Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-02
SHOOTING IN FLOYD.
The Result of Attempting to Serve
Warrant

FLOYD. VA, October 1.-(special)-
John Howell was shot and painfully.
though, 1t is said, not dangerously, wound
ed few nights since by Il. H. HUFF. at
the house Of the latter on Little river,
about nine miles from this place. Huns
account of the shooting. which is cor
robOrated In the main by his wife is as
follows; Some time in the night HUFF and
family We're aroused by knocking at the
door. and in answer o the inquiry by
Hun. who is there?" TaZ Martin an
sWered that II was he, ana trait ne wanted
10 see him (Huff) on important business.
HUFF told him that he was not well, and
dld not want to get up. Martin insisted
on being admitted. Huff's wife finally got
up, lighted lamp, and opened the door,
when Martin and John Howell came IN.
Howell. approaching to the foot of the
bed, pistol in hand, and dwelling IL at
HUFF. who was still In bed, said. Damn
you, say your prayers, / am going TO
shoot your and at once fired at Huff, the
ball missing his head a few inches and
passing through the pillow into the bed.
Hun. who had his pistol in the bed, i'm
mediately fired al Howell the ball strik-
ing him on the windpipe. and, as is sup
posed. glanced off from the windpipe and
buried Itself In the muscles of the neck.
The doctor was Unable to locate the ball.
which was "a 30 in size. but thinks II
somewhere In the back OF the neck AS
soon as HUFF fired Martin seized him,
and after a considerable scuffie succeeded
In taking his pistol away from him. Huff
then broke loose from Martin and ran
out of the house in his night clothes. and
In attempting to cross a foot log fell into
the river, waded to the other bank, and
went TO a neighbours house. who, upon
Huif's telling the story of the shooting,
advised him 10 go TO the woods. which he
did. and remained until morning when
! he yentured home and found the house
despatched with blood Howell and Mar
tin left rs soon rs Hun ran off. HUFF left
home after he got his clothes and break
fast, and has not been back since. He
swore out a warrant for Martin and
Howell Martin was given a hearing on
/ Tuesday and sent on to court and admit
ted 10 bail Howell. not being able to be
| moved. was not taken before the JUS
| tice. His case will be heard when he gets
/ better.
Martins testimony was that he went to
/ Huff's with a warrant to arrest him for
shooting at Howell from ambush some
| ten days ago, and that when ne went into
| the house he told HUH that he had the
warrant. About that time Howell came to
! the door of the room and Huff shot him.
| Howell, he says. did not shoot at all. and
! while he had his (Martin's) pistol. il was
| not loaded. 1t turns out that Martin did
have a warrant for Huff. The warrant
was directed to Constable Amos Gamma
! day. and the Justice endorsed on the war
| rant that " the Constable could not be
| found Martin should execute the warrant
/ Martin end Howell went TO Cannaday's
| the night Of the shooting and asked him
| TO execute the warrant. This Cannaday
declined to do that night. but said he
| would do 50 early next morning. This did
not satisfy Howell. and he and Martin
left with the warrant and went at once
| TO Huf's house.
John Howell about nine years ago shot
and instantly killed Henry j.. Smith AT
| this place; was tried and given nine
! years in the penitentilry. Pending an APP
| peal Howell was taken 10 the ptnitentia-
| nv. where he stayed about a year, when
| the Court Of Appeals released him on a
| technfcality Since then he has been
| living In this county, and has married.