Posted on 06/25/2013 8:38:04 AM PDT by nickcarraway
When archaeologists in Virginia uncovered the skeletal remains in 1996 of one of Jamestown's first settlers a young European male designated as JR102C in the catalog they said he was the victim in what was perhaps Colonial America's oldest unsolved murder.
At the time, archaeologist William Kelso, now director of archaeological research and interpretation at Jamestown Rediscovery, reported that "the lead bullet and shot fragments lodged in his lower right leg contained enough force to fracture his tibia and fibula bones, rupturing a major artery below the knee. JR would have bled to death within minutes."
Now, 17 years later, the forensic archaeologists at Jamestown may have identified the victim and, therefore, the perpetrator of the crime. Recent evidence, Kelso says, points to a duel in 1624 "where a man named George Harrison took a bullet in the leg and later died from it."
The bullet, found by researchers, "hit the right side of the knee suggesting the man was standing sideways, which would happen in a duel," says Kelso. "It is possible that JR102C is that man."
And the man who murdered Harrison in a duel, according to Kelso: Richard Stephens, a Jamestown merchant. Stephens went on to become a court commissioner and an outspoken detractor of Virginia Gov. John Harvey. In 1635, Stephens and Harvey engaged in fisticuffs, and Stephens lost teeth in the bargain. Stephens died circa 1636.
Well, at least Ringo is in the clear.
I think Yoko was behind it...
It was Courtney. She got Kurt, too.
That’s the same way Albert Sydney Johnston died at Shiloh a couple hundred years later.
Thanks for the info.
That’s why I live here at FR.
True
Well, if he was shot during a duel and everyone then knew enough about it to write about it - then there was no unknown murdered.
Eh, NPR, what morons.
Murdered - murderer.
I think so too.
***And the man who murdered Harrison in a duel,***
MURDER? Mighty strong words. It was a duel. Duels were legal then.
I don’t really think dueling counts as murder.
Believe it or not, that was a big debate back then.
Believe it or not, that was a big debate back then.
After Vice President Aaron Burr (D-NY) killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel, he was wanted for murder (but never brought to justice).
|
|
GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
Thanks afraidfortherepublic. |
|
|
Whether he was the challenger or challengee, he died as a man of honor.
RIP.
The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list
I didn't think dueling was considered murder?
Oh absolutely. The NPR headline writer blew it. This was within societal bounds and not illegal. Arguments could be made to bring back dueling.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.