Orange County NcArchives News..... The Murder of John Hunt August 31, 1819
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Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com April 1, 2008, 2:35 am

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1819   Edenton Gazette August 31, 1819
   A MURDER -- On the 11th instant, JOHN HUNT of Orange County, was shot by a 
man named SPARROW of said county, commonly called BUCK SPARROW. It appears 
that HUNT and SPARROW, in company with a person named BARBEE, had been hunting 
on the preceeding day without success, that they slept at SPARROW'S that night 
and agreed to continue the hunt on the 11th. HUNT being on horseback, and the 
other two on foot, he undertook to drive, and being unacquainted with the 
woods, lost himself. SPARROW and BARBEE became tired of standing, and called 
at a house not far off to get some whiskey. While they were at this house, 
they heard a horn. BARBEE said, "That is HUNT'S horn, let us answer it." 
SPARROW said, "Aye, d--n him, he or I will be in Heaven or Hell before 
tonight."
  [Barbee took little notice of this extraordinary declaration at the time; 
but it has since appeared that SPARROW was vexed with HUNT for having, as he 
believed, prevented a bargain between his father-in-law and him for a tract of 
land.] SPARROW and BARBEE proceeded to a spring in the woods with the whiskey, 
when hearing HUNT'S horn again, they answered it, and he soon came to them. 
After resting some time, and drinking their grog (though it was not to 
intoxication) the party prepared to go a driving again, when SPARROW asked 
HUNT to let him ride with him, to which HUNT, at first, seemed willing; but 
BARBEE observing that his horse was too small to carry two men, he declined 
it, when SPARROW said, "If you will not let me ride, I will shoot you."
Hunt, going off said, "You will not surely do that": when SPARROW replied,
 "D--n  you, I will shoot you, at any rate, : discharged his gun at his head, 
and killed him on the spot! SPARROW ran off, but was soon after pursued and 
taken and having undergone an examination, is now safely lodged in Hillsboro' 
jail, to take his trial at the next Superior Court. -- Raleigh Register 

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