Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-07

Probable Fatal StabbIns I'm n Ball
ROOm-'Ehree Policemen Severely IE-
iured in the Melee.
We have already published the telez
graphic account Of terrible airay in a
ball room in Memphis several nights ago.
The Appeal of Friday has the following
particulars of the occurrence:
Another of those deeds of violence for
which ouI city has become proverbial, and
which have given it a most unenyiable
reputation abroad, occurred at Father
| Schneider's ball yesterday morning about
three o'clock, and resulted in the fatal
stabbing of one man, and the injury more
or less seriously Of three more. The cir
cumstances attending the ARRAY were, as
nearly as we could learn them, as follows;
A man named Tim McGrath, said to be
a steamboatman, was one of the guests at
the ball, and being under the influence of
| liquor, insisted on dancing with his hat
| on, and was otherwise quite unruly. He
was demonstrated with by one Of the floor
| managers, and this seemed to make him
uglier. McGrath was accompanied by
woman, who he claimed was his sister, but
who it appears is servant girl at the
| OVertop, and another woman. With these
| two he danced two or three times during
| the evening. At the close Of one of the
| dances a man named VIM. Race, we'll
known in sporting circles, stepped up TO
| the woman claimed by McGrath as his
sister, and, it is said, spoke to her. No
one knows what he said, or whether he
| really said anything or not; but moment
| after Rice stepped up to the group, Nc
| Grath was seen to reach forward and strike
| him blow on the side Of the neck-with
the fist, il was thought at first, but Rice
staggered and fell, and the spouting blood
showed but too plainly the work Of the as
sassin's knife.
The room in a moment was the scene
Of the widest confusion and uproar. The
seats were broken up, and the women and
men, alike horror-struck, hurried from the
house. McGrath, taking the arm of the
girl, walked hurriedly toward the door, but
before he got there, officer Farrell, having
been called upon by Squire Willard, who
was present and witnessed the ahrsy, to
arrest him, confronted and ordered him to
surrender. Instead Of doing so, however,
McGrath attacked HIM with his knife, and
| cut him very severely, completely disabl-
ing him for the time being, The desper-
ado and his female companions then made
their escape into the street, and ran up
Main street to Madison and from Madison
down to Front row. Meanwhile, two
Second district policemen, named Metcalf
and Richmond, had been attracted to the
spot by pistol discharged by Squire Mil
lard, and started in pursuit of the fugitives
They overlook them on Front row, and a
desperate fight ensued, during which Nc
Grath used his knife and the officers their
clubs very freely, and the result of which
was the final capture OF the desperate. He
was conveyed, all bloody and bruised, to
the Second district station, where he was
locked up.
Medical assistance was summoned for
Rice and Farrell, and DIR. Lynch was soon
ia attendance. Rice's wound was found
TO be most dangerous, if not fatal, and we
are informed by the surgeon that if he re-
covers, he will be paralyzed probably
through life. FarrelPs wounds, though
painful are not dangerous Those of Met
calf and Richmond are trifing.
The real origin Of the difficulty between
McGrath and Mr.. Rice is euveioped in
some mystery, but We heard a statement
yesterday from a reliable source, which
throws light upon it, somewhat ludicrous,
it is true although connected with 30 near
ly tragedy. Mr.. Rice, we are told, rooms
at the OVerton, and is in the habit of keep
ing in his rooms some good liquors for his
own private use and that of his friends
Returning to his rooms several times late
ly, he was surprised to find the liquor very
much decreased in quantity, and after the
third or fourth repetition of the affair, he
determined to catch the thief. To do this,
he dosed some liquor and LETT il convenient,
and the consequence was the maxim of one
Of the servant girls very sick. The ser
want girl was the one at the ball, and was
friend Of McGrath This is the milk in
The cOCoanut, go we are told,