Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-27
CHRIsrMAs row IN SMOKY.
A Soldier Shot and RIIed-Arrest of
Policemen


A Soldier Shot and KIIIed-Arrest OF
Policemen.
A row occurred Christmas night, at the
drinking saloon kept in the centre of the
notorious locality known as Smoky Row,
by F. w. Bowser. A considerable num-
Der Of persons, itappeared, had congregated
there citizens, soldiers and lewd women, to
drink mean whisky and practice other
denominations. 1.-THE midst Of their drunken
revels, there was a cry Of Hurrah for jeff.
Davis Hurrah for the Union I" was
shouted in reply. Great noise and con-
fusion ensued, and a number of pistol shots
fired. Corporal Ed. Crago, Of the 10th
Regulars, doing post duty here, received a
hit Of which he died. Having been taken
to the Cumberland Barracks, Coroner G.
w. Noryell was sent for yesterday morning
10 hold
AN INQUEST.
The following citizens were accordingly
summoned as Jury, and the investigation
commenced. X. W. Hawkins, foreman, Fl.
Davis, Pat Salan, John Mellett, Robert
Crawford, Thomas Bay and A. g. Ramsey
dozen or more witnesses had been sub
pened and were present. The testimO-
ny ELECTED from the examination was of
the most conflicting character, the witnesses
not having a clear recollection of what they
saw or heard. 1t was plain enough that a
soldier had been killed bu: who fired the
fatal shot, could not be determined.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.
The jury, unable to bring form and
comeliness out Of chaos, rendered a verdict
that the deceased 'h0d come to his death b. a
pistol shot IN dehaHds Of some person NOT jtiily
described
And here the mstter rested, so far as the
Coroner's JIry was concerned.
ARREST OF POLICEMEN AND OIHER PARTIES
The evidence having elected the fact that
several policemen were present perhaps
aiding and abetting, officers Higginbotham,
Chenault and Mcclure and William Hou-
sen, a citizen, were arrested, and a Magis.
trate's composed Of Messrs. Wilkinson,
Cassidy and HALEY, convened in the City
Council chamber, to investigate charges
made against them
THE INVESTIGATION
Commenced early in the afternoon, and
continued till about o o'clock. A number
Of witnesses for the prosecution were ex-
amined, but no facts were developed going
TO show that either of the parties did the
killing. One witness, a woman: testified
that Higginbotham displayed pistol, but
she could not say that he had shot the de-
ceased. She heard the prisoner say he had
not done il. A comrade Of the corporal,
Mr.. Link testified that three shots were
fired in quick succession, and another about
five minutes later; that the deceased came
out, telling him he was wounded. He was
outside, at the time, and did not see who
shot; but he alleged that, during the after
noon, he had heard the prisoner, Higgin-
botham, declare that "if the soldiers did
not quit cutting up, he would lay some Of
them cold This was about the strongest |
evidence given against Higginbotham.
HowsEN DISCHARGED.
The evidence having made il plain that
Mr.. Howsen was not guilty Of any other |
crime than being in disreputable company,
in one Of the bells which make Smoky |
Row a region Of iniamy, he was at the in |
stance Of has attorney, our ex-typo friend. |
John Z. Ferris set at liberty. He was |
certainly well pleased looking person.
and, it is to be hoped, will profit by the |
lesson.
INVESTIGATION To BE CoNTINUED-ANorH-
Err ARREST
The court adjourned over. before the in /
veStigauon was completed, till half past
one o'clock to-day. Before doing so i + |
boiles citizen, was brought in under arrest 4
ana, together with the three uoJicenaD
pound pound over to appear to-day. Bolles has
zone ms country service as a soldier. and |
we nope he may succeed in clearing his
s sh o. The crime Of which he stands
charged, and about which, it is stated how
true we know not, he has made impTnden,
admissions. II u0s'''
Nj. = ne : prisoners are represented by Hun
T ne, > Brown and McClanahan q Clare
me prosecution by H. II. Harrison Fso
capt Iotten, Of the 18th regnI.1s yss.
present during the investigation as was
also Mayor Brown, both deeply interests5
spectators. '''''' '''e'