The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1895-08-21
BENT On KILLING.

A gentleman in this city from
Clay Court House, detailed to a Ga
zette representative yesterday an ac-
count of a most sensational shoot
ing which occurred near there Sun.
day morning about two or three
o'clock. Sometime Saturday even
ing Nathan Brock, John Stephen
son and Sam Woods, three men re-
siding on Leatherwood creek left
the court house together for their
homes. When they reached a point
on the mountain road about four
miles south of the county seat,
Stephenson, in what the other men
regarded a spirit of fun, took Brock
revolver away from him, though he
had one himself. \ moment after
wards, however, they saw he had a
motive in disarming his companion,
as he told him he was going 10 kill
him and almost instantly fired, the
ball entering the right shoulder
and lodging in the back near the
spine. Brock fell to the ground,
apparently dead and Woods, who
was unarmed, started to run, but
Stephenson covered him with his
pistol and made him stop.
About this time a negro came
along and Stephenson compelled
him to give up his pistol and made
him remain with them, saying that
neither should go away till morn
ing. After they had been there
some time, Brock, who is a man of
wonderful vitality, regained con-
seriousness and begged piteously for
water, but Stephenson inhumanly
refused to allow either Woods or
the negro to relieve the thirst of the
dying man. He allowed, them,
however, to carry Brock into a de-
serted shanty at hand, but making
the other two men come in with
him. 1t was then that Woods es-
capped and hurried back over the
mountain road to Clay Court House
for a physician. While he was
gone, Stephenson fired several more
shots at Brock, but none took effect.
Later in the night, Brock, who was
still conscious, though suffering in
tensely, in feeling on the floor near
where he lay, found an old gun,
which had been left in the hut by
the last occupant, and managing to
rise to his knees in the darkness
pulled the trigger with it aimed at
Stephenson. The weapon did not
explode however, but before Steph-
ensOn could prevent, Brock brought
the firearm down over the head of
his would be murderer and the man
sank to the ground with a groan.
1t was then that the frightened ne
gro escaped, running down the
road like the demons were after him.
Brock, thinking that Stephenson
might revive and again attempt to
kill him, dragged himself out of the
cabin and secreted himself in the
bushes. Stephenson soon revived
and made a diligent search for the
wounded man, but without avail
and at last went away and has not
since been seen.
Woods returned from Clay Court
House with a physician about day
light and the wounded man was ia
ken thither, where his wounds were
dressed. The ball has been located
but has not ben removed. Monday
morning his condition was critical.
The authorities are after Stephen
son.
Brock is well known as a man of
remarkable resolution and has been
in several personal difficulties, but
is regarded as of good character.
Stephenson is also of good standing
and his father is said to be one of the
wealthiest men in the county. Brock
declares that he knows of no cause
for the attempt upon his life.