Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-01-05

was thrown into an extraordinary state
of excitement by the fact being gcncr-
ally 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 frucas
which had originated as follows:--The
Mississippi gentlemen. Judge Wilker-
son, of Yazoo county, in that state, his
brother and Mr.. Murdoch, had, il ap-
pearcd, been at Mr.. Redding's store
on the corner Of Pearl and Main streets,
about four O'Clock in the afternoon, to
rcturna coat, on the ground Of misfit
ting. The gentleman who objected to
the fitting Of the coat was not the one
for whom it had been made, and Mr..
Redding being irritated by his remarks,
made some observation which caused
the Mississippi party to draw their Bo-
vie knives and threaten vengeance
In this early aiIray, one Of fhc Mississip-
pi party, it is alleged struck Mr.. Red
ding with poker, and otherwise as
auited him. They then left Mr. Red
ding's store and repaired to the Cali
House. At six o'clock Mr.. Redding,
followed by friends, namely, his bro
ther-in-law, Mr.. Rothwell the halter,
corner Of Sixth and Market streets,
Mr.. Mceks, bar-keeper of the Wall
Street House, and Mr.. Holmes pilot OF
of the Henry Clay, and perhaps others,
went to the Gait House to demand the
names of the Mississippi gentlemen,
for the purpose Of getting a warrant
against them. They met Judge W..
in the bar room and the alteration
was then renewed, in the course of
WEIGH, Meeks was ripped up in the abb
domcn by Bowie knife, and his bow
els gushcd out, instantly causing his
death; and Rothwell was stabbed thro'
the back over the LETT hip, and by ano-
ther blow from the front through the
liver, near the same side; Holmes was
stabbed through the feshy part of his
left arm, above the elbow, and his
hand was also badly hurt. 1t is feared
the wounds received by Mr.. Rotbwell,
will prove mortal; that received by Mr..
Holmes is not dangerous. Two pis-
tolls were fired in the afray- Mr. Old
nam also received a stab through the
1eshey part of his arm. The Mississip-
pi gentlemen escaped unhurt except
from the effects of such beating as was
inflicted without weapons in the scufflc.
BY this time a great crowd had assem-
bled about the Gait House, and such
was the excitement against the Missis-
sippians that they would probably have
been torn to pieces had they not fled
up stairs and hid in dark room. The
Mayor, City Marshal, and the police
officers were instantly on the spot; and
Lucas, one of the watchmen rushed in
to the dark room to secure the prison
ers. They at first resisted, but upon a
light being procured surrendered them
selves to the Mayor and officers. The
three persons thus apprehended were
Judge Wilkerson, charged with stab
bing Rothwcll; his brother with aiding
and abetting; and Mr.. Murdock, char
ged with having killed Mecks. They
were taken separately, unknown to the
crowd, each in custody of an officer,
through back. passage from the Gait
House and lodged in the jail. which the
May or. announced the committal to
the crowd which then dispersed"
From the Journal we learn that
Rothwcll died Of his wounds the next
day after the occurrence, (Sunday.)
1t was thought that Holmes, the pilot,
would recover. The persons implica-
ted in the transaction were taken be-
fore the examining Court on Mondy,
but, at their own request the trial was
postponed.--Free Trader.