Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-09
A Leap into Eternity.
Terrible Suicide OF the Murderer
His Farewell TO the World
Full Particulars OF the Melan-
chOly and Thrilling Event.
From the Memphis Ledger. April 6.

man, and then leaped from tire,
story window, killing himself in
stantly. The awful report was to
soon confirmed, and We lay befoI
our readers the most tragic and dis
tressing instance of homicide an,
suicide that has, perhaps, eve
occurred in Memphis.
We FASTENED to the Bradley Block
on the leyee at the foot of Adam
street, and found a large Grove
already collected. The man VIII
was slain before he awoke from hi
sleep proved to be q well. known
cotton Spectator, Mr.. Newberr,
Gibson, who has lived in Memphis
| perhaps over twenty years; at least
he was clerk that long ago in tht
employ Of Col. Titus, and for full
twenty-five years had been an init
mate and confidential associate Of
Mr.. Andrew Jackson Walt, who
killed him.
The two men occupied q front
room together in the northeast cor
ner of the third floor, and the win.
dows command a view of the
river and of Front street. In that
room lay the CHASTITY remains
of Mr.. Newberry Gibson. He had
been struck apparently three times
with a Ratchet. The first blow
split his head open across the fore.
head, the next went deep into his
temple-either of them would have
been instantly fatal. A third blow,
of less force, had been made just
below the mouth, diagonally across
the chin.
The murdered man lay on his
back, and it was evident had not
been moved since he was struck
the first time; and the bed-clothes,
which were pushed down, disclos-
ing half his body, were clotted with
pools of blood. The general opinion
was that be never awoke. He GER
tainly did not make any resistance.
He had slept by himself, and at a
late hour last evening remarked to
Mr.. Nelson, who occupied the next
room, that he was afraid Walt had
thrown himself into the river, for
he was crazy as a loon, or words
TO that effect.
II 10 huUwH CeTJaInIy where
Mr.. Jack Walt slept last night, if he
slept at all. But he came into Mr..
George Nelson's room before sun
rise this morning and told him that
he had slept out in lumber yard,
and made many strange remarks,
like man who was out of his
mind. Mr.. Nelson told him to come
and get in bed, but he declined, and
went out, carefully pulling the door
to after him and table which fas-
tened it. Mr.. Nelson turned over
in bed and was composing himself
for morning nap, when Walt sud
denly dashed open the door, and
with cleaning eyes and bloody
Ratchet in his hand, made at Mr.. N.
like an Infatuated mailman, striking
at him with the Ratchet with insar I
fury. Nelson partly raised uk Ad
sprang back, at the same dme
throwing up his right hand, which
was split wide open, between the
middle and fore fingers, almost to
his wrist. After striking at Nelson
several more times without effect,
Walt dropped the Ratchet and ran
out toward his own room. 1t is
clear that he had murdered Gibson
before attacking Nelson, for the
bloody Ratchet was picked up in
the latter's room. Mr.. Nelson ran
out in his night clothes and made
his escape to the Worsham House.
Walt next appeared at the win
dow of his room, fronting north on
Adams street, and by his shouting
and wild movements attracted the
attention of two policemen who
were coming around the corner.
Mr.. Nelson met them and told them
that an attempt had been made to
kill him by the man in the window.
The alarm was promptly given on
the street, and several persons, com
pretending the situation, started
toward the building, but it was too
late. Two minutes later Walt re-
appeared at the window, and,
standing up in it, shouted frantieal-
ly, Farewell to the world 4" Then
| ne lowered himself, still shouting
farewell to the world making in
| coherent expressions, until heswung
off by his hands from the window
sill, and at this instant he may
have ealized his terrible situation,
for he held on with great tenacity
a minute or so-though it seemed
hours to the terrified beholders-
and shouted aloud, it is said, for
help; but none could reach him
he was beyond human aid. First
one hand gave way, and in few
seconds the other slipped, and the
man shot to the brick pavement,
forty feet below, with terrific force
and velocity. He fell almost upon
hisright shoulder, and when reached
by the horror stricken spectators,
was lying on his back. He breathed
for nearly an hour, but never spoke
or was conscious. The body was
conveyed into Capt. Montgomery
cotton press establishment, but life
was already extinct.
Mr.. Andrew Jackson Walt was
about fifty-fve years old, and was
never married. He has been known
in Memphis for full twenty-five
| years. He remarked to a friend
yesterday that he first came down
the river as a cook on a hatboat.
By energy and perseverance he ac1
cumulated handsome fortune, and
before the war was worth probably
one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars. But during the war he lost
heavily, and fire that occurred in
the Bradley Block (Which he
owned eighteen months ago, was q
heavy blow, from which he never
recovered. His financial troubles
weighed him down, and for some