The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-08
A BLOODY SPOT
IN BRUNSWICK rs |I
Dark Cloud Hangs Where Or. Temple
Was Killed.
TWO OTHER MURDERS THERE.
"A Citizen Ambushed by an Unknown
Assassin aud an Officer Shot Down
in the Discharge of His Duty.
A Bad Man Unpunished.
TWO OTHER MURDERS THERE

WTIITE PLAINS. VA, April 5.-spec-
ial.-The recent killing Of DR.. W. II.
Temple by Rev. j. T.. r. Riddick. III
Brunswick county. recalls the fact that
at least two other murders have been
committed in the memory of people yet
living within few hundred yards OF
where this shooting occurred.
The first of these occurred prior to the
war between the States, sometime prooab-
ly in the sos, a man travelling along
road. near there. having Eeen shot from
ambush in the night. and instantly
killed. The murderer was never dis
covered. The spot Is said to be only about
400 yards from the Temple residence.
The second occurred on Christmas-eve.
December 24th. 1858, about sunset. This
was the murder of John B., Drumnond.
by the so-called DR.. W. w. Lewis. des-
perate character, who had drifted here
soon after the war, think along in Go
or '66, from whence nobody ever knew.
Lewis came here and organized the
negroes in clubs, holding nightly meet
ings at various places. and charging
every member monthly fee; mad the
negro population fully organized and
under his control, and marched the public
roads in the county with troops OF them
accompanied by q band of music nearly
every S,lnday-and often On other occa-
sions.
He established his headquarters at Mrs
Margaret Parrish s. near the present size
of Ebony Postoffice and encouraged 'he
negroes to steal everything possible and
bring to him, ne receiving and holding
same, after paying them sometimes
small 1.-THE Of their value, either in caSn
or in payment for supposed claims for
medical services. or for teaching their
children-he pretended to practice medicine
and teach school.
His many acts of atrocity eliminated
in his going to the residence of Mr. WIN.
Lett, in this county, nea- the North
Carolina line riding up in front Of the
house and taking several shots at Mr..
Lett, standing in his own room. and, 1t
is said. that some of the shots narrowly
missed the old gentleman's head and
that one lodged in a book on the nantei
over the fireplace, in front of which ME-
Lett was standing. All this shooting was
done by Lewis with his Winchester re-
peating rifle, which ne invariably car
RED.
AS soon as Mr.. lett discovered that he
meant mischief, he grabbed his shot gun
and retired to the back yard, where he
succeeded in getting the drop on Lewis
and filed him with bird shot. though
doing but little damage, as unfortunately,
the shot were too small to kill
This occurred sometime during the year
lS6S, ana q warrant Wit.o ISSLSu loi LEWIS
arrest, the warrant being placed IN the
hands of John B. Drummond, s0eclal
constable appointed for the occasion.
On December oath. as before stated.
Drummond attempted to make the arrest.
at a. point about go or 300 yards from
where Dr. Temple afterwards built his
residence, and was shot and instantly
killed by Lewis, who Immediately made
his escape, but was afterwards arrested
and brought back to this county for
trial.
He, together with his partner in crime,
one McGffen. were granted change OF
venue to Greensvile County, and upon tria.
Lewis was adjudged insane and sent to
one of the asyHums of the State. soon
after effecting his escape, and has never
since been heard from.
N1cGiffen, his pal. was convicted as
accessory to the murder. and executed at
Eicksford-now E5mporia.
| John Parrish, who went with DR.. Levin
to Mr. Let's residence on the occasion
referred to. was tried as an accomplice
in the affair and served term of about
seven years in the penitentiary.
From these things many of the simple
| people of this section say that the place
where DR.. Temple located is an unluc,sy
one, and fears are express ed that some
other terrible tragedy will occur nea'
that place, either in the near or distant