Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-23

Three West virsinians Engage I'm u
Terrible Battle.

A Rompey wv. Va. Telegram saws A
double tragedy occurred In the woods i've
miles from here this morning O-car
Evans, iarm.nand, shot John H0Se ana
Jacob Kirby. The las'.named died few
moments after the shooting. Hoke lies IN
critical condition. Evans, who heretofore
has been regarded as IN easy.g0ieg business
man, has been arrested The men had
quarrel some time ago ever the anount OF
their respective spares for making stretch
Of road. About week ago Hose and
Evans met while hauling bars. and Hoke,
jumping from bis wagon, horseWhipped
Evaus.
The fgh, between the three men. Hoke and
Kirby against Evans, was terribly bloody
one. II took place 10 a wild, lonely spot on
the Big Mountain, south OF here. No one
was near 10 Interfere and the three men
fought 10 the bittcT end.
Evans. after the whipping be received at
the hands Of FloSe, provided himself with
large. oli-tashioned army revolver which he
loaded and carried in his overccat pocket.
This morning Evans was driving up the
mountain road with a heavy load OF bark,
wneu bis horse stalled. While he was trying
10 urge the animal Oh HOke and Kirby came
along and ordered him TO move out OF the
wav. Evans declared bis inability TO move,
an an angry dispute followed. According
10 Eysns's story Hoke and KIRBY then adj
yanced to attack him. Evans shot Kirby
twice through The body, and he then fired at
Hoke, but missed him. Driven desperate,
Hoke, seizlng this opportunity, rushed ~
him. They grapped. and terrible struggle
bepan. Evans was ii ally thrown 10 the
ground, almost beneath tue feet OF his morse.
Holding him down by the throat, liOSe
shouted TO KIRBY, who was living on the
g,ound some yards away, TO come and help
him.
Evans was nearly choking beneath the
clutches OF HOke's fingers at bis throat. when
KIRBY, with the blood streaming from mis-
wounds, uuclssped his knife and staggered
towards the struggling men Evans could
see the blade OF the long knIfe glitter rs
Kirby, raising it high above his bead.
dragged himself forward, having fallen on
his knees from faintness when within few
feet Of them. Though in The throes Of death
himself Kirhv made one desperate effort 20
str! the man who had shot nm, but as he
reached the PROSTATE nan he gave groan
and fell over dead.
Iloke. taking one OF his bands from Eyans's
throat. reached out TO get the knife from she
dead mans clutch, when Evans suddenly
turned over. and. by quick movement. re-
leased himself. and picking up his revolver
fred jus, as IIoke rushed upon him win the
knife. The bal, entered Hoke's body Just
below tue heart. The men cliDcbed again IN
another llfe-and- death Struggle. HOke
dropped the knife, but Evans chung to bis
revolver with one nsnd, while with the other
he tired to disengage himself from the bold
OF Hoke Finally be succeeded IN breaking
away and firing again. this time the ball en-
tering the right leg OF Hoke. The nrst shot,
however. had so weakened HoSe that he
rolled over rs though dead. and Evans then
beat hlm over the head and face with the
butt OF his revolver. lie believed he had
killed him. when, leaving The prosira'e form
on the road, Evin, came 20 town. told the
Story OF the terrible encounter, and gave
himself up 10 the authorities.
Hoke, however, was moi dead, bit after
Evans left hin recovered sufficiently 10 get
on bis borse aud attempted to ride 10 town.
He aid not get far before he dropped from
bis horse and wa removed 10 farmhouse
close by, where be now lies in serious con-
dition.
Tbe above story OF the tragedy is In sub
stance that told By Evans. Iloke tells Ef-
ieTent story. lie says thai Kirbg and hum
self were 10 Their respective wagons all The
time. and were dfsl sitacked by Evans.