Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-31

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at the hour Of two o'clock. while Colonel
Shelby and family, and the inmates Of
bis house, were quietly sleeping at his
residence, near Gill's Station, little
dreaming that the bloody assassin stood
ready to take the life Of himself, and,
perhaps, Of his whole family. he was
aroused by some one walking heavily on
the kitchen steps. Getting up, he in
quired OF the negro woman sleeping
in the kitchen who that was, when. at the
sound Of his'voice, some one fred shot
at him, the ball passing near its object
Col. Shelby then went back into his
room to get his pistol, and on
returning he was fred at from
around the kitchen. Colonel Shelby
returned the FIRE, and several shots we're
exchanged with no visible effect. 1t
being dark, it was hard matter to tell
where the sssassins were at the time OF
the shots. Mr.. Fred. Nelson, son.in-law
Of Col. Shelby, then came out with
double-barrel shotgun, hesitated for some
little time before attempting to FIRE, for
fear be should shoot friend, think.
ing that probably some of the neighbors
had come TO assist him, hearing the
firing. Upon being satisfied who was in
the yard, he leveled his gun, but it failed
to fire. The assassins-four negroes
then made of, aud Mr.. Nelson fred with
the other barrel of his gun, not knowing
what damage was done. Col. Shelby is
not aware that be has an enemy in the
world, and why his life was attempted, he
cannot imagine. We would ask where
is the boasted protection of the law2 Is
not the life of every citizen at the dis
posal of the assassin ? Let every one in
the community provide himself with arms
for protection, and use them when the
case requires.
A BLooDY CAREER Startling Con-
tession Of a Negro Prisoner.-On Sat.
urday night last two negroes, known re-
spectively as John Coole and Sam. Hill
lard, were taken into custody by Capt
McMath and Sergeants Orr and Hanson,
of the lower district police, on suspicion
of being implicated in the murderous
assault on Mr.. Henry Duckett and his
wife, and the robbery of the residence of
that gentleman, on Georgia street, the
night before. Both parties were lodged
in the station, and on being interro-
gated as to the outrage with which
he was charged, the negro billiard
made clean breast of the whole affair,
and very unexpectedly to his hearers,
also confessed to having had aNhaud in
other equally fendish villainies which
have been enveloped in the profoundest
mystery. According to his confession,
he was with Coole in the robbery of
Duckett's house, and saw Coole drive
the hoe into Duckett's head and strangle
his wife. With Coole, he was also the
of Mr.. Conner, whose body
was found in the bayou on Wellington
street some two months since, and was
the murderer of Flynn, who was
found dead back of the stable on Main,
near Vance street, some weeks ago. On
this confession, both billiard aud Coole
we're placed under double guard. On
being removed from the station to the
county Jail for safe keeping, yesterday
however, Coole succeeded in
breaking away from Sergeant Orr, who
lad him in custody, and was still at
srge up to noon o-day. billiard re-
mains in jail to await an examination
his afternoon.
CoCHRAN's New BUILDING.-Among
he few handsome business buildings,
rected in the city within the past dull I
welve months, that put up by our enter.
rising fellow'townsmau, Cochran, on
lain, between Washington and Poplar a
reefs, is deserving of notice. In Sec 4
on of the city where there is but little
architectural beauty and few structures C
sing above couple of stories, its B
,posing front is rendered the more
and readily recognized for m