On July 19, 1922, in Sugar Hollow near Boonesville, Virginia, Robert Batten, son of local merchant James Batten, was fatally shot by 23-year-old Gilbert Via. The incident occurred around sunset on a public road just outside the village of Mt. Fair. The confrontation stemmed from escalating tensions between the Batten and Via families, particularly following a quarrel days earlier involving Robert's brother, James Batten, and Gilbert's brother, Allen Via.
According to Gilbert Via, who sur
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