http://www.thegillons.net/gen/CTW/

Marvel W. Dunnavant published this 1816 report on the trials of Captain Thomas Wells of Nottoway Co., Virginia. Wells was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Colonel William C. Greenhill and Judge Peter Randolph. The two were wounded on May 29, 1816, by Captain Thomas Wells as they were entering the tavern yard at Nottoway Court House. Both recovered. Wells was tried for shooting with intent to kill, but was acquitted.

Wells and his friend, Peter Perry, soon migrated to Salem, Clarke Co., Georgia. In 1820, Perry was found in his garden, dead of a gunshot wound. The murder was a mystery until Perry's will was opened. In it, Perry revealed that Wells suspected and had accused him of having an affair with Wells' beautiful wife, and that he expected Wells to "assassinate" him. Perry's will denied the affair and implicated Wells in the murder. Wells was later hanged, but Perry's will asked that his execution be delayed long enough for Wells to fully comprehend what he had done.

Interestingly, in the 1810 Nottoway census, Peter Perry resides next to Edmund and William Wills (no known relation to Capt. Thomas Wells, but maybe...), and one Col. Wills actually presided over Capt. Wells' trial.

Also of interest is that Peter Bland represented the Commonwealth and his brother, Edward Bland, represented the defendant.

A fascinating tale.