Dispatch, September 25, 1888

Untitled

Moral -- MurderInfrastructure -- Public : Fences

Onancock.

Mrs. Lucretia S. Taylor, wife of Mr. Samuel T. Taylor, died several days ago at her home at Messongo, in the northwestern part of Accomack, aged eighty years, six months and nine days. Four children, thirty-five grandchildren, thirty-three great-grandchildren, and her husband, aged eighty-five, survive here. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were married January 30, 1827, and had lived together as man and wife for more than sixty years. Several years ago Mr. Taylor and Benjamin T. W. Byrd, one of his neighbors, became involved in a difficulty growing out of an old family feud. Byrd was a powerful, athletic man, and had frequently imposed on old Mr. Taylor, who determined not to stand it any longer, and when Byrd attempted to tear down the old man's fence and carry off his wood Mr. Taylor shot him in the arm and side, inflicting terrible wounds, from which Byrd soon died. Mr. Taylor was arrested, lodged in jail, tried, and acquitted. The trial excited much interest, and the old man, with his venerable wife by his side, formed a striking picture during the trial which lasted for several days. In spite of the fact that Mrs. Taylor was old and crippled, having to go about on crutches, she shared her husband's confinement and remained at his side from the moment he was arrested till he was acquitted. The result of the trial so delighted the old lady that, forgetting her crutches, she rushed out of the bar over to where the jurors were standing and shook every one of them vigorously by the hand.