Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-10
THE BYaAn MURDER CASE.


the prisoner about the last OF February,
1866, and lodged him in Jail on the 9th OF
March arrested the prisoner near the An
drew Charge at Mrs Gsldin's, on Castle
man street found a man with the prisoner
named sixteen String Jaek"-both in
bed the prisoners were kept in the work.
house for some time; found in the room a
pair of false whiskers and a cap made OF
fox or rabbit skins; knew Lyman from the
description, but arrested his associate under
the name Of "Sixteen String Jack y
don't remember positively what kind of
clothing they wore was never present at
the Jail at any time when Mrs. Byram was
there.
Cross-examined: Mrs. Galdin keeps a
clearinghouse near Andrew Charge; the
whiskers we're in the cap when found the
cap and Whiskers were turned over to the
keeper Of the workhouse; the witness could
not produce them, as they were not now at
the workhouse; don't know the owner
of the cap and whiskers, witness got S58
for the arrest of the parties, but has not
been offered any reward for the conviction
of said parties there was a reward of three
hundred dollars offered for Green three
hundred dollars were offered for the arrest
Of Lyman and Dilson, which money has
been paid to the witness, and divided be
tween the policemen assisting in the arrest
witness became prosecutor at the request of
the widow OF the deceased is not positive
that he has ever had a conversation with
Lyman in regard to the murder of Byram.
Mrs Byram, widow ofthe murdered man.
testified: Is the widow of the deceased
lives at the third toll-gate on the Lebanon
pike; early in the night Of the 18th of
December, 1865 he ate his supper and
retired about eight clock soon after lying
down, several persons were heard riding
from the direction of Nashville witness
asked her husband to get up and open the
gate; he arose and opened the door and
found three men atthe door; two. Of them
came in and warmed, but would not sit
down; one remained on his horse and hal
loed to the Captain who was in the house
to come on; one of the parties, Green,
then presented pistol against the breast
of the deceased and asked him for his
pistol the deceased replied that he did
not have one; Green then commenced
firing the deceased fell over on the bed
across the children who were asleep Green
shot deceased twice after he fell on the bed,
and made an effort to strike him, but the
blow was turned by the mother-in-law of
the deceased, throwing up her hand and
warding il off; witness pointed out LYMAN
in the court room as the man who was
called Colonel, and who remarked, after
the shooting, that the pistol which had
fallen was his, and if it were not gotten he
would burn up the house. Witness, after the
shooting attempted to rush out of the door.
to go over to inform her neighbors, but was
met by the prisoner, Lyman, who prevented
her egress. On the LIST of December. 1865.
Green went up the road with wagon and
caught up with little boy and girl and
took them in it, and put the little boy to
drive it. When reaching the tool-gate
Byram, the toll-gate keeper, hailed the
little boy and asked for toll. The little
boy remarked that the owner of the wagon
was asleep in the wagon. Byram raised up
the cover of the wagon and aroused
Green. Green refused to pay toll, and
quarrel ensured. Green jumped out Of the
wagon and rushed at Byram with his first
drawn back and cursing. Byram Knocked
him down. Green told Byram that he
would see him again; that he would 90 to
Nashville and get his crowd and would
bring them there and make him see trouble /:
that he would bring something that he
could pull on him" this was about the
lst of December. Deceased was shot FIVE
| times, three times in the head and twice in
his breast Dilson and Green were both
shooting at the same time. Green did the
shooting after Byram had fallen on the
bed. While the shooting was going on, Ly-
man, the prisoner, rushed Ia and stood by
the door. After the shooting was over.
witness went over to Mr.. Browns. When
she returned, they were gone, but she
heard the elatter of the horses hoofs in
the direction of Lebanon; they were fol-
lowed by young Brown and others, but not
| Overtaken. The prisoners had on Yankee
ogercoats, which had been dyed black
! Green and Dilson had on felt hats.
and Lyman had on a cap; there were two
streaks Of blood on the door, about as high
as mans arm the blood is on the door
yet; the shooting aEoke the children who
were up stairs, and when they came down
they were crying; Dilson told them to
"dry up" or he would kill them. Witness
gave description of the three men who
| murdered her husband. Witness had asked
Mr.. Mayo 70 act as prosecutor in the case,
though had not promised him anything.
Cross examined Green was in the
] house ten minutes before he commenced
shooting; don't know how long Dilson and
| Green remained after the shooting the
! deceased had not fallen when Lyman came
| in the house. Witness seized hold of Dilson
and was begging them not to kill her hus-
band all the parties were Immediately in
| front of witness; had never seen Lyman be.
| fore; saw him in Jail after he was arrested
though don't remember the exact time.
Witness was much alarmed at the time OF
the shooting, but remembered everything
that was done at the time; neither Green
nor Dilson ever laid their hands on the
/ deceased; the pistol when knocked out OF
! Green's hand, fell on the Aoornear the bed
! LYMAN was at the time ordering them t.
get the pistol or he would burn up the es-
adjustment. Witness saw OLSON and
| LYMAN in the jail-yard with sixteen
String Jack" Witness saw several other
| prisoners and several other persons
| whether prisoners or laborers the witness
| did not know. After coming out of the
iaii witness said that Sixteen String Jack''
| was not one of the murderers, but that the
two parties Lyman and Dilson were two
of the murderers Lyman and Dilson werC
net pointed out to the witness as the mur
derers, but were distinctly recognized
don't remember ever telling any one tina
she merely belisUed Lyman TO be the muir
derer.
James Barrick testified Lived on Nal
10y street at the time of the murder; know
the prisoner; saw him just after that tim
at HAYS saloon, on Market street; he ha'
been shot through the arm; it was 10 o
il o'clock; witness had closed his salooi
door. but returned and opened it; the wifi
of a colored man came to witness and t0l'
him that Mr. Lyman was up stairs aRd wa
shot witness went up stairs and saw Ly
man and saw that the bandage was we
with blood; witness helped tighten tn
bandage on the wound as witness wen
| down stairs, with the prisoner, the pIisone
asked witness il any one called for him t
tell them that he had gone to the country
witness went up town after he had closet
his saloon to get pair ofshoes for his wife
who. in company with Mrs. Lance, Mr.. AM
Mrs. Dill, we're going to Wilson connt
the next morning; Lyman was ire
auently back at the saloon with M
srn in sling; was we'll acquainte'
with Lyman, and know him to be III
| man whose arm was wounded Lyma
! E 81. lysn.r. hfl