Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-02-20
Interesting Letter From Former
Tazewellite.
Roseburg, Ore, Feb. 5, 1871

the News, stirs me up, and will write
just little at this time.
We have had the mildest january
according to the weather bureau,
since it was established here thirty
seven years ago, but good deal more
than the average fall of rain, the total
being 1898 inches, the normal being
4.56, and February 3rd was our cold
est morning, the mercury standing at
% degrees above, quite n difference
in here and other sections of the coun-
try and also of what you have had in
Tazewell.
1t is with regret and sorrow we
note the recent deaths in Tazewell,
and our deepest heartfelt sympathy
goes to those thus bereaved-but such
is life, and these sorrows come to us
all in the course of time.
l was more than glad to see that
Mrs. Kate Peery was able to celebrate
her eightieth birthday, and if my wish
es could prevail, she would celebrate
many more. How wildly recollection
brings to my mind the looks of that
dining table, and the good things on
| it, as l have so many times enjoyed,
| but cannot try to describe, and if nv
mother, who is seven months the old
est, could have been there, their cups
of JOY would have been full, but alas,
it could not be.
Yes, in speaking of the revenue
raid when Will Witten's horse was
shot, my recollection is pretty clear,
except | am not real certain as to
whether it was in January 1891 or
80; but | do know it was an awfully
cold storm, the mercury down to %
below zero, as | had it marked on the
wall in the marshal's office, and
think it was the same time that Paris
Helmandollar met his sad and tragic
cath, almost In sight of his home.
Lewis w. Morgan, deputy collector.
Of Rocky Mount, Va, had planned to
make raid in Buchanan county, ard
had engaged horses at Tazewell. and
got some of Mr.. Watts deputies to
go with him and the posse of men
| which he brought with him. About
the time they arrived at Grundy, from
which point they were going TO start
operations, the big snow fell, and it
turned so awfully cold that he abap-
doned trying to do anything fun sher
than to try to get to Richards be-
fore night the next day, and their
trip was complete "waterhaul.'
Now, Will Witten and Pet Shrader
had been in the service long enough
to know that deputy marshaling was
very much like hunting and trapping
II you caught no game, you had no
furs to sell, and if you caught no
prisoner, or offender, you had no ac-
count to file, and besides, was out
both time and eXpenses-and expen-
ses meant money; for where any one
else could travel without charge. n
revenue man" was expected to nav
and Will knew that John Champ, for
whom they had warrants, was Ev-
ing up Coal Creek, near the mines
and was at home, as | think he was
informed at Raven that Champ had
passed up late that evening. So he
proposed to some of the men to 90
with him up there and get Mr.. Champ,
put 1t being so late and cold they all
concluded to go on to Richards, and
VIII started by himself. Now, Champ
was on the lookout also, and ready
Tor business, and as soon as Will
got within range he commenced TO
pump his Winchester, by the light
OF the snow, and he fired with I'M
erring effect, as Wills riding mare,
one OF the best in the county, could
testify to, for she was wounded. I
'hink three, if not four times, two of
the wounds being very serious. and
while she recovered, was never able
to do any valuable service again.
She was worth 5000 of any mans
money, and was sore loss to viii
Champ escaped, but some time that
Following summer was arrested was
arrested on passenger train by chief
deputy, j. ID. Daley, afterwards tried
ana convicted, but through the inter
cesslon of friends, and his solemn
promise to reform after getting out
OF his trouble, was let off with a six
months in Jail and pretty stiff fine
which If not paid was served out
AS was afterwards informed he
stuck to his promise, and turned to
other work, and has long since passed
TO his final reward, as has the good
and just judge, who was so lenient
on him. Oh, but there was a judge
VINO knew how, and always wanted
10 Know when to temper justice with
mercy,and according to my concep-
ton, was an ideal one. He liked 70
be informed by outside reliable per-
sons about the character of men that
he was to try-to what extent thew
hn1 -, ~