Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-25
NASHVILLE.
rHE ATTACK On cAPT. DIsnUKEs.


Hugh Mcdowell and Samuel jordan, arrested on
suspicion OF being concerned in the attempt to mur
der Capt R. L. Dismukes "a the night Of the 10th
inst, was commenced yesterday before Justices Fer.
Kiss and Robertson.
w. n. Wilkersen, Assistant Marshal, testified that
he arrested accused on Saturday The 9tb inst, on
the corner Of Brosd and Market streets He stated
that be had besn on the look cut for the parties
engaged in this attempt upon the life Of Capt Dis.
mukes, aud passing by the accused be no iced on
the side Of Kelley's face what he supposed 10 30
wound produced by blow dealt with q stick, and
corresponding in position with that which polce-
Hughes dealt one oflbe rufians on the night Of
the attack Capt. Dismukes HI noticed that as be
passed Kelley turned so as to conceal from him the
wound. He called Kelley to one side and Informs
ed him Of his suspicious. when he Kelly stated
that he had been drinking the night evening pre-
yious, and hsd fallen down, which produced the
msrks on his face. Doubling this story. Mr. Will
kersOn arrested the three, took them before Capt.
\Dsmukcs and lady, and upon the strength Of their
recognition of Kelley being one Of The party who
attacked thcm On the night Of the the l6ib, they
were committed by Justice COrbitt for preliminary
examination.
went with him to the residence Of Capt. Dismukes,
and afterwards gave him full permission TO sehreh
their room and baggage He, however, found no
weapon Of any kind.
AT The time Of the arrest, the prisoners stated to
Mr. Wilkerson thst they to this city some three
orf-ur weeks IrsyiousfrOm St LOuis-tbat they were
originally from Patterson, New Jersey-and that
Kelley and McDopell bad worked for Mr. Smith at
the depot of the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad.
To question, Mr.. Wilks1son stated that Samuel
Jordan would not have been arrested had he not
been in bad company
DIR. W. I. Briggs testified that he was called 10
see Capt Disrukes about an hour after the attack,
and found him bleeding profusely and suffering
very acutey. He found three wounds, Of
which broke thebones Of the nose between the eyes,
through which the air scsped the patient breath
"a Another was Immediately behind the right lar,
and was produced by very heavy blow. Tie
third was immediately under the right eye, aud had
been produced By pistol or gun shot. In cOnse>
querce Of the profuse bleeding at these wounds
and The severity Of the pain they produced. DR..
Briggs did not probe he wound under the eye until
the next day, when he discovered piece of bene,
broken off where the hall entered and carried some
distance into the flesh ana muscles. DR.. Briggs ex.
hibited this piece Of bone, which bears the impress
sion of the bail, and shows it to have of pretty
large size. he was una lie TO fnd tbs bali por has
it yet been extracted. DR.. Briggs explain d the
course he supposes the ball % have taken and where
1t has lodged Il may rosa in serious Consequences
and it may produce evil effects rbst Is mat
ter that time alone can determine. Dr.. Briggs
stated that the wounds dangerous, Particularly
thst produced by the pistol shOt, passing the bail
did, among so many delicate organs tina: liable
to fatal injury, and be did not regard Capt Dis
mukes yet out Of danger.
Mrs Dismukes testified lhat Capt Disnukss and
herself had besa to the theatre on the night of the
18th inst, and that they left before the con-
elusiOn of the performance. While proceeding
along Cherry street, opposite Cocpsr's Building,
they we're met by parry of faur, three of
whom ran against them, detschiDg her from her
husband. Capt Disuukes thereupon knocked or
pushed ore of them of the pavement, and immeii-
a;ely drew small knife from his pocket, which he
did not open, however. The che who took no part
in these proceedings was standilg near 20 he build
ing and st this junc;ure begged Capt Dismukes nOt
to usebis knife, they wished Ohave no difficulty
vita him; that the others we're drinking, aud hoped
he would excuse their ruieDess. Capt. Dismukes
remarked that be would settle with them the next
day, and taking his wife upon his arm proceeded
hOmewsrd sopg Cherry street. Mrs. Dismukes
identified CharRsZelley as the man who spoke to
her husband sst lper's Building. She was posi-
live upon thsfssat that he is the mqn.
Mrs Di,mukes noticed that the four men they
at Coapsrs Building crossed ever TO the
opposite side Of Cherry street, ald followed nesr
enough for her to hear them cursing great
deal, until they relched the cotner of Cherry
and Church Streets where they corssed over to the
same side with Capt. DisTaukes aud lady, three of
them proceeding up Church street, and the fourth
following IN the rear OF them along Cherry street.
When opposite the gro,ery store of Mr. Med lniel
this man, who gave his Smith, acoosted
Capt. Dismukes haiiing him Captain" and
aPologised for The ruieuess exhibited by his COM
paniOns, and excused them By saying that they
drlukiag Capt Dsmuke5 remaake ed that he would see
Or settle with them the next day, and proceeded on
Arriving at the coTrsr of Cherry and Broad street.
Capt DismaEes was stricken down with some heavy
substance thrown by oue person standing near 10
The spot on the Broad street side of he corGer build
ing Mrs. Disuukes distinctly heard this substance
a.
the face of her husband Immediately upon this
occurrence The nan who had followed them d5Wn
Cherry from Church street, and who al given his
nsme as Smith, rushed between MIR Dismukes and
the corner building, and pulling pistol from his
b SON, shot Capt. Dismukes while be was Frustrated
upon the pavement. A second discharge of pistol
followed quickly, but by whom il fred Mrs. Dis
n ukes Coull rot tell, when she attempted to make
her escape by running down Broad street She had
proceeded but short distance when she was scccst-
cd by gentleman who came to their assistance
attracted thther by the shooting and her screams,
and she returned to her husband, where she found
other gentlemen helping him up. During her fight
abe heart third pistol discharged, and turning
around, she saw three men rereating rapidly up
Broad street, AMI fourth Gro sing b. DAD though
he intended to SO into Cherry. The next day Mrs
Dsrukes discovered three holes in the skirt Of b.r
dress on The right side, made by PISTOL ball, bat
she does not know when it was doue.
Mrs. Dsmuses could not identity the man who
gave his name Smith, nor either of the others
who attacked her husband
Capt. W. L. So,kell testified that pistol W as
found in the morning after the attack upon Capt.
Dismukss, lyieg in he gutter on Broad street
ten or tesa feet from The point 10 cped By blood
upon the pavement as that at which Capt. Dsmukes
fell A countvymsn, who had wagon, pickle up