Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-04
SHOOTING ARRAY
Mr.. Forrest Powell RsssHts q News
paper Card.
He attempts to Assassinate R. w.
Shelton, ESQ.,, but is Unsuc-
cessfHl.
Cool Proceeding.

Tn To six o'clock Yesterday evening
Memphis during the week just ended,
was as peaceful and quiet as any city
of its size in the Union. Barring the
earthquake and the balloon ascension
there was nothing whatever of
a sensational character until about
the time mentioned, when the
good order and quiet was broken by a
shooting affray, the circumstances OF
which are as follows:
On Wednesday last a local item in
the Ledger spoke of the doings Of one
F. NJ. Powell, who, according TO the
Somerville Falcon, had married an
estimable lady of Fayette county and
then abandoned her. This ELECTED
the following communication, which
appeared in the Ledger Of the ensuing
" In yesterdays issue you say that
q man named f. NJ. Powell has
made himself infamous in the eastern
| portion of Lafayette county, Miss
| BY marrying the daughter of a poor
widow, and few days thereafter de-
sorting her, taking with him her only
! horse. since which time nothing has
been heard of him. From a descrip-
ton of the party alluded to, and other
cOrrObOratiVe circumstances, | am
confident this must be Forrest POUeH,
of this city, who, in the latter pGrt OF
1867, married a young lady in South
Memphis, and q short time after
wards deserted her, leaving her with
cut means. He first boarded with his
wife at the Commercial" next at a
private Householder of which par
ties ever received any pay. He is a
notorious dead beat and his vic
tins are numbered by the score. He
is now lurking about this city, MUNICH
ing his hash by his wits"
This communication was signed
D." but further gave no clue TO the
author. On Friday morning a young
man called on Capt. Harvey Mathes,
Local of the Ledger, and demanded
the name Of the author. Capt.
Mathes declined answering at the
time and requested two hours to con-
slider the matter. This was granted
By Powell, who returned at the stipu-
lated time, and received the name of
the author-Mr. r. W. Shelton.
After obtaining Mr.. SheltOn's name
Powell went 10 his house or place Of
business to find him, but learned that
he was out Of the city on 4 fishing eX-
cursion, and would not probably be
back before Saturday evening.
Mr.. Shelton did not return until
yesterday afternoon, and on the arri-
val of the steamer went Immediately
to his boarding house, Mrs. Morgan's,
No. I69 Second street. About six
O'Clock the servant brought up word
TO his room that a gentlemen, giving
his name as Robinson, was in the par
lor and wished to see him. He went
down and found Powell sitting in a
rocking chair.
A conversation Immediately en-
sued, on the subject Of the card,
Powell demanding 4 retractiOn and
Shelton refusing TO give it. Powell at
last told Shelton that unless he did
TetFact openly, and through the same
channel in which he had made the
charges, he would kill him. Mr..
Shelton being Unarmed, at this threat
TO leave the room, and as he
was doing so Powell took a pistol off
his lap, where he had held it during
the interview, and " drawings bead, "
fred. The ball luckily was not well
aimed, and struck Mr.. Shelton in the
left arm, near the elbow, making a
painful but not a dangerous wound.
After firing the shot Powell left the
house quietly and cody, and went to
seek the nearest policeman. Officer
Cullen, who had heard the shot and
was coming toward the house to see
about it, met him and he gave him
self up. Cullen, after waiting a few
minutes 10 ascertain the extent of Mr..
Skeletons injuries, finding them slight,
escorted his prisoner to the Adams
street station, where he locked him up.
In the present state Of the case we
fOrbear making any comments until
the affair can have a fail discrimination.
Powell is the son Of J. V. Powell, Esq,
gas filter and plumber, Madison
street. Mr.. Shelton is a boek-keeper
for a Front Row house, and is very
esteemed by all who know
him.