Southern marksman. [volume] (Clinton, Miss.) 1838-1839, 1839-01-08

thrown INTO an extraordinary state of cx-
citement by the fact being generally known
that three gentlemen from Mississippi,
lodging at the Gait House, had stabbed
four OF our citizens, in the bar room of the
hotel, during fracas which had originated
as follows:--The Mississippi gentlemen,
Judge Wlkerson, of Yazoe county, in that
state, his brother and Mr. Murdoch. had.
it appeared, been at Mr.. Redding's store,
on The corner Of Pearl and Main streets, a
bout four O'Clock in the afternoon, to re-
turn coat, on the ground of misftiin g.
The gentleman who objected 10 the fitting
Of the coat was not the one for whom it
had been made, and Mr.. Redding being
irritated by bis remarks, made some obser.
vations which caused the Mississippi party
TO draw their Bowie knives and threaten
vengeance. In this early ARRAY, one of the
Mississippi party, it is alleged struck Mr..
Redding with poker, and otherwise as
suited him. They then left MIR. Redding's
store and repaired 10 the Gait House. At
six o'clock, Mr.. Redding, followed by a
few friends, namely, his brother.in-law, Mr..
Rothweli the halter, corner Of Sixth and
! Market streets, Mr. Meeks, bar~keeper of
the Wall Street House, and Mr. Holmes
pilot of the Henry Clay, and perhaps 9TH
erS, welt to the Gait House 10 demand
The names of The Mississippi gentlemen,
for the purpose of getting a warrant against
them. They met Judge w. in the bar
room ana the alteration was then renewed,
in the course of which, Meeks was ripped
mp in the abdomen by Bowie knife, and
his bowels gushed out, instantly causing
his death; and ROCKWELL was stabbed
through the back over the left hip, and bv
another blow from the front through the
liver, near the same side; Holmes was
stabbed through the fleshy part Of his left
arm, above the elbow, and his hand was
also badly hurt. 1t is feared the wounds
received by Mr.. Rothwell will prove more
taI; that received by Mr.. Holmes is not
dangerous. Two pistols were fired in the
aff;ay. Mr.. Oldham also received a stab
through the heshy part of his arm. The
Mississippi gentlemen escaped unhurt ex-
cept ftom the effects of such beating as
was inflicted without weapons in the scuf-
) fe. By This time a great crowd had as
, sembed about The Gait House, and such
was The excitement against the Mississip-
. plans that they would probably have been
t torn 10 pieces had they not fled up stairs
! and hid in a dark room. The Mayor, City
) Marshal, and the police officers were in"
. siantly on the spot; and Lucas, one Of the
: watchmen rushed into The dark room to
secure the prisoners. They at first resist
: ed, but upon light being procured sur
+ rendered themselves 10 the Mayor and Off
f GERS. The three persons thus apprehended
j were Judge WiIkerson, charged with stab.
: bing Rockwell: bis brother with aiding and
r abeIiing add Mr.. Murdoch, charged with
! having killed Meeks. They were taken
. separately, unknown TO the crowd, each in
$ custody of an officer, through back pas
7 sage fiom the Gait House and lodged in
!, the Jail, which the Mayor announced the
E committal 10 the crowd which then dis
! persed."
From the Journal we learn that Roth
{ well died of his wounds the next day after
: the occurrence, (Sunday.) 1t was thought
: that Holmes, the pilot, would recover. The
/ persons implicated in the transact IN were
taken before the examining Court on Mons
3 day, but, at their ownrequest the trial was
D postponed.