Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-11-05
MURDER ON JEFFERSON ST.
LAST NIGHT.
W SHOT q KILLED.
One Arrest Made On Suspicion.
Great Excitement, etc.

NACeA SANa
One Of those shooting affairs In which,
alas, too often, human life Is lost, took
place on Jefferson street about 9 o'clock
last night, near the corner Of Main.
From all that could be learned, anthem
tica1ly, up to the time Of u going to
press, it appears that about dark yesterday
evening the steamer Lizzie Gill landed
at this pert having on board q LOT Of show
.lpeople, among others the menagerie Of
! Charley Ames and its attendants, bound
for New Orleans. AS the steamer was
to lay here for some hours, some OF the
passengers came up town to see their
friends, and three Of the party, John
Preutiss THE deceased Charley Howard
and A. Dolph went into the Empire Sa-
loon 10 take a drink. AS they were
about finished, 8 party (unknown) called
Prentlss out by the hallway. When he
had got as far as the door, q shot was
heard, and Prentiss fell near the step and
never spoke after. On examination 1t
was found tLat ne had been shot in the
left breast near the region of the heart,
the ball glsncing upwards. The party
who fired the shot Immediately ran of,
and apparently made good his escape.
The sound Of the shot, as well a the
alarm which was quickly spread that 8
man had been killed, was, OF course,
sufficient to gather a crowd of Police
men and citizens to the spot. The body
was quickly removed to the hall Of the
Empire saloon, and it was with diff
Guilty that the proprietors, assisted by
the Police, could keep the crowd off
One Of his companions, Charley Howard,
was arrested on suspicion, and lodged in
the Adams Street Station. The deceased,
John Prentiss, was a good looking, thick
set man, about thirty. five years of age,
fair skin, brown eyes and dark hair ;
mild in his manners and of genteel sd-
dress. He was by profession a boot
maker, but had for some time followed
the show business, and had lstteriy been
travelling with Ames' Museum up the
river. He was a widower, and a native
of Prescott, Canada West. 1t is said he
has two sisters, Lucretia and Mary, liv-
ing in Chicago, illinois.
In the absence of Coroner Cotton, Mr..
Justice Miller was sent for, who sum-
mOned q jury and proceeded to hold an
inquest. Several witnesses were kan
lined. At three o'clock this morning the
jury had not concluded their labors. We
will give the result tomorrow. AS far
as heard from the name of the perpeera-
tor of this dark and horrible deed re-
mains unknown.
New MEMPHIS THEATER. The New
Memphis was crowded last night, the
fair weather coupled with the re engage
ment OF Miss Melville, tending to make
onr piay-gOers feel in much better spirits.
The performances commenced with Who
Killed Cock Robin, in which Miss Mel
vile played ~"Satanella," in her usual
excellent style, and was we'll supported
by DIR. Roche, Miss Fannie Plerson and
Mr.. Mitchell. But, of course, this piece
appeared tame to the expectsnt audience
who were ~snxiOusly awaiting the bur
lesque on the far famed Black Crook, full
Of music, mirth and drollery. This
piece must be seen to be appreciated. It
is to be hoped that ere Miss Melville
leaves US she will again appear as " The
Charmed Maiden" The feature of the
evening was " our own little Katie Gil
bert" who by her fine elocution, spIen-
did singing and excellent dancing drew
down the house onher every entrance and
exit. The new scenery incidental to the
piece was e~xcellently done by the scenic
artist, Mr. s. W. Gulick. The card scene,
fixed and moving, was one OF the finest
things that has g come before a Mem
phis audience. The singing incidental TO
the piece was well rendered throughout.
Tonight the Black Cook will be repeated
with the afterpiece of the Comicay Coun-
tess.