Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-12-14
FIRED FIRST SHOT.
Rev. MIR. WOhl Began The Fatal
Duel AT Williamson.

WILLIAMSON, w. Va, Dec. g.
The town is still feeling the excite
ment caused by yesterdays tragedy
the shooting of Rev. John h.
Wohl, the Presbyterian minister, by
the Hon. S. ID. Stokes, lawyer and
politician. Mr.. Stokes condition is
still critical, though it is now ex-
pected he will recover. His escape
was, indeed, narrow, as Investigation
shows that there were no less than
three bullets which passed through
his coat without penetrating his
body. All day friends have been
calling upon the prisoner. This
morning a large party came in from
Bluefield and a number from Hunt
ington. Should his bond be placed
at half a million dollars it would be
as easily given as one of q hundred.
Mrs. LeNive, who was the only
witness Of the alteration which led
to the fight, this morning made an
affidavit that the first shot was fred
by Rev. Mr.. Wohl. In view of this
1t is predicted that the examining
magistrate will discharge Mr.. Stokes.
1t is now learned that Stokes fred
two shots, both wounding his assail-
ant. After the approaching minister
was mortally wounded by the first
shot he wheeled and the second took
effect in the left shoulder.
Mrs. LeNive is the daughter of
the late j.. G. Jones, at one time
resident of Powhatan county, Va.
He died in Petersburg about sixteen
years ago. Her maiden name was
Marie Jones. She had rooms in Mr..
Wohle's house. 1t was said that the
first trouble grew out of an allusion
by the preacher to Stokes. attentions
to the widow.
1t is since stated positively that the
fatal effray grew directly out of sup
posed illusions to the young ladies of
the city made by Mr.. Wohl in his
last sermon preached Sunday night.
There was not standing room in the
church, for it was generally supposed
from passing remarks that the min
lister would not spare the social func-
tions which had lately occurred.
After Introductory remarks he
said: "You have read in the history
of a great people about the dance
held in a European city the night
before the combined forces of the
world crushed the man of destiny at
Waterloo, and how revelry ceased at
the growing of the distant cannon.
But, my friends, that rumbling,
though awful it may have been, will
be as the voice of some sweet singer
Of old when compared with the sounds
which those who now dance shall
hear on the last day amid the crash
of worlds.
"Voices that last night laughed
with gayety shall then shrek with
the damned, and forms that a
few days ago moved to the
sound of the violins shall writhe
in the torture of eternal fire. Lips
that today may have clung in loving
kisses shall then forever be parched
and dried; eyes that now look love
shall then burst from their sockets
and the fair hair that now waves
about the marble of beautiful brow
the meshes of net of gold shall in
that awful day be turned into flames.
Would that my tongue could picture
and in words paint the fearful scene!
"Turn, my friends, before you die.
Abandon your evil practices. Become
highminded men and women. These
ye cannot be 80 long as you are sui
lied by the touch of the dance. Again
| say unto you that the white light
and glare which illuminate the ball
room are the shrouds of manly pro-
bity and womanly purity, and that
when these die your life is living
hell. You call it the social whirl.
For it / have another name. 1t ia
the whirligig of the devil and upon
it are riding the young people of this
town. Beware, beware"
AS to the drinking, he said:
81 tell you this town must be
purged of this fearful evil. The
young woman who gives to her
friends the liquor does wrong.
The woman who drinks wine
with young man is standing
on the threshold of eternal damna-
ton, and her feet are leading her
straight to perdition. From the
wine table it is but one single step
to debauchery. The married woman
who drinks wine would just as well
then and there, employ some one Of
her brilliant young friends in the
legal profession to defend divorces
suit, for she is welcoming the fot
that will destroy the home"
AS Mr.. Wohle said this, continues
the special, there was seen in many
faces wrath and Indignation. There
wao a cfir q p,nry mr. Of d;oaDpr,vol