Smyrna times., 1862-01-30
Homicide near Smyrna Station.


Gu Tuesday morning last our community was
considerably shocked by the announcement
that negro man. Jim Sykes, had been killed
IN his house, about a quarter OF a mile above the
Depot. From the character Of the witaessss-
beng all negroes-there are necessarily con-
hlciing and contradictory ruInors in regard 10
the matter. making it difficult to arrive at a
true sia,smest of the facts. We have before
US some of the evidence both from the hearing
of the case before Esquire Walcstt and that OF
the Inquest before the Coroner the one being
had in the morning and the other held in the
stternsoa of Tuesday.
1t hsPpsars that on Monday last Sykes wife
went 10 the Station and Informed "Ned" and
F." Tom" Jones that certain EeerdA-Bo Har.
ris-whO is said to be a nolorisus thief a nd wbs
had besn troubling the neighborhood ter some
tims, was at her house, md that an oppsr,upi,v
offered to arrest him there; tha, she did no.
want him or bis stolen goods a5ort her. Th,
J0nscs, accompanied BY three olner men, re.
paired TO Sykes house for the purpose ofsrrest
ing Bob Harris. Bob was not fsuad, and Ned
and Tem, after sitting about an hour, returned
to the Station. Between that time and mid
night the JoHses went back to the house and
asked PermissisH to light q segsr. The de.
ceased soon came in armed with q brosd-axe,
and with an cath exclaimed "you are here
yet" Hs Immediately approached, and struck
Tom Jones with the ak, slightly breaking the
skin of his hand, and gancing, struck his breast,
nearly knocking him down. He then advanced
towards Ned, who was armed with shot gun,
but before the blow descended tho negro was
shot through the brain by Ned. This is Tens
testimony, Ned Immediately left for parts uu
knowR, but Tenn was taken before ESQUIRE
Walcou aud. on hearing. was released, from
insufficient svdence to commi, him. TAe lat.
ter is extensively known, financially. in Apo.
qulnlniHk Hd., as having been Constable, Col.
ector, etc.
The testimony of the three witnesses before
the Coroner-Sykes' wife, another negro wo.
men and bright mulatto girl-difFers consid.
erably IRON THAI hefore Esquire w. They say
that while iE the house Tom sat down on one
side ofihe fireplace and Ned the other that no
quartelling passed between any Of the parties {:
that Sykes, although he entered with an axand
remarked "you are here yet" did not show
any temper ner attempt to uss the ak: that
when the men entered they both went 10 stairs
as II is supposed 10 search for Bob Harris. and
the mulatto girl Isstifies that she went uu 10
the head of the stairs, but no further. They
none gave any reasons why Ned fired upon the
negro. Sykes wife and the mulatte girl heard
one OF The Jonses say " shoot the sen of a b-h."
The girl is said 10 be q bad character. Tive ol
the negroes testify that Ned and Tom went 10
the house about o'clock on Tuesday evening
left and as they suppose went to the Station
and came back about o'clock, and remained
there until midnight, when the deed wa.
committsd. 1t Is TO be wondered at that Ned
and Tom Jones, not being officers nor bearing
warrants for the negro, should have undertak.
en his arrest. Ned has, as far as we know
personally bsrne fair character, Sykes waI
known as rather an "ornery character gen
orally as were all those around him.
Since writing the above we have learned tn,
Sheriff. hearing that we have neither Law mol
Gospel up here. came in search of Tom Jones
but report says he too has yamoosed IN,
ranche."