Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-19
"MURDER WILL our
Arreat of the Negro who Butchered
DR.. Ramsey on the Macon road.
He Confesses the Murder to a Mu-
latto Boy and 10 Arrested.
The Prisoner brought to the City
and Indicted by the CiroWt
Court Grand Jury.

The frightful butchery, in the wilder
ness of the Macon road, of the inolfensive
DR.. NJ. r. Ramsey, few weeks ago, is
still fresh in the minds of the public.
The horrible particulars, as published at
length in the LEDGER, startled the com
munty; for the murder was in itself
both one of the most unprovoked and
terrible crimes ever perpetrated in the
county. We to-day furnish the second
chapter in the record of this horror-the
arrest Of the murderer-and, should
justice be done, hope ere long to complete
the bloody volume by narrating the
criminals expiation of his deeds on the
scah'old.
About two weeks ago negro known
as John Etheling, who has long prowled
about the northern portion of the coun-
iy, where he is well known, approached
light mulatto country boy named Hill,
with whom it seems he was acquainted.
He soon introduced the subject Of rob
berries, and in the course Of the inter-
view remarked that good thing"
could be made by that business. Grow
ing more communicative he intimated
to Hill that he and several others were
operating at different points in the coun-
try, and proposed partnership to the
boy. Hill, who is eighteen years old,
and not very bright looking boy, lis
tened quietly, and seemed to acquiesce
in the proposition, although he did not
fully commit himself. AS "clincher,"
Etheling turned to him and remarked
"You heard of that doctor that was done
for on the Macon road ?" Hill replied
that everybody was talking about it in
the country. well" said Etheling,
that was one of my jobs" He then,
believing that Hill was in reality a rob.
Der, narrated the circumstances, being
particular to impress the fact that he
had fired the shot and beaten the muir
dered man with a bludgeon. He seemed
to regard the affair as fine operation,
and said he made good thing" of it.
He did not know DR.. Ramsey, but was
ON hand to rob-murder, if necessary
any one coming along who promised
booty. The boy Hill was thunderstruck
at the villains recital, but said nothing,
and when the pair parted, made some in
direct promise to join him. Instead of
doing so, however, he mentioned the
circumstance. to white gentleman, and
it was determined that Etheling's arrest
should be secured An inkling of the
matter reached our efficient Sheriff,
Captain Winters, who at once took
action in the matter. He soon obtained
knowledge of Etheling's field of opera
tons, which the excitement caused By
the murder had forced him to change,
and learned that he might be found on
or near the Parham plantation, near
Germantown. Accordingly, yesterday
evening Deputy Angelo Marie was dis
patched to the vicinity. He was for
tunate enough to find the object of his
search on the plantation, He at once
arrested and brought him to the city,
also bringing the boy Hill as witness.
Etheling was much frightened at the
arrest, but maintained a logged silence
relative to everything connected with
the murder, Not word of confession
can be extorted from him.
This morning the boy Hill went before
the grand jury of the Shelby County
Circuit Court, gave in his evidence, and
o true bill of indictment was found.
This is a most striking verifcation of
the old adage that murder will out.
The chief actor in the bloody drama
himself could not keep the horrid secret
locked in his breast He regarded
murder as an art, and was proud of an
dCuleNCIueub WHICH uhu lHIllltu nun
bred thousand people and bAffled the
officers of the law. While the detectives
were wading through the swamps,
clutching every minute circumstance,
be was lowering about them like
shadow, fearless of detection. His plans
had been well laid. The Businesses of
the swamp secured him hiding place.
He could emerge at pleasure and snap
his fingers at the detectives who were
peeriug under every bush and listening
to every tale. Finally, vanity mastered
discretion, and Sheriff Winters made the
arrest. This achievement is feather
in Capt Winters cap. He traced the
murderer with as much assiduiiy and
certainty as bloodhound; his deputy
whistled "down brakes" and the muir
derer exchanged his hiding place in the
swamps for prison cell.
Is BooTH ALIVE 2-This is a mooted
question; but one thing IS certain, that
many who have actually killed them
selves by the use of quinine in inordi-
nate quantities, and arsenieal chill poi
sons, whilst trying to cure Fever and
Ague, would now be alive, well and
hearty, had they possessed and tried a
single bottle Of the Tezas Tonic Syrup |
This medicine is purely vegetable, con-