The New Orleans crescent., 1869-04-10
tn. Lsse Tr.sssy St Memphis.
xIpssss AND suIcIps-rHrHxSsHrP AND MuRDER-
xlsFoRruSs AND tEsPAIs.

The Lsse Trsssdy st Msa,his'
xIpsRss AND psurcrps-rHrHxFsHrP AND MuRpER-
nIsFoRrusH AND tEsPAIR.
fyrom ths Memphis Avsiaishs, ApriIll
For startling occurrences u the way OF blood
and Violence. Memphis has tn unfortunate and
aggravated ,notoriety, and ami event OF tnst kina
took place yesterday calculated 10 make the ear
tipgie whenever IT Is told. Ob the third story OF
the building ct the corner oS Promenade street,
Andrew Jackson Walt and Newberry Gibson nao
q sleeping room In common, with two rooms 'front.'
ing Front street, and one loot5ng norm on Adams
street. Gibson had bep ON one SIDE the
room. near the door; Walt had his bed on the
other side, near the windbw. The room was
cheerleas and bare, having i1ecessary furnltures
but wanting in the comfort OF home, SOD Without
any touch Of elegance. HerS MI. wall. VINO pe-
fore the war was . successkal ana prosperous
merchant mourned and drooked over Ill fortune
and barren ventures which hap stripped him Of all
he brooded over his crushed prospects until tne
mind trembled on its balanceE and somstimes for
getfulness was sought In thF cup fhat only de-
ceives. With him was Mr. Newberry Gibson,
himself business man, gentleman respected
for his quiet retiring BEHAVIOR and courteous and
kindly qualities. He was W&t's friend, Watching
him in sickness and consolina him when trouble
weighed him down with infblerable depression.
or late, Mr.. Waits fn Of gloom had become more
OF death - . friend bringing relief, and he had
shown an intention 70 seek oblivion In the depths
of the Mississppi river, but care on the part OF
his ndefatigable friend. Mr.. Gibson, had prevent
: On Monday Mr.. Walt was absent throughout
most Of the night; how long appear uncertain.
He was about In the morning., however, and ap-
pesred restless and troubled. Mrs- Sheay, who
had heard him complain the previous evening OF
being sick prepared some eofee for him, and, on
taking Il up stairs, she found him walking about
In the corridor, with marks OF agitation aud dis
1l k~lL 90 Ia ukafa aba had rea
pared for him, but with some gruffaess and hssti-
ness of manner and voice, be declined 10 accept
1t and told her to take 1t away. 81
After this interview, precisely what took place
can never be known. The darkness that broods
over settled melancholy grew blacker and hea-
vier-the mind of the unhappy man-death seemed
to be the only release from the miseries OF q
world that had only bitter disappointment In the
past, and hopeless gloom. in the future. The
aching heart, the troubles renewed every day and
that destroyed sleep every night, could be borne
no longer. He must die, bas 70 that rest OF obliv.
ion his friend most 60 with shm, and be his COM
psnion In the repose OF eteSnity, ~ he had been
In the tossing tempest of lifx.
The unfortunate man apparently went 70 the
stove, near the head of bis bed. and took up 9
hatchet that lay there, and was used for splitting
kindlipg and breaking coal. With II he went TO
ne o bio
the blade Of the hatchet was buried in the sleep
ers forehead. Another blow, striking near the
temple, followed. Maddened by the sight OF
blood, Walt rushed to the room in the rear. where
Mr.. George Nelson was sleeping the latter had
time to rise and reach the infuristed man. who
approached him with cleaning eyes and face livid
with uncomfortable excitement, the hatchet, red
with blood in bis hAud. lnstantsneously, help
less ss he was, Nelson assumed Q defensive atti-
tude, holding up his hand TO ward of the coming
blow. The hatchet came down swiftly, splitting
cartilage, muscle and bone OF the upheld hand, as
we split arewood. 49, .s..--.--. 4
Al =
stairs, and he contrived to rush down them to the
street and hastily inform 01icer Chamberlain, of
the police, and his companion OF the position OF
things. But another was telling the awful story
under circumstances more fighfal than even the
sight Of man from whose hand was gushing .
torrent Of blood from cleft that extended to the
wrist
After the departure of Mr.. Nelson. Walt sp.
pears to have prepared to accomplish his pur-
pose-suicide. But fret be must gaze once more
on the face Of his friend whom he had made his
companion In death. He went back to the room
where the dying man lay. He then ascended the
window seat, forty feet above the ground, md,
with incoherent mutterings, bid his farewell to the
world. Here the policemen standing below saw
bim-they rushed up stairs to strive to save him.
Their interference only fastened Q catastrophe
which was becoming most horrible to the specta'
tors assembled below. Still talking and mutter-
ing; still bidding the world farewell again and
again, the unhappy man let his body hang from
the window. retaining hold by his hands, aud
even setting his foot upon hook that projected
from the wall, below the window, and within his
reach. Again he rested moment or two-mo.
ments that were like hours to the terror-stricken
gazers below. Again his voice was heard in wild
exclamstions. Suddenly he appeared to hear the
policemen-who had now re acaed the room door
coming to offer him that release from death he was
determined not to accept He released bis hold
and fell back upon his back on the pavement.
The spine was mortay ipJnred by the fall. Bat
few marks showed that his end was violent one.
A little while be bresthed; . few more pulsations
came from o heart that bao ached Its last, and
Andrew jackson Walt had gone into the land Of
shades, whose mysteries NO human eye has peered
into.
The policemen, in tbs meantime, were para.
lived BY the sight of the wounded man, who was
lying upon the bed. BlooS was welling from the
horrid gashes In the forefead. The sheets were
dyed crimson with the gCte, which was dripping
from the mattress upon Sae floor. The sufferer
was breathing stertoriousls; gasp now and then
came mp from the unconscious bosom, then all wal
over-the friend had fed to the shsdowy land
where the friends hand hs9 30 rudey summoned
him
Mr.. Nelson was removed to the worsham House
where loss OF blood ard the terrible wount
stretched him upon his bed. Coroner Samelsor
was sent for and called together an intelligen
Jury, Of which M. d. l.. Stewart was foreman
when verdicts were returned stating that Walt hs(
come TO his death by suicns, committed in o pa
roxyism Of mental derangp 2aent; and Gibson from
the blows In the forehead, inflicted by Q small
hatchet in the hand Of A.. |. Walt