Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-08-18
Tho R.urasr 'l the Rev 5aHe' PslHH.


Frsm The Mobile Rsgistsr.l
The ssoAls Of crime furnish but isw cases, #
any, more shocking thsn taas of The horrible
ASSASSINATION Of tie lsts Rev. james PssR,
Presbyterian minister, residing in ChickAsaW
county, twelve miles west OF Okal0na. AissIs-
sippi On Thursday, the p Of July, Ar. Pslan
was in his feld about e mile lreH his EOase,
experimenting his servants in their work, who's,
hesrng q nOiss soms distance from where he
y as sitting HndeT q shelter, which be took 90
be cattle breaking through the fence, he
walked. alOna in ths direction Of The nsiss.
When cut Of SIGHT Of the servants and Of BIS
stsp-soa, who was IN the dsld, the assassin rose
% from his luTkiug place in the corner Of the
fsnce vharo be was concealed in tas tall weeds,
vita a do1bis-bsrreia8 gun N his hand, sHd
presenting H. bursted 8 cap, whsreupou Dir
Pelan turned quickly, aad Attempted to Ay,
when the assassin Etzd ths other barrel, auC
planting eleven bueksh0t in bis back, iust be
low the left shoulder blade. Seven Of these
shots passed through ths body. penetrating The
lnfs lEnz-some C them passing very near Dis
basrt Ar. Pslan hsd for some time, whea be
sunk down, supposiug himself to be IN q dying
condition He told his step-son and two nelgh-
bors, who se0n came 70 bis assistance, Who the
assassin was. He was carried hOme in very
critical condition; with careful nursing and
skillfaI surgical treatment, however, it became
apparent that he was likely to recover, when
tie sscend and more horrible set Of the tragedy
trarsPirsd.
On Tuesday evsRing, between suR-doWn ans
dark, on the 2Ist Of July, three armed men,
disguised ss soldiers, rode up 10 tbs gate and
requested to see the gentleman Of the house.
The little boy, Mr.. Pslsn's step son, told them
that his fsther was sick and could not come oUt
Jast At that mement, the supper bell raBE. Tbs
naaH spoke 20 oGo another in an under tone,
zgreeihg 30 ask for supper, saying, ''theH they
would have gs0d chance They accordingly
ass cd for suppsr, and Immediately got down,
hiichsd their horses and walked up, some forty
yards, % the house.
Mr.. Pslan. whe was not yet able 70 leave bis
Toem, was a. that time sitting up By table,
eating something thas his wife had prepared for
him. Mrs Pslan, bsREirg them ask for suppsr,
passed cut Of hIF Pslan's room into the dining
reOm IS the thrss men came on the perch,
she, however, closing the door behind her, but
holding cn . the knob and listening. The nen
asked 0ns Of the littls boys on he porch which
room hs father was in. BE pointed sut the
roo7s, when two Of the Hen went in, the laird
rruaiuirE us 90 tina porch. o. these $40 mz7-
enc stood ia the door Of dr Psizu's room, the
other advancing two or three steps, when they
asked Mr.. Pasu If they coRlf get supper Mr
Pslau tgli them chat they could, aud request
ed them 20 he -esstsd; waeTsupsn the one
in advance asked him, what is y0Ur name
EIs sf zyr-rsd 'P--sn" "BsIan,' - responded ihe
uar Eyes" sad Mr. pelan Theu lsveliav
r -uu ana stepping forward, be said N.Y.
P-lau sir ti5s IS fhe supper We Wsut .' arr
Instantly fred shooting him through the hearf
the uuzze 1t ib7 gun being go close tAat bis
clothes were =5t or Ere- TIE asssssins thsl in
meSisfsly tuInsd sn3 fad. runnjug down tn
wal 10 the gate where their hsEses were
hiicbe5; Two Il tkem maUufinE Immediately
qza5e the shird co9I& act ualii1ch Lis horse Oh
r.l0rs srirE tangled or fastened so that he could
net get them loose, and vas q last under the
necessity of eating them with his knife, leaving <
part bshjnd Ia the nssntime Mrs Pslan
rushed back into the room, spoke to her husband,
drawer, where, after some liltle searching, she
found pistol, taeH pursued the assassins, snd
hnrs.sd three caps in attempting 70 ere Iha
pistol, however, owing probably TO its being
loaded tho long. and the tubes Tusting, did not
Fvuse they vysul6 shoot her f she did not 20 into
ths hous. b that time the one wbo had 70 cut
Eiis bride mounted, and they ga,lcp8d sf .sgeth-
er She returned % the nouse and taand her
hu Issnd dead on the floor.
The bridis-rain thss was cut, and part left
beliiRd, was made Of hair, with nne stran Of cot
ten cord twisted iHt0 it. Let this be observed
l. may yet be s clue by WHICH the slsassins
may be discovered
To explain what is supposed 70 have been the
saOtisss for this horrible assassination would
point directly 10 certain parties in the HsghbOT
ho0d, which it is not tbs design Of this narrative
10 90. j. A. l.