Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-14
A BLOoDY RECORD.
Four Probably Fatal shooting
Arrays.
Three of the Victims Negroes.


bloody days in the Memphis calendar, no
less than four mur6erous shooting ARRAYS
having occurred during the thsrty-six
hours ending at nine O'Clock last night.
Fhe first Of these was the shooting Of
negro named Wash Peoples, of whose
operations in the confidence line, we
gave an account on Saturday last, By
Officer 5auerman, under the following
circumstances Sauermsn had arrested
Peoples for misdemeanor, on Com
nerce street., about 10 o'clock In the
morning, and on the way to the Station
house, down Third street. as they passed
the alley between Market and Exchange,
the prisoner broke away from the officer,
snd rushing into tie alley, seized billet
Of wood, which was lying convenient
and made at him with 1t. Sauermsn
had drawn bis weapon, as the negrr
broke, and when be turned with the
club, fred at him, the negro not being
more than a pace from him, when he did
60. The bullet entered the body just be-
| low the ribs on the left side, and passed
| into the bowels. The moment that the
! shooting was done, Ssuerman left the
wounded man and reported to headquar
! ters what ne had done and was placed
in arrest by Capt. Simonds. Mean
while the wounded man, after having
been seen by numerous people going to
| church, was removed to the house OF DR.. |
Harris, in the nei ghborhood, where his
/ wound was dressed. At six o'clock yes
terdsy afternoon it was thought that he
could not possibly live through the night.
&c is 8 most villainous negro, and bis
death would be benefit to the comm
nifty. Sauerman was arrested OH 8 State
warrant yesterday morning, snd after g
careful examination was discharged.
About midnight On Sunday aight, as
q negro, known as Ben Strange, was
returning home from church, crossing
the jackson street bayou bridge, he was
sccosted by two men, and being fright. |
sned, turned to run. As he did so, save.
raj shots were fired at hin by his pur- |
suers, two Of the balls taking efTect-one |
IN the groin, and the other entering the |
right shoulder and coming out Just be- |
low the nipple. These wounds would |
seem to have been enough to stop most
men, but Strange was able to make |
LIS H6E III AViss anu HAdA4EA 10 I
the corner OF Third and Overson |
streets, where he fell, right in front of |
bis own house, and lay for sometime /
unconscious, having tainted from ex-
haustion. He WAS found Ia this eondi-
ton about one O'Clock and moved into /
the house, where he survived long
enough to give his wife the above state
nent, ard to say that he thought one Of ]
the men that shot him was named Mar
tin Griffin. On her affidavit, and from
some attendant suspicious circumstances,
q man named Griffin was arrested yes
terday morning and carried before
Squire Griffith, but a preliminary ex-
animation was postponed until to-day at
10 O'Clock. We we're told by the wife OF
the murdered man that Griffin took her
husband for a n1Su named Wash Lott. |
who had been committing some depre-
dations on his place. We f0rbesr, com
ment until the matter has been exam
med into.
The next tragedy on the list is the
shooting Of Mr.. Charles Aldridge, by P.
\. Burgets, E.q., the particulars of which
were thus detailed TO the Evening LEDGER.
" It seems that Mr.. BuCgeJt mad been
absent during the morning. Returning,
he found that Aldridge, who was doing
business for him as his overseer, had not
issued their FatioBs 10 the hands. Bur
geCt requested him to do so st once re-
marking that if it was neglected the
hands would become dissatisfied snd
leave. Aldridge appeared to hesitate.
Burgstt then tod him if he did not wish
10 attend to his business he would settle
with him and he could quit. Aldridgs
sprang to mis- gun, which WIS sitting in
the corner OF the room, and seized it,
exclaining, " You id son OF a b-h, !
III settle with you right now" As Aid
ridge turned With his gun, Burgett, who
had his gun in bis hand, fired and killed :
him instauty-the whole charge strik- :
Ing him In the breast. This is Mr.. Bur- !
gstt's statement Of the case. He passed {
through town this morning on his way u
to Marion to surrender himself TO the
authorities. Col. o. P. Lyles, OF the firm !
Of Brown q Lyles, OF this city, went !
over TO defend him. +
The fourth, and up 10 present wri- i
ling the last, occurred yesterday even
ING IN Fort Picksring, and is to q certain s
sxtent wrapped in mystery. About
o'clock In. two negroes, kaoWn az Fred
Jones and Hiram Tofenan, were seen +
walking together, engaged in earnest I
TOlman seemed to be very
much excited, and gesticulated-vioiently
All at once be jumped back several steps,
drew repeater, and commenced firing 7
On Jones, who fell to the ground after the
ioaTth shot, and Tolman then flsd. The Z
Police we're promptly on the spot and l
took care Of the wounded man, who was d
iound to be shot in four places, two Of I
The wounds being considered mortal. At
the last accounts IS O'Clock pm. he was
to DO dying. The Police ar
rested and carried to the Second District
station, negro whom they took to be I
Folman, bat who, on examination, v
proved to be the wrong man. At eight
O'Clock no further arrest bad been made. +
This, We hops, ends the chapter for the g
day. a