Cumberland County, NC - W.H. Steadman & Dr. W.H. Morrow, 1868

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The Doubly Fatal Shooting Affray In North Carolina

The Wilmington Journal gives the following account of a shooting
affray, both parties to which were killed, and of which a very
brief announcement has been made by telegraph heretofore:

The town of Fayetteville was thrown into a state of mingled gloom
and excitement on Firday afternoon last by one of the most unfortunate
occurrences that that good old town has ever witnessed. A shooting
affair took place at the Fayetteville Hotel between Mr. R. W.
Steadman and Dr. W. H. Morrow, which resulted in the death of both
parties. Politics was the mainspring of this action. Mr. Steadman
being a warm democrat and Dr. Morrow, though formerly a surgeon in
the Confederate army, a native North Carolina radical - one who had
taken the test oath, and who held the position of a United States
deputy marshal.

The facts of this affair, which we have derived from an authentic
source are these: Both Mr. Steadman and Dr. Morrow were at Jonesboro
on Friday to hear the discussion between Cols. McKoy and Dockery,
the democratic and radical candidates for Congress from this district.
While returning on the cars to Fayetteville, they became engaged in
an altercation, during which Dr. Morrow either drew or threatened
to draw a pistol. Mr. Steadman was unarmed and remarked the fact at
the time. Nothing more then came of the affair until after their
arrival in Fayetteville.

Mr. Steadman, it seems, armed himself with a pistol and after
proceeding quietly up street until he arrived at the Fayetteville
Hotel, he there chanced to meet Dr. Morrow, who, immediately on Mr.
Steadman's approach, drew his pistol. Mr. S. then drew his weapon
and while Dr. M. was still in the act of aiming, fired, the ball
entering the body of his antagonist just below the heart. Dr. M.
then fell to the floor but raised himself up to fire. Three shots
each were exchanged, the second shot fired by Mr. S. taking effect
in his antagonist's right side, and the third missing him altogether.

The first two shots fired by Dr. M. missed the object entirely; 
the third, however, passed through the right lung of Mr. S., who,
after receiving the wound, turned upon his heel and walked off
several paces, when he staggered and would have fallen but was 
caught by someone standing near. He was then taken into the hotel,
and died in about fifteen minutes. Dr. Morrow lived until the 
following morning, when he also died.

The affair, of course, could not transpire without excitement. A
leading radical Negro in the crowd named Jim Bowman was heard to
remark that this was "but the beginning of what was to come." 
Seeing that he was treading on dangerous ground, he took care to
retire rather hurriedly.

Mr. Steadman was a native of Fayetteville and much esteemed by
those who knew him, being a man whose high sense of honor and cool
personal courage gained for him great respect. We have taken some
pains to strive at a true statment of the case, and publish the
facts as they are, in order to guard the people against any
misrepresentation that may be made.

Source: The Sun - September 28, 1868

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Carolyn Shank - carolynshank@msn.com
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