Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-14
LARGEST CITY CIRCULATION.
T.rrihle Tragedy.


From the Nashyile fress anu tins''
The details Of terrible deed Of blood
reached us yesterday from Hawkins
county. The victim was j. Q. Willis,
himself the murderer Of a man named
Sizemore. who fell by a bullet from
his pistol about year ago, in the same
county. ,. ,p
had feeling has been growing Tor some
time. aud they thirsted for each others
blood. AT length the devil favored their
wish. and they met "a Sunday last on
the banks of the Clinch river few
miles east of Rogersville. Willis was
half drunk, and was on his way nome
from distille'y IN the hills, where no
had been drinking and gaming ior tnree
or four days. -.
leaving a religious gathering in the woods.
They met in lonely place; both were
mounted. The impenetrable forest spread
ia silent shade on either side for miles.
Moi q sound was heard save the rustling
of the autumn leaves under the horses
hoofs. The moment they came in sight
of each other, at sharp bend IN the
road. they were not more than twenty
wards apart, and their horses we're going
M good trot. When they pulled up,
the animals heads touched each other.
They halted and let their bride reins
drop. The tired horses began to pick at
the wilhered leaves, bus tho deadly
minded men busted themselves with
hauling out their pistols Not word
was uttered. Each felt that now, IN the
depth of the primevsl forest, was the
time to glut their mutual vengeance;
Willis belt came loose, and his pistol
fell down on his horses back. He par
tally turned round TO pick 1t up, and,
while in the act, his asssilant fired, and
struck Willis in the side. The man fell,
and when he came to the ground, the
horse which he was riding turned and
galloped of, dragging him consldera-
bic distance. His foot caught in pro-
iecting root, while the other remained
fixed in the stirrup. The violence OF the
Jerk literally wrenched his thigh bone
from its socket, while the saddle-girth
broke, and he was left on the ground
grooming. When the enemy rode up and
dismounted, Willis saw the evil design
in his eye, and begged of him to give
respite TO see his wife. But mol the
hlack-hearted man was MEMORABLE. de
was one of those
"whose hearts the furies steeled.
And cursed with hearts unknowIng no" 70
yield"
He would allow no respite, not even
to utter a short prayer, but sternly told
the man that be should die. Willis |
implored mercy; the blood streaming |
from his side, and the agony Of his torn
limb working his face into fearful con-
tortions. He clssped bis hands together
and begged mercy, mercy, but there
was none. The monster deliberately |
put his pistol to the almost dying mans
forehead and shot his brains out He
then mounted his horse and rode to
friends house, to whom he detailed the
particulars of the murder, took three or
four drinks of whisky and left. He
has not been heard from since.
This murder calls up long train OF
homicides. In 1864 an old and highly
esteemed citizen of Russellville, Mr..
Cain, was killed by young Federal
soldier, a citizen of the same county,
named Bewley. A short time afterward
Bewley was killed by one of the sons of
old man Cain. But short time was left
for young Cain to live. He fell victim
TO the murdsrous hand of friend of
Bewley's, Bill Sizemore, who, shortly
after the killing of young Cain, COM
peted the list Of bis murders by brutally
numbering Lieutenant Thurman, of
Hawkins county. Sizemore did not
long live to gloat over his deeds of
blood. The avenger was on his path,
and in very short time Sizemore was
sent to eternity by bullet from the
pistol of l. G. Willis. Willis is now
murdered, and we may well, in horror,
exclaim Where will the terrible trsg-
aJv and 2