Lynchburg Daily Virginian

THE LATEST NEWS.

Desperate Assault.

Yesterday afternoon, at about 4 o'clock, three quick successive reports of a pistol in the horse railway car on Pennsylvania Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth streets, accompanied by a scream, startled the residents of that immediate neighborhood and instantly led to inquiry. It was not long before a dense crowd collected. It appears, as far as we can gather the facts, that Andrew J. Morrison and his wife occupied rooms at Mr. Berkeley's, and that for some time past a jealousy had existed on the part of Mr. Morrison, caused by a young man named W. H. Hester, a dry goods clerk. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Morrison suddenly entered his lodgings, where he discovered his wife and Mr. Hester sitting together on a sofa in the parlor. Mr. Morrison, having no doubt of an improper invasion of his marital rights, and being provided with one of Colt's revolvers, fired thrice at the parties, wounding Mr. Hester severely, if not fatally; the ball, it is said, penetrated at the back, near the right shoulder blade, passing downwards through the lungs; and another bullet, after striking the right arm of Mrs. Morrison, near the elbow, entered her side. It was extracted by Dr. Hall. The wound is not at present thought to be dangerous. Mr. Hester was conveyed to his lodgings on the opposite side of the street, where the necessary medical aid was administered. Justices Goddard and Donn shortly after came into the room, and jointly subscribed to the following statement of facts which their examination elicited:

"About 4 o'clock, P.M. to-day, (June 15,) having been informed that Wm. A. Hester had been shot by a man named Andrew J. Morrison, and having been informed by Dr. J. C. Hall that he was dangerously, and probably fatally wounded, we proceeded to take his (Hester's) statement in our presence. The doctor informed him of his critical situation, and being warned that probably he might not live more than twenty minutes, he stated that he, A. J. Morrison, and Mrs. Fanny A. Morrison, his wife, were on very intimate terms, and that, as a dying man, he would tell the truth.

"He had frequently been to their boarding house to see them; was to him as a brother, and Mrs. Morrison was to him as a sister; aye, more than a sister. He had slept in the parlor all night, while Mr. and Mrs. Morrison occupied the adjoining bedroom. Before this occurrence (yesterday) he went to the house to see Mr. and Mrs. Morrison, and found Mrs. Morrison in the parlor. They took a seat on a sofa together; and the weather being very warm, he remarked, 'Fanny, it's warm,' and took off his coat, and resumed his seat, about the ordinary distance for conversation.

"She stated that she expected Mr. Morrison in a few minutes. During the conversation he heard the discharge of a pistol. He did not see who fired the first shot, but saw Mr. Morrison come up and fire the second. He was at the time of the first fire sitting with his back to the door. After hearing the second fire, he screamed, feeling the hurt. Mr. Morrison then closed on him, and snapped at his breast, when he arrested the pistol. He then pointed at his wife's breast, fired, and shot her. He (Hester) had not placed his hand on Mrs. Morrison, and never had any intention towards her, having always thought too much of her. He had no recollection how his pantaloons came off."

When the officers went into Mr. Berkeley's for the purpose of arresting Mr. Morrison, they found him at the bedside of his wife, engaged in affectionate attentions, and, as we were informed by a gentleman who was present, expressing his belief in her conjugal fidelity, but denouncing Mr. Hester as actuated by a design to force her. Mr. Morrison was committed to jail for further examination by Justices Goddard and Donn, charged with attempting to take the life of Mr. Hester and Fanny A. Morrison. This occurrence happened in broad daylight, and on the most public thoroughfare, attracted a large and inquisitive and excited concourse of people; and it was not until Mr. Morrison was driven off to prison in a hack, accompanied by police officers, that the crowd dispersed. The sad intelligence soon spread throughout the city, and formed the prominent topic of conversation everywhere throughout the remainder of the day. Since the above was written, we learned that at 6 o'clock, the ball, which entered on the right side of the upper portion of Mr. Hester's back, was extracted from just below the stomach, and that at 10 o'clock he was in an extremely critical condition.-Wash. Republic.