Collection of Articles on Tabor Shooting, w/supporting documents - Tazewell Co. VA


DEATH OF TWO TABOR BROTHERS-SHOT BY BELCHER KINSMEN

(Page 81 of Tazewell Co., VA., Death Register by Wilson & Wilson) 

This is an article about two sons of Wm. J. & Elizabeth Crockett Tabor 
of Tazewell Co., VA., (This Elizabeth was the daughter of Tillman 
Crockett and Arminta Nicewander (Waggnor) Crockett).

In "Tazewell Co Death Register 1872-1896" By Wilson & Wilson Pg. 81 and 
82 it lists the deaths of two sons:
Tabor, John d. 27 Oct 1887 age 20 yrs 8 mos b. Mudfork, Taz. Co VA d. 
same 

Tabor, Geo (Should be Robert Lee Tabor) d. 18 Nov 1887 age 21 yrs b. 
Mudfork, Taz. Co VA.

The deaths were reported by their neighbor and kinsman, R. H. Belcher 
(One of the men who shot them).

"Virginia Appalachian Notes" Vol. 17 1993, Abstracts of "Clinch Valley 
News":
28 Oct 1887 

A horrible shooting scrape, in which one man was killed instantly and 
another probably fatally wounded, occurred at Falls Mills, this county, 
last week. It appears that they had gone to the residence of one 
Belcher, to demand the release of a mule which Belcher had in his 
possession belonging to them. The mule had been annoying Belcher some 
time by being in his fields. After repeatedly warning the Tabors (the 
men to whom the mule belonged) that he would do so he put the mule in 
his stable. On them coming after it Belcher and his son went out to meet 
them and soon became engaged in a quarrel, the old man Belcher returned 
to the house and procured two shot guns one of which he handed to his 
son the other he set against a post. Presently something so enraged Lee 
Tabor, the one killed, that he drew his shot gun to shoot. Belcher 
jumped behind the post, at the same time getting up his gun, which he 
put in a few inches of Tabors head, and fired, young Belcher shooting 
the other Tabor at the same time. They came to town Saturday and 
employed council to defend them, and were bailed out to the sum of 
$4000.00 each.

27 January 1888 
The trial of Belcher for the killing of the Tabors before the Justices' 
Court was prolonged for nearly two weeks. Belcher was sent on to the 
grand jury.

4 May 1888 
The jury trying the case of Commonwealth against Robert and Lendo 
Belcher for the killing of John and Lee Tabor were out about two minutes 
when they brought in a verdict of not guilty.

The 1880 TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA CENSUS lists William and Elizabeth 
Crockett) Tabor's family in Clear Fork twp (household 168) 

TABOR, William J. 47 farmer 
Elizabeth J. 46 keeping house 
Louisa J. 25 
Martha A. 22 
Robert L. 15 
John E. 12 
Francis M. 8 
Missouri 5 
James B. 2

Robert Lee Tabor is called "Geo" on his death certificate for some 
unknown reason.

Six households down in 1880 Tazewell Co., VA., are the Belchers that 
were involved in this situation.

BELCHER, Robert 42 farmer 
Amelia E. 39 keeping house 
Hariet R. 15 
Moses E. 13 
Charles L. 13 
Hiram P. 10 
Katie L. 8 
Winfield C. 7 
Crockett 5 
Maria M. 4 
Laura D. 3 
Sally 11/12

Robert H. Belcher was married to Amelia E. Compton on 10 Feb 1864 in 
Tazewell Co., VA (Vol. II, )


Submitted by arizonaeagle@uswest.net

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