On last Friday night, John Duncan, a negro living on the farm of Mr. John L. Edmondson, Sr. A mile and a half north of town, was shot and killed by a band of disguised men. The affair is one of considerable mystery and varied conjectures are afloat in regard to the cause and the parties implicated. At the inquest held by Esq. Heartsell on Saturday evening was that about midnight on Friday night a band of disguised persons burst open the door of Duncan's house and calling for him told him to say his prayers. The evidence indicated that at this point John reached for and got his gun and was immediately shot and killed. A white woman had for a short time before been living in the same house with Duncan and his family and this is given as one reason for the midnight visit when ended so fatally. It is also said that some of John's colored neighbors were at strong enmity against him and public opinion is divided as to whether the disguised band consisted of white or colored men. The killing is a matter of general regret amongst law-abiding people yet it is believed that the real intention of the visit was only to give John a good thrashing, but that seeing him get his gun they thought it necessary to kill him in order to save themselves.

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