The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-08-20

TeAGrpy N Murder Of q
Viatster-The annals Of crime furnish
but(e cases, if any, more shocking than
that of the horrible assassination of the
lnte Rev. James Pelan, a Presbyterian
minister. residing in Chickasaw county,
twelye miles west of Okalona, Miss. On
THURSDAY, the Cd of July, Mr.. Pelan was
in his field, about mile from his house,
superintending his servants in their work,
when. hearing noise some distance from
where he was sitting under shelter, he
walked alone in the direction Of thenoise
The Mobile Adcerttser says:
When out Of sight OF the servants and OF
M sfep-son. who was in the field, the assas-
,n rose up from his lnrking place In the cor
ner of the fence, where he was concealed in
The al weeds with Il double-barreled gun IN
h., hand, and presenting it, bursted IA cap,
qsIercnpon Mr.. Pclan turned quickly and
ATTEMPTED To tiy. when the assassin fired the
other barrel, planting eleven buckshot in
his back, lust below the left shoulder blade.
Seven OF these shots passed through the
body, penetrating the left lung-s0me OF
them passing very near his heart. Mr.. Pe-
Ian fed for some me, when he sunk down,
fnpposing himself to be in dying condition.
He told his step-son and two neighbors, who
slon came To his assistance, who the ASSASSIN
was lie was carried home in very critical
condition: with careful nursing and skiliful
surgical treatment, however, il became appa-
REM that he was likely to recover, when the
second more horrible act Of the tragedy
iranspired.
On Tuesday evening, between sundown
ana dark. on the 2lst of July, three armed
men, disguised as soldiers, rode up to the
= gale and requested to see the gentleman OF
the house The little boy, Mr. Pelan's step
son. told them that his father was sick and
could not come o1t. just at that moment
he supper bell rang. The men spoke to one
Another in an under tone, agreeing to ask for
.apoer, saving ''then they would have good
chance They accordingly asked for sup
per, and Immediately got down, hitched theif
horses, and walked up some forty yards to
he house
Mr.. Pelan, who was not yet able to leave
his room, was al that time sitting up by ta
Die, eating something that his wife had pre-
pared for him. Mrs. Pelan, hearing them ash
for supper, passed out OF Mr.. Peians room
into the dining room. As the three meI
came on the porch, she however closing 'nt
door behind her, hut holding on to She knot
aud listening. The men asked one of the
little boys on the porch which room his iath
.rwas IN He pointed out the room, when
Two Of the men went in, the third remaining
out on the porch. OF these two men, ont
stood in the door OF Mr.. Pelans room, the
other advancing two or three steps, whc1
they asked Mr. Pelan if ''they could get sup
per-" Mr. Peian told them that they could
ndrsquested them to he seated. Nhereupol
The one in advance asked him, "What ls youl
name?" He answered "Pelan" "Pelan,
responded the man. YES" said Mr.. Pelan
Then dwelling his gun and stepping for
ward, lac said ''Mr. Pelan, Mis is the sup
ler We want !" and instantly fired, shooting
hn through the heart--thc muzze oil the gun
being so close tha. his clothes were set oi
Ire, The assassins then immediately turned
AMI fed, running down the walk TO I'M
tale, where their horses were hitched, tw'
of them mounting Immediately. while W.
third could not unhitci his horsay the rem
being tangled or. fastened SO that he coui'
mol get them loose, and was at last under IN
necessity Of cutting them with his KNIFE
leaving part behind. In the meantime MIS-
felan rushed back into the room, spoke u
her husband, received no answer but uSlh'
groan, ran TO 4 drawer, where, after som
little searching, she found = pistol, then pui
sued The assassins, and bursted three caps II
attempting TO fire The pistol, however
owing probably to its being loaded too long
AID the Tubes rnsting, did not go on Inc
turned their guns upon her, and swore the
would shoot her ii she did not go into IN
mouse. By that time the one who had TO ca
lis bride mounted, and they galloped o.
together. She returned 10 the house an
loaDd her husband dead on the floor.