Justifiable Homicide.

In our last issue we mentioned a difficulty on Mr. E. E. freeman’s place, between two negroes, Step Pruitt and Bob Smith. It will be remembered that Step received a cut in the head with an axe, which wound he died from last Saturday night at 10 o’clock, just one week after the difficulty. The unfortunate man received the very best of medical attention in the person of Dr. W. B. Leake, who at first sight, stated that it was impossible to save the man’s life. Sunday morning the coroner was notified of the death, and that functionary, after summoning the jury, proceeded at once to hold an inquest. From the evidence, which we must say was very meager, it was plain that a verdict of murder could not be rendered by the jury. After the jury had retired it was found that a verdict could not be had at once, so the body was adjourned over until Monday morning, at which time a verdict of justifiable homicide was rendered. The deceased, though being a worthy colored man, was said to be very overbearing among his color, and hence he had the ill will of nearly the whole colored race in the community in which he lived. The family of the deceased is very large and is one of the most respectable colored families in the county. Bob Smith, the negro that did the deadly work, is still at liberty, but as yet has not come in to give himself up. He is thought to be loitering around the scene of the late unfortunate occurrence.