The gold leaf., 1910-03-10

One of the most shocking tragedies
that has startled the State-Wholfy
unexpected and unprOvOked, and
perpetrated with such suddenness as
to take all the parties completely by
surprise-was enacted upon the prln-
cipal street of the usually quiet town
OF Scotland Neck about 3 3O'clOck last
Friday afternoon.
E.. Powell, a small merchant OF
that place, aged about 80 or ~
wears, shot A. Paul Kitchin OF Scot
land Neck, f. l.. Travis, OF Halifax,
and c. W. Dunn, the later fatally;
All the parties are prominent and
we'll known. Mr.. Kitchin is lawyer
and Representatives in the Legislature
from Halifax. He is a son OF the late
Hon. W. H. ("Buck') Kitchin, for
mer member OF Congress, ana
brother of Gov Kitchin and Con
gressman Claud kitchin. Mr.. Travis
is a leading lawyer OF Halifax, State
Senator and long time chairman OF
the Democratic executive committee
of the county. Mr.. Dunn was chlef
of police, deputy sheriff and tax col
lpctOr for Scotland Neck and tHn
townships OF the county. lie had
been deputy sheriff fifteen or twenty,
wears and had the reputation or
being one OF the best officers and tax
collectors in the county.
ANIMIrS OF FEELING AGAINST
THE PARTIES.
It appears that Powell had made
threats against Dunn who had called
him down n time or two Tor curSlHg
uu lie street and creating disturb
ancc in justicr's court at prellml-
marv hearing of one of his sons on
the charge of fploniously cutting n
Young man nearly to death, secretly
stabbing him in the back. And when
warrant had to be served ON any
of the POwclls us an officer it fell to
Dunn's lot to do it, and for this he
was held to account in the heart Of
the elder Powell.
The feeling against kitchin seems
to have been because he WaSlnOt sue
cFs<ruf fn getting his (P0Wefs) son,
Aqui!la, Of on il nominal fine for the
cutting scrape in which he waS in
volved. The Judge came very HEAR
sending him to the roads for ii long
term but finally let him Off on paying
Il fine of $500 This greatly embit-
tered old man Powell it is said. He
cOntended that kitchin hal not done
what he ought to have done in the
matter Hence his feeling against
his lawyer who by strenuous effort
had saved his son from a term on the
roads.
1t was in regard to this same case
that the letter, mentioned further on,
was written to Travis. Mr. Travis
had been retained by the other side
and the fact that he prosecuted his
son and did not reply to POwell's let
ter (Which was never readD incensed
Powell therefore the malice he bore
towards the Halifax lawyer
At the trial of his son Powell was
very much wrought up and it is now
known that he went to Halifax with
Il pistol in his pocket declaring that
he would kill Judge PEBBLES if he sent :
his son to the roads. 1t is said that
there are several persons to whom he
made such threats, but no attention
was paid to it, probably because he
was regarded as Il braggart and bluf-
fer and because no one wanted~to in
eur his i'll will He had not shot any
body but it was not known at what
time such an occurrence rs that of
last Friday might come to pass.
1t is said that when Powell had
shot down the three men backing
away q little distance he tlourished
his pistol and said that he had got
three OF the men he wanted and there
were Just five more that he was after
and he would get them before he was
done. Going to his store Powell
armed himself with Il shot gun and
went to his home His invalid wife,
sick in bed, and Il single daughter.
were the only persons there. \ large
crowd collected and when he thought
they We're coming to take him he
came out on his front porch and fired
several shots none OF which took cf-
feet. On account of the condition OF his
wife and to prevent further hlOOdShed
if possible no effort was made to
storm the house or kill the man, and
for four hours he defied arrest. 4
guard was placed around the house
and there were determined men who
had made up their minds to take
Powell dead or alive when darkness
came and lie could not see how to
shoot those who approached. In the
meantime his daughter had come
out and begged that the tragedy al
ready enacted be not added to and
she would try to get her father to
give up his gun and surrender \
gentleman who is very close to Pow
ell in ties of blood and friendship was
allowed to enter the house and he
succeeded in persuading him to sub
nit to arrest as he would be killed
if he did not.
DUNN THERE ATTENDING TO
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Mr.. Dunn had left his home but ~
short while before to 90 to Wool
ard S livery stable on business and it
was there that the triple tragedy Oc-
Cured. The facts as we learned them
from eye witnesses and Others and
saw measurements of the ground
taken are substantially as follows:
Mr.. kitchin had taken Mr.. Travis
home to dinner with him. Whether
Powell saw them pass his store and
was on the lookout for them when
they returned is not known. Or
whether he saw them when they came
back on their way to Mr.. kitchin's
office is mere matter of conjecture.