Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-05
TERRIBLE AFFRAY.
Probably Fatal siabbing ia a
Bali Room.
Three POfICem n Seriously Ins
jured in the Melee.
The Causes which led 10 the
Difficulty.

Another Of those deeds OF violence fol
which cur city has become ~proverb.sl
and which have given it 8 most unenvl
able reputation abroad, occurred a
Father Schueider's ball yesterday morn.
ing about three O'clock, and resulted IL
D i2tal stabbiDg OF Cne man, and the
injury more or less seriously OF three
more. The circumstances attending the
1dray were, as nearly as we could learn
them, as follows:
A man named Tim MeGrath, said to
be steamb0atman, vas one OF the guests
81 the bsli, and being under the influences
Of liquor, insisted on dancing with his
hat on, and IVES otherwise quite unruly
He was demonstrated with by one OF the
floor managers, and this seemed to make
hlm uglier. McGFath was accompanied
Oy 3 woman, who be claimed was his
sister, but who 1t appears is q erva
grl 81 the OvertOn, and another onosu
With these two he danced two or three
times during the evening. At the close
II one Of the dances, q man named Wm
r &c, well known ia sporting circles,
stepped up to the woman claimed by
McGrath as his sister, and, it is said,
>pOke to her. No one knows what
be said, or whether he really said
anything or not; but q mo-
meDt after Rice stepped up to
the group, McGrath was seem to reach
forward and strike him a blow on the
side OF the neck-with the fist, il was
thought at first, but Rec staggered snd
fell, and the spoutiug blood showed but
TOO plainly the WORK OF the assassin's
knife.
Inc room In moment was the scene
Of the widest confusion and uprOar. The
sets were broken up, and the women and
meD, alike hOTrOr-struck, hurried from
The hsUse. McGratb, taking the arm Of
tue girl, walked hurriediy toward the
door, but before he got there, officer Far
rel, having been called upon by Squire
Willard, who wss present and witnessed
the ahray, to arrest him, confronted sad
ordered him to surrender. Instesd
If cong SO, however, McGrath at
tackled him with his knife, and cQt
MIN very severely, completely disabling
him for the time being. The desperate
and bis female Companions then madc
their escape into the street, sud ran up
Main street to Madison and from Msdi-
son down to Front row.. Meanwhile,
two Second district policemen, named
Metcalf and Richmond, had been at
to the spot by a pistol discharged
oy Squire MillsTd, aud started il pur-
suit Of the fugitives. They overlook
hem on Front row, and q desperate
dght ensued, during which McGrath
used bis knife and the officers their clubs
very freely, and the result OF which was
the final capture Of the desperate. H
conveyed, sill bloody and bruised, 10
ne Second district station, where ne was
.Ocked up.
Medical assistance was summoned for
Rice and Farrell, and Dr.. Lynch was
,0On ia attendance. Rce's wound was
OuEd to be most dangerous, if rot
atai, and We are iBtOrmed Dy the sur
yeOn that il he RECEIVERS he Will he para
lzed probably through life. FarTeIps
Wounds though painful are not Danger
.us. Those Of Metcalf and Richmond
re trifing.
The real origin Of the difficulty be-
ween MlGfsth and Mr.. Rice is envel-
ped in ssme mystery, but we heard a
tatement yesterday, from a reliable
ouTce, which throws q light upon it,
Omewhst lUdicrOu5 it Is true, although
onnected with 20 nearly s tragedy. Nj. !
RICE, we sre told, rooms at the OyertOn. {
Is in the habit Of keeping in his rooms :
ome gsod liquor for his own private :
se, L that VI his friends. Returning
his rooms several times lately, he was
1rprised 10 find the liquor very much
e~creased in quantity, and Efter the third Z
fourth repetition If the affair, he de- c
Tmined TO catch the thief. To do this, +
: dOsed some liquor And left il Conve- I
4ent, snd tde consequence was the \
Of One OF the ssrv80t girls very :
d. The servant girl WGs the one at tie '
al, and uOa8 a friend Of Nc Grdth. TINS 1
the milk in the o~ocOauut, So we are :
I'D. :
LADIES, undsrwesr at greann rsdnced !