The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1892-04-01
SAVED BY HIS WATCH.
What Came Near Being Another Tragedy
On the Streets of This City.

What Came Near Being Another Tragedy
On the Streets of This City.
Two ringing reports broke the quiet OF
the town last Friday, about dusk, and
Sergeant Gily, running to the corner OF
Jerome street and Wood avenue, saw
man standing there with Winchester
rifle in his hand, and another man scud-
ding across the field in the direction OF
the river.
"Give me revolver somebody, quick.
said Gilly, who thought the man running
across the field had done the shooting.
"Here is gun" said the man who was
standing there when the officer came up,
Offering him his Winchester, $50 and get
him." he added
Gilly took the gun and went in pursuit
of the fleeing man, but soon lost sight OF
him in the bushes.
The man with the Winchester had done
the shooting He stood quietly i'll his
place until the officer came back and adj
mitted the fact and was placed under ar
rest
Jesse Osbourn, who was an eye witness
to the whole affair, was seen by reporter
for the PosT.
He and Andy Roberts we're coming up
Jerome street, when they met jeff Roberts,
who spoke to them and wentin Nickels
store. When they had reached Wood
avenue Jeff came out of the store toward
them with Winchester rifle in his hand.
CANDY he said approaching them, "you
swore that YOU were going to kill me on
sight"
"You're a liar replied Andy jumping
behind Osbourn and grabbing him by the
shoulders, held him as shield between
himself and Jeff, who was trying to get
his rifle aimed at him.
Osbourn was unable to catch hold of
the Winchester because of the way Andy
held him, and as jeff threatened to shoot
him if he did not get out of the way, he
dropped to the ground. Andy, seeing his
protection gone, whrled around, present
ing his side just as Jeff fired. This is what
saved his life for the bullet passed
through his vest and striking his watch,
on the side next to the body, jerked him
down. He jumped up and, lodging around
the corner, started for the river at full
speed. AS soon as jeff could get bead
on him he fired again, missing him.
Andy, as he afterwards told the report
err. stopped when he reached the river and
hid in the bushes until his pursuers had
given him up, then he started for Duficld
staying all night at the mining camp on
Wallen's Ridge.
The next day Captain Irvine, of the vol
unteer police guard, hearing that Andy
would wait in Duificld until he heard from
his friends here, sent one of his men over
after him, and he was brought back to
testify against jeff He was turned over
to Sergeant Gilly, to guard for Il few hours,
heard of since.
Both men are from Black Water, Lee
county, Vs., and are third or fourth cous-
ms, and both have rather an unsavOry
reputation in that part of the country.
Several wears ago jeff fell out with a
man at Black Water, and going to his
house he shot and killed him through the
window.
Later on he nearly killed a section boss
on the S. A. 4 O. railroad, with a pick
handle, for this he was fined and sent to
Jail for three months. \ petition was
circulated and signed by many here ask
ing for his release, as his wife and child
rem were in want.
l jeff is a quiet, inofensive looking man
and gives for his reason for trying to kill
Andy that Andy had lay-wayed him and
threatened to kill him.
He was riding along the road on horse
back he said, when he heard noise at
the side of the road and looking down he
saw Andy and his cousin living behind a
log, aiming Mt him with their revolvers.
Knowing that Andy'S father was ahead of
him, and that the old man would take Il
shot at him as he passed if he went that
wav, he wheeled his horse about and
throwing himself on the opposite side
from them, went back down the road full
tilt, and escaped unhurt although they
fred many shots after him.
Several reasons have been given why
Andy should not want TO stay here. Death
and jeff arc one and the same to him. He
says he is in constant fear that jeff will
slip up on him and murder him.
1t is said that there is an indictment
against him in Lee county for breaking up
an exhibition.
Andy WAS tried with Philpot for the
murder of Baxter Bretherton several
years ago on Black Water. Andy and
Bretherton were wrestling when Ph!p0t
who was standing near, shot the latter
through the head killing him instantly.
Both escaped into Kentucky, but were
afterwards tried, and Andy was acquitted.