Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-07-17
Correspondence Of the Evening Post
Another Matt. Ward Murder.
PoNroroc. Mas. juno 10,

Never in the history Of this town ha'
this orderly and pesce.loving cominu
nifty been SO shocked and Mortified as by
the sod event which occurred on Mon
day, the lllh inst, resulting in the in
slant death Of one Of our most esteemed
and valuable cilizens, Prof. Clark s
Brown.
The facts as detailed by the witness
es may be briefly stated substantially as
follows:
Prof. C. S. Brown, assisted by the Rev
NJ. B. Freenster as Assistant Principal
has for several months had charge Of the
"Pontotoc Male Academy" and havine
occasion a few days prior 10 this fatal
event to discipline for some misdemcan
or one Cary Wray, lad about twelve
years Of age, inflicted upon him mod
crate chastisement. This merited cor
rcction called forth o very insolent re-
mark from John, an elder brother. who
twice declared to Prof Brown that If he
whipped his brother again there would
be fuss. This occurring some time in
the latter part OF. The week no parlicu,.
lar notice was taken Of it till the school
re.assembled on Monday morning, when
the sentence Of expulsion was prom oun'
ced upon him by Mr.. Freemster, to whose
department he belonged.
The expelled student soon communl'
Gated what had happened, to his friends
OF home. What plans were discussed
or what advice given in the councils OF
his friends, we know not, but from what
quick y followed it is not difficult 10 con.
lecture.
Keith Wray, young man about IS
years Of age, engaged in the study OF
in one of the medical firms in
this place, entered the Office Of his pre-.
ceptors between 10 and IL o'clock, A.
NJ. and ia fit Of great excitement ask :.
ed for pistols. To the inquiry what he
wanted OF them, he replied, "Give them
to me and you will soon see"-using
Browns name in connection. Failing
for some reason TO obtain weapons here,
he next went to the printing office, where
he found three or four Of his more init.
mate associates, from whom he procured
a bowie. knife o. inchos in the blade,
and six barrel pistol, which was then
carefully charged for the occasion.
With these weapons Of death conceal.
ed upon his person, this son Of "South.
ern chivalry," with the pacific advice "to
keep the law on his sde," set out upon
his mission OF peace to seek satisfaction
at the hands Of Brown. Repairing to
the Academy about twenty minutes be.
fore noon, he addressed himself 10 Mr..
Freemster with the request TO tell Prof
b., who occupied an adjoining room, to
come out doors, as he wished to settle
the difficulty between him and his broth
er. Mr.. F. replied that Brown was bu'
silly engaged hearing recitation-besides,
the call to settle difficulties appeared to
him quite unreasonable. Wray with
some warmth repeated his demand, say.
ing that he desired "to see him and Sc tile
the difficulty now."
M. F., observing the state Of excite.
ment under which he was laboring, and
fearing he might act rashly, advised him
"to go away, become cool, let reason re.
sumo her sway. that you may be able TO
act like man." To this salutary adj.
vice he warmly replied, "Tell Brown |
will see him on his way home, and set.
tie the matter with him then. After the
close of the school, Wray's request was
communicated to Prof. B., and after a
short consultation between the teachers
as to the probable design Of the young
man, they, conscious Of having done
nothing but their duty, came to the con.
clusion that no apprehension need be
felt, and, impressed with this conviction,
separated for their respective homes, ach
taking his own road, leading in different
directions.
Professor Brown had not proceeded
more than three hundred yards from the
Academy, about half way across the
public Park, when he was met by Wray,
who had stationed himself in partial
concealment by the wayside. and rudely
addressed him in the following manner:
"You have been imposing on my broth
er." To which Brown, with great mild.
ness, in substance replied, that in what
had been done he had acted in the con.
scientious and fearless discharge of his
duty, and for the justice of his conduct
he was willing to leave it to any rea.
sonable man in town. will explain
the matter to you," he said:
But before time was given for expla.
nation, Wray, regardless Of the advice
Of his friends 10 "keep the law on his
side," and thirsting for the blood of his
victim, angrlly uttered the still more in.
suliing words, "You are a id dog"
and instantly aimed blow with his fist
at the face Of Brown, who, with the ih.
strumenls Of death now for the first time
revealed to view, saw that his days were
numbered, unless by superior strength
and activity, he could by single blow
strike his antagonist to the earth. Draw.
ing his only weapon Of defense, little
riding.whip which by chance he had in
his pocket, he entered the fearful strug.
gle between life and death.
But, alas! how short the conflict! how
tragic the result! In an instant the gilt.
tering blade flashed in the meridian sun,
and soon the ILL. .fated Brown staggered,
and reeled, and fell to the earth life.