Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-08
A TRAGEDY.
ATERRlBLe AFFAIR BETWEEN NEIGH
HoRs NEAR WEtDON.
Crushed His Skull with PlowHaudle-
The weashsr-Other
Matters.


fcorrespopdeuos of mo Richmond Dispssch.l
WELDON, n. c., February 2. 1890. :,
A terrible and bloody tragedy occurred
near Garysburg. late yesterday evening.
to-day. The parties engaged In the affair
were neighbors-Mr. Jessie Brontiey and
Mr.: Thomas Ports. The scene OF the tra-
gedy was at Camps mill, aad the weapons
used were plow -handle and stick.
Mr.. Brantley walked up to the mill,
where Ports was engaged In stirring she
fire in the furnace of the boiler with q
stick. Brantley held in his hand new
plow-handle no had purchased in Weldon
the same day. The two men began 10 dis-
pute about a boat. whereupon Brantloy
struck Ports over the head with the plow-
handle.
CALLED FOR HELP.
Ports ran around the engine and called
for help. Brantley pursued him and struck
him again. Ports then turned and dealt
Brantley terrible blow over the head with
the stick he still held in his hand, crushing
in the skull and knocking him senseless
upon the ground. Brantley WIS taken to
his home and physicians summoned Dr.
A. Il. ZOllicoffer. of this town, was teie-
graphed for and assisted the other physi-
clans in removing seven pieces or broken
skull-bone from the wound on Brant-
ley's head The hole in the skull IS
large enough to admit q mans hand.
Brantley is still alive at this writing, but
years ago killed Mr.. Jack Moody. of North
ampton, the particulars of which affair are
familiar to the readers of the Dtspdf"a.
Ports IS very much bruised. but no bones
are broken, and he is not seriously injured.
He received several cuts about the scalp,
however. which bled profusely.
THE WEATHER.
The cold-waye flag was hoisted yesterday
and the Thermometer tumbled down con.
siderably. To-day we have had taste OF
winter weather. little snow, hail, and Q
great deal of rain. -,
The acreage of cotton in this county will
be greatly reduced. The farmers will
diversity their crops this year and go IN for
corn and other grain. good many are
also turning their attention to trucking.
NOTES.
learn to-day that it is more than proba-
bic that the State will get the contract for
excavations of the canal and will put q
large force of convicts to work on 1t at
once. Mr.. s. p. Arlington. the secretary
and treasurer, has received number OF
inquiries about tho water power from
Northern capitalists. looking TO the erec-
ton Of factories here AZ an early day.
Weldon is getting on solid boom, not OF
the mushroom kind, but our great railroad
facilities and splendid water-power will
give the town a substantial and increasing
business.
Mrs. I. L. Emry, of this town. has been
called TO Missouri to the. bedside OF ,h1er
sister. Mrs. l.. L. Larkin, formerly of this
town. who is at the point of death. Mrs
Emry was accompanied by her husband,
Major 4. j.. Emry.
have not as yet heard of a single farmer
who will use any fertilizers except what is
made at their own homes. This Is II move
in the right direction. Our people gene.
rally depend almost entirely upon raising
crops by sprinkling little guano on poor
| lands.
Miss Lula Hutchinson, of Meckienbcrg
| Va. a sister of Representative Hutchinson
of the Virginia Legislature, who has been
on visit here 10 Mrs. A. l.. Stainback, re
| turned home last Wednesday.
A labor agent from Louisiana was here