's Jury Yesterday afternoon.
"W hen we got to Mr.. Margs's." she testi-
fed, eve did not see that gentleman, and while
taking 10 his wife | heard noise behind
VI. On turning around saw Carlton MARKS
tire a pistol nj nv husband, the bullet biting
him IN his left cheek. A. my husband stag
eered and looked around 10 see who had shot
MN AdtltVu Bttl EOt 1T ii'tt VI hiiH ar 90 "
the second lime. just a. my husband cried
out, ION, Marks. do not shoot me- lie
CARTON was about to shoot the third time
when caught his arm and begged him not
fire on Mr.. Balm any more"
"DlTs. Marks, his mother, then said 'Carl-
ton, why did you shoot Mr.. BAN! Ii you
had only listened 70 me you would never
have done IT,
lie replied. i could not help It. then
took my husbands head 10 my lap, and Mr..
Barker, our clerk, who had beard the noise
OF the shooting. ran 10 us. Mr.. Balm was
then IN dying condition. We got A cart
10 carry HIM home IN, but he died in few
minutes.
The Corouer's jury was composed OF
Mcssrs. A. w. Bishop FOREMAN, f. A. Fai-
son, L. II. Allen, ". ID. Branch, Jr., G. NJ.
Pond, and Howard Brlggs. After hearing
The evidence they returned As their verdict
tnat Nathaniel T.. Bsin came TO hts death by
pistol-shot wounds inflicted by Carlton
Marks on March 9th.
Young Marks was brought to Wakefield
Yesterday afternoon by his father, aud sur
rendered to County.Judge }. Harper Shel-
ton. He was taken to the county jail aud
confined therein pending trial.
Tomorrow The County Court begins its
session, and It is probable that the grand
Jury viii then bring true bill.
The remains OF the murdered man will be
buried tomorrow afternoon from his fathers
farm about two miles from Green Level.
Both sides have engaged counsel, and great
legal night is expected. The counsel for the
defence are Je,se r. West. OF Waverly, and
Messrs. McIlwaine and DAVIS, OF Petersburg.
Mr. ". K. Mckinney, OF Petersburg, viii
assist Comm0nwealtRs-At Dfewry In
the prosecution.