Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-22
THE RUssELyILLE TRAGEDY.
The Nashville Banner makes the fol

lowing statement OF this afiair:
i1Ia Itappears that at The close Of the war,
Capt WIN. McCarty. of the Confederate
army. returned home, and having no
money with which to purchase citizens
oclothinp continued 10 wear bis uniform.
I This seems to have been exceedingly DIS
tasteful 10 a Mai N. G. Lawrence, then
NJ The Federal army and an officer OF the
Freedmeu's Bureau at Russelville. The
q latter, accompanied by guard OF TWO or
three soldiers, at that time went 70
McCariy, took forcible possession OF his
eray coat and peremptorily commanded
him to keep his did month shut McCar-
ty reported the action Of Lawrence to
The Post Commandant,, who rebuked
Lawrence for having gone outside OF his
duty, and ordered him to return the coat.
al As 10 what occurred on Tuesday, the
Banner says; frgsW cfs.a
That Lawrence went TO the store where
McCarty was employed as clerk, and
cursed and abused him on account OF his
former "rebel proclivities. McCarty
controlled his temper, told Lawrence that
he wanted nothing to do with him, and
requested him to leave the store. AS
soon as Lawrence had stepped outside
the door he turned and fred at McCarty,
who was still inside, inhicting mortal
wound in a part of the body where he
had been wounded during the war. Not
wi,hstanding McCarty's wound, he
rushed upon Lawrence and tnally sue
ceeded 10 getting his.revolver out OF his
hand. Lawrence then endeavored TO
make hasty retreat but was killed be-
fore be had gone any distance, having
been shot three times in the body with
the same revolver with which he intended
10 kill McCarty The latter was soon
. after arrested by the City Marshal, but
being in very critical condition was
taken TO house short distance away
from the fatal scene. l
The Russslvills Herald has the follow
ing:
McCarty was wounded in the thigh.
The wound is said to be very painful, but
not dangerous Mr.. Billings, the Bureau
agent at this place, was a party in the
difficulty in some way, but to what ex-
tent we do not know.
1t appears that during the war, whilst
the Federal troops were in command OF
the post of Russelville, and Major N. G.
,Lawrance was an officer in the command
here. Mr.. William McCarty, who had
been a soldier in the Confederate army,
came in town wounded and paroled, and
was permitted TO resume his citizenship
here by the officer in command. One
day, whilst McCarty was passing along
the street, walking on crutch, some
words passed between Lawrance and
himself, whereupon Lawrance kicked
aud cuffed McCarty, in the presence OF
soldiers aud citizens. Being surrounded
by Federal soldiers, of course McCarty
dare not resent the disgrace and injury
received. Who commenced this difficult
" we know not; we merely state the
facts to explain other actions of later
date.
The war closed, and Lawrence and
McCarty both remained in town, and so
far as we know, had no renewal of their
difficulty. McCarty, although appa-
rently willing not to renew a past diff
Guilty, held no intercourse with Lawrence
whatever. A short time since, Billings
and Lawrence being in front of Alder
son q McCarty's drinking saloon, Bill
lipgs invited Lawrence in to take a
drink. McCarty said Lawrence should
have nothing to drink there and must
not come into the saloon.
Yesterday morning, Billings and Law
renee were seen to go toward the depot,
enter the saloon, when the difficulty and
shooting occurred. Who sought the
difficulty, who commenced it, or who is
to blame for the serious results, we do
not know. We must, however, say, that
we think Major Lawrence did wrong in
going into a mans house with whom he
was not friendly, especially when he had
been previously told be must not do so.
No others but the parties mentioned,
we are informed, we're in the saloon at
time; no other citizens were parties to
the rencontre, and did not, yesterday
morning or since, manifest any DISPOSE
ton to be parties to it in any manner
whatever. II was simply difficulty be.
tween private citizens, the result of per.
sonsl and private causes, and IN which
the community had no part nor lot, ex-
cept to regret that it ever occurred.
Now this is q simple statement of all
the facts connected with the case, so far
as we have been able to collect them.
But notwithstanding all this, we regret to
say that grossly exaggerated reports have
been spread abroad that citizens we're
mobbing, shooting and killing Union
men, and that reign of terror had been
inaugurated in Russelville: and 10. aud
behold, yesterday afternoon an officer
and q squad OF white Federal soldiers
came down on the train from Bowling
Green and took up quarters in the court
house When they arrived they found
the town quiet, citizens attending 10 their
business as usual, no political mob, no
numbering of Union men, nor anything
Of the kind-simply personaLdifhculty
in which the community had no part
whatever. What soldiers were brought
here for we cannot imagine The officer
IN command, and the men, appear to be
gentlemenly and orderly, and we doubl
not they are surprised themselves that
they we're ever sent for How long they
will remain, we know not; but we do
know that they will soon be, il they are
not already. convinced themselves that
this community is composed Of as orderly
and law abiding aud Law respecting peo-
pie as any in or out Of Kentucky. We
all deprecate these personal difficulties,
and would prevent them il we could. All
We ask is that when they do occur let the
blame rest alone upon those who are
guilty, and not upon an entire commu-
nifty, who are as innocent as the babo
unborn.