Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-04
COLD-BLOODED MURDER ar ASH
LAND CITY,

day night last. We have since learned
full particulars of the startling and bloody
occurrence, which we now lay before Oh
readers.
There was a public meeting at Ashlanl
/ City on Monday, and Governor Foot,
and Hon. John Lellyett had been an.
nounced to speak. In the place were
two intensely bitter Radicals, distinguished
| above even their associates for blood
thirsty vindictiveness, and who have beer
| at the bottom of nearly every difficulty
and disturbance that has occurred in quiei
Ashland City within the past five months
These men were Steve w. Martin, a grocer
and E. B. Harris, Brownlow's Registration
| Commissioner.
Early in the morning they were heard
to declare that +" no did Conservative
should speak there" and to give force to
their threat, they loaded their double
barreled shOt-guns in preparation.
Gov. Foote and Mr.. Lellyett did not ar
rive, but Mr.. r. B. Sloan, a Conservative
speaker from this city, did, and it was ar
ranged that he should divide time with
Warren Jordan, the Radical nominee for
Floater in this District. The meeting
opened, and Martin and Harris were both
present. While Sloan was speaking, the
blatant Martin frequently Interrupted him,
but was silenced by HE speaker as often as
he thrust in his precious CAB. No other
person in the crowd seconded Martin in his
attempts to create a disturbance, and the
meeting anally broke up quietly, the
crowd dispensing to their homes.
Hardy w. Brinkley, a young man
twenty years of age, universally esteemed,
and of unblemished reputation, was one
Of the assemblage, and started home, a
mile from town, as soon as the meeting
closed. On his way he fell in with Robt.
Hooper, a son of Or. Hooper, who insisted
that young Brinkley should mount his
horse behind him and ride back TO town,
where he wished to make some purchases.
Tothis Brinkley consented, and the two soon
reached the place. At the corner of the
Square they dismounted and little CON
versation followed, which seems to have
been overheard by Martin and Harris at
the grocery of the former. 1t was then
about eight o'clock. In a few moments
both of them made their appearance,
armed with double-barreled shot guns, and
defantly shouted to Brinkley to come out
on the Square if he wanted to fight.
'BrinkleJ had by this time moved off to
about one hundred yards from the store. and
made some reply. The two ruffians, seeing
that he was alone, started for him. and
when within thirty or forty yards of the
defenseless and unsuspecting man, leveled
their pieces and fred Brinkley fell, then
rose to his feet again and staggered toward
Lenox's store. where he a second time
fell, bleeding profusely. Some one who
had seen what had occurred ran to the I'M
fortunate man, and found him gasping in
the agonies of death, his abdomen, heart
and throat having been pierced by the
missiles of death. He had made no out
cry, and Was unable TO speak. In few
moments he breathed his last
As soon as the villains saw they had ac-
cOmplished their work they mounted their
horses and galloped away, while the citi-
zens rapidly gathered around the corpse Of
the murdered man. The coroner was sent
for, and the messenger who was dispatched
encountered Martin and Harris as they
were riding along the road. They accosted
him, one Of them cooking a gun, and de-
manding to know his destination. He re-
piled that he was going for the coroner.
They then asked him why he had not stuck
Up the bills for Trimble's meeting; but the
poor fellow framed some excuse, managed
to beg of, and was permitted to go on his
way.
As soon as the Coroner reached town an
inquest was held, at which Mr.. w. w.
Sanders, Radical merchant, and several
Others Of similar political opinions, testi-
fed 10 the unproYoked attack of Martin
aud Harris, and the jury, composed prin-
cipally of Radical gentlemen, brought in
a verdict to the effect that the murder of
Brinkley had been premeditated, and
placing the crime with murder in the first
degree. OBJ
The murderers, true TO their instincts,
came on to Nashville, seeking protection
from the State government, and both were
yesterday arrested in the Governors Office,
at the capitol, by Marshal Brantly and
Deputy Marshals Tignor and Spain. They
were then taken before Justice Brien,
where they were identified by Mr.. Sloan
and committed to Jail to await the arrival
of officers from Cheatham county, when
they will be taken back for trial
Steve Martin formerly lived in Ken
LUCKY itAlll Which, ADtdLC llG iuONtu 10 ASH
land City. He is the same william who,
some time ago, coolly shot out the brains
Of William Demonbreun, a returned
Confederate soldier, and who escaped trial
through the strange workings of the
Brownlow despotism. He is far-famed as
a brawler and disturber, and was a dis
grace to the community in which he lived.
Harris is not much better. He sold sup
plies to the Confederate army until the
arrival of the Federal troops, since which
time he has called himself a Union men.
It was reported yesterday that a COM
panv of militia would leave here for Ash
land City to-day, but we were assured by a
militia officer that this statement was in
correct.
A more cold-blooded murder never be-
fore stained the annals of Cheatham
county but thisis only forsrunner of what
is to come. If Brownlow and his militia
are to be sustained, more blood must flow,
more peacable, quiet and unofending citi-
zens must be sacrificed for daring to enter
taia their own opinions, and the reign of
terror now inaugurated in some portions
of the State must spread to its every county,
and TO every home and fireside. How long
will the God of Heaven look down upon
such crimes, and withhold His terrible
vengeance?
BASE BALL.-The return game, best two
in three, which was TO have been played
in Edge6eld to-day, between the Rock
City and Stonewall clubs, for the champion
ship of Davidson county, has been post
poned until Saturday afternoon, at three
o'clock.
The Rock City and Stones River clubs
will play a match game at Murfreesboro
on Thursday next.
The Stonewall Club will play to-day in
Edgefeld, near the railroad engine house.