Man shoots and kills alleged watermelon thief.

from the New Jersey Mirror, 6 Sep 1860

A Woodbury correspondent of the True Democrat, under date of August 29th, furnishes the following item of interest: A colored man was shot at Eagle Point farm, last night, in the melon patch of Mr. J. J. Richards, by one of his sons. He had been at the house to receive some wages, and had been given a melon. In going home, he passed through the melon-patch, and was shot, the poor fellow says, while getting over the fence. The whole load entered the small of his back, and made a tremendous hole.--He laid in the field all night, until this morning, when his groans attracted the attention of some of the family. He was brought to Woodbury and left in the jail. The doctor in attendance at once pronounced that he could not live but a short time, and he died in a couple of hours after. An inquest will be held this afternoon. A warrant is out for the arrest of young Richards. It is a bad case--the negro being an old thief, and having been convicted several times.