Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-09-07
SHOOTING sCRAPE AT wEEMs.
Richard Lee, Colored, RiddIed With
Shot.

On last Friday afternoon Richard Lee
and JAS. Armstead Taylor, two coloreC
men from White Stone, went to Owen,
Marine Railway. at weems. this county
looking for trouble, and found it
Ii seems that Lee and Taylor
went TO Weems TO shoot Mr.. Owen
but, instead, Lee is full of shot
and both men are now in the county Jail
DIR. Irving was summoned and pro-
nounced Lees wounds not serious. Mr.
Owen was not hurt, although be had a
narrow escape from being murdered.
Richard Lee is the owner and mas
ter of sloop Hettie Elizabeth, aud
about month ago wanted her hauled
out for repairs on Owens railway.
Owen told Lee to bring the money TO pay
the bill and sloop would be repaired since
about twelve months ago constable
had to he employed to collect the last bill.
which he had made there. Lee came again
and said he was ready to haul out and on
the2S,h his boat was put on the ways"
After having extensive repairs and
bill, when Lee informed HIM that he did
not have any morey. Mr.. Owen told
him he would have to get the money
before he moved the boat. A few words
passed when Lee and Taylor under.
took to take the boat at all hazards,
but were prevented 10y Mr.. Owen au6
several friends who rushed to his assist
auce. Mr.. Owen then sent for Squire
Etlskov, who warned the men to keep
away from the yard, but on Thursday
Lee and Armstead again appeared and
threatened to break the lock and take the
boat. Mr.. Owen warned them to keep
away and not get into trouble. The men
then left and tried to borrow a gun.
but were unsuccessful.
Next day, Friday, both men appeared
with guns, pistols and AN axe and pro-
ceeded at once to break the lock. Mr..
Evan Owen, Sr., demonstrated, when
they threatened to brain him with the
axe. Evan Owen, Jr., started to assist
his father, when the colored men leveled
guns at him and cried, "Step ten feet
further and you're a dead man" Evan
Owen decided that it was policy not to
step those ten feet, or, rather, he hardly
had time, when Mr.. II. L. Owen ap-
peared OF the scene with double-bar-
relied breech loading gun and cried TO
his father to run away SD as not to get
hurt. Taylor leveled his double-barre
gun and aimed at Mr.. Ii. f. Owen, but
The gun hung fire, and Mr.. Owen sent
charge after Lee. Both men then sought
shelter III the cabin OF the boat. Lee
soon stuck his head out the cabin door
and tried 10 get a sight on Mr.. Owen
again, when Mr.. Owen again fired, the
full charge lodging in his face and
breast. At this time quite a number of
men mad assembled and under the leader
ship of Mr.. w. A. Cameron took charge
Of the men and turned them over to
Justice Eilskov who searched Armstead
and took revolver from him.
The men are now in the county Jail.
both men being considered desperate
characters. A guard was appointed to as
sist Constable McKeDney.
Mr.. Owen has the full sympathy and
congratulations of the entire community
on his narrow escape. He regrets
the event on account of the no.
toriety, but feels that he was justified in
doing what he did, as it was time either
to shoot or be shot, and he preferred the
former, as any sensible man, knowing
that be was in the right, would have
done.