Serious affray.
--We are pained to learn that a serious affray occurred on Sunday night last, in the
Southern portion of the city, near
Dodd's mineral spring, at the house of
a Mrs. Crawley.
Between 11 and 12 o'clock at night, a soldier named
W. P. Baker, a private in the
Waxhaw Jackson Rangers, now encamped two miles from the city, went to the house of
Mrs. Crawley, knocked and demanded admittance.
Mrs. Horton, whose husband is a soldier in
Virginia, is living with her mother,
Mrs. Crawley.
The females were immediately aroused, and peremptorily refused
Baker admittance.
He urged his demand, and threatened to enter forcibly if the door was not opened.
Becoming much alarmed,
Mrs. Horton quietly slipped out at the back door, and going to the house of
Mr. Geo. Davis, near by, informed him of the attack made upon them and begged his assistance.
Mr. D. married a daughter of
Mrs. C. He immediately arose and dressed himself, and fearing he might have some difficulty, took his gun with him. On repairing to the house of
Mrs. C., he found
Baker, a stranger to him, evidently intoxicated and still demanding admittance and making his threats.
Davis at once remonstrated with
Baker, and begged him to leave, which
Baker refused to do.
Davis continued his remonstrances, until both became excited.
Baker drew his bowie-knife, and threatened to stab
Davis, and suiting the action to the word, he advanced upon
Davis, still threatening, when
Davis raised his gun and shot him,
Baker being near enough to be burnt by the gun. The lead entered his breast, making an aperture as large as a quarter of a dollars.
He was alive when we last heard from him, but no hopes are entrained of his recovery.
Mr. Davis was up for trial before
Judge Saunders, on Monday evening last, and the
Judge hold him to bail in one thousand dollars to make his appearance at the next term of our Superior Court.--
Raleigh Standard.