Bibb County AlArchives News.....Bell, Troy, Hunter, Bird Fatal shooting 1856
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Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com December 4, 2007, 12:24 pm

North Carolina Argus 1856
June 13, 1856   North Carolina Argus June 13, 1856

                 FATAL AFFRAY IN CAHABA
  On last Friday evening about sun down [30 May], a most unfortunate and fatal 
affray occurred in Cahaba, in which DR.'S TROY and HUNTER, and JUDGE W. H. 
BIRD, on the one side, and JOHN R. BELL and two sons, CHARLES A. and JOHN A. , 
on the other, were the parties, which resulted in the death of JOHN R. BELL 
and one of his sons, JOHN A. BELL. We have endeavered to ascertain the facts 
as well as we could, and so far, they seem to be as follows: --
   Some few weeks ago the dwelling house of DR. TROY was destroyed by fire, 
and about the same time, efforts were made to fire JUDGE BIRD'S dwelling, no 
clue could then be had as to who the incendiary was. DR. TROY, becoming 
satisfied that JOHN A. BELL had been instrumental in burning his dwellingm, 
instituted a suit before the Circuit Court for damages against JOHN A. BELL. 
JOHN A. BELL, becoming exasperated at the institution of the suit, went to the 
Doctor's office on Friday evening and commenced an assault upon DR. TROY with 
a stick and a drawn pistol. About the same time, CHARLES A. BELL ran up and 
commenced firing a pistol. DR. HUNTER, JUDGE BIRD and JOHN R. BELL, all coming 
up about that time, a general firing of pisols and shot guns commenced. JUDGE 
BIRD shooting JOHN A. BELL, while DR. HUNTER shot JOHN R. BELL, both of whom 
died instantly, and it was miraculous how CHARLES A. BELL escaped, and in 
fact, it is most miraculous how DRS. TROY, HUNTER, and BIRD escaped breing 
shot.
   The parties, of course, were immediately arrested, and an examination 
commenced before ABNER JONES, ESQ., which was continued up to a late hour on 
Saturday evening, when DR. TROY was discharged. DR. HUNTER and JUDGE BIRD 
bound over for their appearance at the next term of the Circuit Court in a 
bond of $2,500 each. CHARLES A. BELL, was bound over in a bond of $5,000.
   This is a most unfortunate affair, such as every good citizen must deplore. 
JOHN R. BELL leaves a wife and several children to moourn his untimely and 
unfortunate death. There could not  be three more peacefully disposed 
gentlement thant DR. TROY, HUNTER and JUDGE BIRD, and certainly the 
circumstances must have been most aggravating to have induced them into so 
unfortunate an affair.



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