Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

ATROCIOUS OUTRAGE.

Last Friday night, about 10 o'clock, as Mr. Martin Mimms, a most respectable man, who superintends the tollhouse at Trent's Bridge, was retiring to rest, two men, apparently well dressed called at the toll house, with the professed intention of paying the toll. Mr. M. was in the act of carrying the dollar they tendered to the light for examination, when one of the men entered the door to ask for a little water. Mr. M. showed him the jug; and proceeded to inspect the dollar, which proved to be a counterfeit. In this situation, the stranger, who stood at the door, fired a pistol at Mr. M. a slug from which entered his arm without breaking the bone. His companion in the house then wounded Mr. M. in the back with a dirk, which on examination proves to be an old saw ground down to a sharp point. Notwithstanding his wounds and weakness, Mr. M. made a bold resistance, seized a pole, and compelled his atrocious assailants to take to their heels, across the bridge in the direction of this city. The cries of Mr. M. soon brought some servants to his assistance, who discovered the dirk still sticking in his back! It is supposed that the object of this ferocious assault was a robbery of all the toll money which was in the house: but this guilty purpose was completely defeated by the resolution of their intended victim. Mr. M. still lies very ill; but it is hoped by his physician that he will survive. It is reported that a man has been arrested by the police, under strong suspicion of his being a party concerned.
[Richmond Enq.