The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-07
Fierce Battle On the Border
of Henry County, in Which
Three Are Killed.
FAMILY TROUBLES
LEAD TO THE CLASH
Shelton and Dodson Band Go
Ostcnsibly to Destroy Still
in Retaliation and Nearly
Half of Their Number
Are Slain-More
Trouble Feared.
Especial to The Times y Dispatch.1
- ARTINSVILI.E VA Nav

I
n n ART1NSVILLE, VA, May g.
jND Seven young men, some OF
lN whom were partially intoXt-
i Gated. yesterday afternoon in
radcd a quiet little valley
about four miles from Philpott. this
county, and very near the Patrick and
, Franklin line. wherein is located the
humble home OF Hereford Spencer.
Soon three OF these men--Sam Shelton,
James Holly and Charlie Dodson--were
lying dead. pierced by from fourteen to
thirty bullets each. and the other four
had precipitately fed. followed by the
bullets of their enemies Those who
escaped were Joe p. Shelton and Dan
Shelton. brothers OF Sam Shelton; Globe
Shelton. his cousin. and Joe Turner.
Hereford Spencer, Thomas Spencer.
William Massey and Grover Massey
were. arrested. charged with the shoot-
| ing, and are now under bond in the
| sum OF $500 each for their appearance
before the justice at Philpott to-mor-
row.
Went to Destroy stills.
| The alleged object OF the invasion
was to cut up the tubs of blockade
STILL said to belong to William Mas
sey, In retaliation for Massey having,
as was thought. cut up the still OF
Sam. Shelton. The defendants, how
ever, think that personal violence to
| them or some of them was intended.
The invading force was armed with
four shotguns two pistols and an axe.
The inquest held to-day by Justice
Thomas Trent and a jury of six found
that the men came to their death by
| gunshot wounds. but did not charge
any one with shooting.
The evidence for the State showed
that the wife of Hereford Spencer
waved a bonnet or handkerchief as
| the Shelton party came up in the yard,
and that Immediately the shooting be-
gan. Fifty or more shots were fred
| by the Spencer and Massey party. and
/ only two 50 far as is known, by the
ISheltons Several witnesses swore that
the shots came from hill on the
right, and that they recognized the
Masseys as two of the men firing.
Hereford Spencer was in his house.
and took no part in the affray. accord
| ing to his wins statement. The 9TH
ers, however. went to his home soon
! after the firing ceased.
Shelton fell in Spencer's yard. Hol-
| ly's body was found about 100 yards
below there. and Dodson's body was
| found 200 yards below, in the branch.
In Narrow Valley.
The place where the shooting oc-
Cured is a very narrow valley will,
| high hills on each side. with a small
stream and farm road running through
the bottom. One hill Is timbered and
covered with laurel. the other is clear
ed, with slight undergrowth near the
top. Most Of the firing came from the
latter hill.
Sheriff Davis with several citizens
| the fha oh a
| 1890 last night. picked up the dead
bodies and placed the accused unde.
I arrest DR.. c. H. Ross, OF Bassett. per.
formed a n autopsy to-day Common
! wealth's Attorney Smith and Messrs
Carter and Gravely for the defense
and The Times Dispatch correspondent
went to the scene this morning. Tho
inquest was largely attended
The neighborhood is quiet now and
the sympathy of the. people is appar.
4 emily with the defendants. There had
been bad blood between the parties
Tor several months. and there had been
several fights. in which the Shelton
party We're the aggressors. Dodson was
married man. about thirty-five. Shell
ron was about twenty five, and single
HOLY about nineteen and single. Holly
and Dodson were from Patrick, and
Shelton from Henry county.
Fear More Trouble.
Over seventy-f1ve shots were fred n
rapid succession. the three mtIn men.
toned above falling dead in few
seconds, while their companion fled
Over twenty bullets We're extracted
from the body OF one OF the victims
Reports from the scene OF the trag.
edy are that while everything is al.
parently 1uict, more trouble may re.
| suit.
The scene of the killing is In the
heart of a reighborhood infested with
Illicit dtstilleries and near the place
where woman was shot to death
about year ago BY band OF moon
i sinners because she had Informed or