Letter to Margaret Fulkerson (Vance)

Creator:

Fulkerson, Abram, Jr., 1834-1902

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards family news and the trial of Charles Christian for the murder of Cadet Thomas Blackburn.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Virginia Military Institute
Apr 14 1854

Dear Mother
I recd your letter a few days ago or weeks I am not certain which but however I have not had time to answer it until to day.

I have nothing very new or of much importance to write to you. Circuit court is going on at present in Lexington They are trying Christian the man that killed Cadet Blackburn there has been a great deal of excitement with the people since it commenced there is a great many of C. friends attending the trial. I suppose from all accounts that he will be hung

There was another murder committed in town a few weeks ago almost as bad as B's, a man by the name of Winn killed the proprietor of the Washington Hotel, his name was Moore they had a falling out the day he was killed some five or six hours before the fight occurred. Winn went to his (Moore's) house that night about ten o'clock and called him out into the street + stabbed him through the heart with a knife the knife cut his heart very near into two pieces. He died in a few minutes afterwards. There is two other men in jail for shooting men besides all of this there was a negro hung in Lexington a few weeks ago for the same offence, but it did not appear to have much affect. It seems like Lexington is going to turn out to be one of the most corrupt and immoral places in the State of Virginia.

Virginia wrote to me a few days ago. Sister Alice and the children are all well. Virginia say she likes her new home very well considering the short time that she has been there. She did not say whether she was going to school any more at Rogersville or not.

I wrote to Sam sometime ago to know whether I had better go home this summer or put it off until next. He says he thinks I had better stay another year before I go home and indeed I thought so myself was the reason I wrote to him about it. Therefore I will not have the opportunity of coming home til next July year. I would be very glad if I could come next year but taking every thing into consideration I think it will be best to stay here another year.

I heard from Catherine lately. She is getting along about as common I believe I understand that Frank is going to marry before long. But I do not know whether it is true or not. Dr. Walker's son was here the other day on his way home from Philadelphia. He has been taking medical lessons there, I had a long talk with him. e stayed in town one day and night. I must bring my letter to a close as I have nothing more to write, tell Balf and Jim to write to me.

Your affectionate Son,
A. Fulkerson

Subjects:

Murder—Virginia—Lexington
Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1850-1859
Correspondence

Names:

Blackburn, Thomas, 1834-1854
Fulkerson, Abram, Jr., 1834-1902
Blackburn, Thomas, 1834-1854

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