Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-29
FATAL AFFRAY.
Bloody Termination of a Writ
of Ejectment.
Father and Son Shot DOwR-The
Son Mortality wounded.
Full Particulars.


Yesterday evening about half-past six
O'Clock Mr.. L. H. Coe came to Sheriff
Curry's Office and surrendered himself
into custody for having shot down two
men named Boyt, a father and son,
about an hour previously, on the Her
nando road, near Elmwood Cemetery.
The circumstances as detailed 10 US by
Mr.. COe were as follows:
Some months ago Mr.. Coe rented to
Mr. J. B0yt, Sen, place which belonged
to him, situated near ElmWOOd Gene
terry. He gave his notes for the rent and
planted a crop on the place. When the
notes became due he failed to meet them,
and Mr.. Coe few days ago sued Mr..
Boyt for the amounts due, and obtained
judgment and 8 writ of ejsetment
against him. The writ was served on
Boyt Immediately, and he was to have
moved on Friday last, but was given by
the Sheriff until Wednesday to-day to
move. On Thursday last Mr.. Coe
lot of hands in the cornfield,
with batchets and knives hacking down
the standing crop. He called out to them
and ordered them to desist, saying the
crop wss his, and asked il Mr.. Boyt, the
alder, was at home. The reply given
nv one Of the hands was that Mr.. Boyt
was not, but one Of the young men was
then in the field. Mr.. Coe dismounted,
and went to where young Boyt was stand
ing. and demonstrated with him on such
conduct. Boyt professed himself con-
WINGED that It was wrong, and ordered
the hands to desist from further depreda-
ton. While they we're talking together,
Mr.. Adams, the Deputy Constable, came
along, and was hailed by Mr.. Coe, and
the three soon engaged liz conversation.
While thus engaged, Mr.. Coe says he
heard some one say that he would kill
him Zoe, and on looking around saw the
elder Boyt approaching him with shot
gun, cooked and raised in q threatening
attitude, and swearing that be would kill
MIN (COe). COe told BOyt that be was
uparmed, but that he could shoot if be
wanted. Young Boyt and Adams, when
the old man first approached, moved off,
thinking that he would shoot instantly,
but came back and by earnest entresty,
with considerable difficulty, prevailed on
Bout not to shoot. During the
time Boyt was threatening Coe, he
said frequently that he wanted
to kill HIM any way, for having
msltreated his sons during the war.
His Sons, it is said, were conscripted,
but Mr.. Coe assures US that he had moth
ing whatever 10 do with it, MIR. C0e,
after Boyt had become pacitied, rode of.
Having some business in the Deighbor-
hood yesterday, Mr.. COe rode out there,
and having been thus threatened before,
went armed with double bsrIeied shot
gun, loaded with buekshot. He passed
by the place, which Boyt still occupied,
but did net see him. He learned, how
ever, that Boyt was having the fence
torn down and destroyed. Returning by
there in the evening, In company with
Mr.. Grerge Myers, he met BOyt in the
road, little ways from the house. He
spoke to him and asked him if he intend
ed moving tomorrow, Ito day and
Boyt answered, yes" Mr.. COe then
informed Boyt what he had heard about
the fencing, and asked him If it was so.
Boyt replied by cursing him in the vilest
manner, from which Coe ordered him to
desist, saying that he had already taken
enough from him. With this Boyt
jumped up on the fence and called to bis
son, who WIS at the house, to fetch him
his csIbine. The young man, as soon as
his father called him, came out with
gun and walked rapidly down the road
toward Coe, raising the gun as be did so.
When he got within eighty yards,
or SO, Coe ordered him to halt,
and, on his advancing nearer, repeated
the order, adding that he (Coe) would
kill him if be came any nearer. COe re-
pested the warning, but young Boyt still
advanced, with the carbine at a ready
and when within about forty yards Coe
fred one barrel at him, and he fell to the
earth without speaking. Meanwhile,
the elder Boyt had gotten inside the in
closure or field in which the house stood,
and was making his way toward his son,
aud when the shot was fired he was
within few feet of him, on the opposite
side OF the fence. As the young man
fell, he jumped on the fence and at
tempted TO pick up the gun, Mr.. Coe
calling TO him not to touch it, or he
would fire. He disregarded the warming
and Mr. Coe fired the second barrel,
wounding but not disabling him.
Having emptied his gun, and Boyt be-
| ing ia possession of the loaded weapon,
Mr.. Coe was forced to retreat, which he
did, and coming TO the city gave himself
up. Sheriff Curry, Efter hearing the
statement OF Mr.. COe, which was corrob-
GRATED by Mr.. Myers, carried Mr.. Coe be-
fore Squire Griffith, who put him under
bonds OF $1,000 10 appear this morning at
| 10 o'clock.
We learn that young BOyt died in the
course of an hour after the shooting, but
that the wound of the father, though Sc
rious and dangerous, is not necessarily
mortal. MI. Coe is young man well
known TO our community, and belongs
| to one OF our most respectable families.
| We feel assured that be will be able to
| prove that this act was one of simple
/ self-defense. However, the matter will
| be thoroughly investigated this morning,
and We suspend all judgment until after
| the examination,