Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-10-14
H HOMICIDE.
Full Particulars of the unfortunate
Occurrence.
rflREAFhH % dtE2 G39
iC0ronef's lnquest---verdiCt, Jus-
tifabIe Homicide"
The HOMICIDE.

we mentioned briefly in our last issue
The fact that homicide had been c0un-
United bv Mr., James NJ. Harris yesterday
morning. The facts OF the affair arc
briefly these:
Mr.. Harris and a friend engaged the
deceased, Edward Dnnn, q hack dgRer,
known as ''Sheliroad, +" to carry them 10
a wedding party a mile or so from Court
Square. Before entering the hack they
asked hm his fare, and bargained with
him 10 paw him i've dollars his own
| price) TO carry them out and bring them
back. They stated lie accepting his offer
that they would probably return by II
o'clock, but it might possibly be as late
as2. Onarriving At the hotel, at l { O'Clock,
Mr.. Harris offered Dunn q hive dollar bill,
and he refused l. saying hat his price
was ten dOllars-hve TO go and five TO re-
turn. Mr.. Harris, of course, refused TO
accede to this usual piece of " scalpipg, "
and After again proffsring the amSun
bargained for-hve dollars-turned TO go
into the hotel. Dunn followed, cursing
threatening and abusing him. Mr.. Har-
ris was unarmsd, and being in no physi-
cal condition tO-cope with him, contepted
hithself with giving him his card and
asking him TO call next day and get a
settlement.
Afer doing this Mr.. Harris went up
stahrs in the hotel, and was followed TO
the steps by Dunn, still threatening. he
was gone about ten minutes, n when
he came down he attempted to pass ont
the door, when he was again attacked by
BHnn, who sYore ne should either pay
ten dollars OF be would take It out OF his
hide" Mr.. Harris, again and again in
suited, preserved his temper and simply
advised the haekman to keep his hands
Off him. Dunn did not take the advice,
but following Mr.. Harris through the
front doOr into Main street, threw of his
coat and prepared to strike him, when Mr..
Harris drew his pistol and fired. The ball
entered the throat an inch or so below the
Adams APPLE and ranged downward
into the right lung, cutting certain arte-
ries and causing death in a very Few min
utes. DR.. kimbro was promptly at hand,
bat could afford no aid 20 the dying man.
Mr.. Harris, after doing the shooting,
went to the office Of his uncle, Gov. lsham
q. Harris, and detailed the circumstan-
ces to him He advised him TO Keep
quiet and deliver himself up early
in the morning, which he did. At 10
O'Clock am. Coroner Samelson summoned
a jury at the shop Of Cornelius & McCaf-
frey, whittier the body had been carried.
Fortunately, the ARRAY had been wit
nessed BY Col. J. p. Pryor, late editor of
the Ws,er Valley Eagle, Mr.. Miller, night
clerk &C the Peabody motel and others,
whose story was so clear and distinct that
it lest no room for doubt on the minds of
the jurors that the act was committed in
self defence.
The following is a copy OF the verdict:
STATE OF TENNESSEE,
SHELBY COUNTY.
An inquisition holden at Memphis, in
the county and state aforesaid, on the 18th
day of October, 1869, before L. Samelson,
Coroner of the said county, upon the body
Of Edward Dunn, there lying dead, by the
Jurors whose names are hereuntO sub
scribed, who, upon their oath do say that
the said Edward Dunn came to his death
in the following manner, to-wit: by a pis-
uol shot. from the hand Of J. NJ. Harris, in
neeess airy defence of his own person, as
appears from the evidence before Us.
10 testimony whereof the said jurors set
their hands and seals, the day and date
above written, and hereby waive All right
to their feesin favor OF L. Samelson, Cor
oner [Signed,l
T.. VINCENT, Foreman.
JOHN H. KELLY,
JAMES II. OWEN,
\. TAYLOR,
SAM, WORKMAN, -
J. BLUHM,
s. b. GAMBLE.
After the inquest, Mr.. Harris was taken
before Commissioner Hume +. Hin, and,
after a most rigid and searching exa1nina-
ton, was honorably discharged. Wohave
not tie space necessary for the PUBLICATION
OF The testimony adduced, or we would
gladly give IL.
The deceased was a man OF many good
qualities, and was doubtless i~nstigaJed TO
his course OfactiOn hy liQ aor. He drove
the writer many a time, and was generally
civil and polite; bat sometimes oyerbear-
ing and insOlent. White We arc sorry that
the affair occurred, we cannot but Justify
Mr.. Harris, and we hope it will be a warn
ing TO hackdriyers generally, who are, rs
a class, too prone 70 be QYerbearin2 and
- farff ,4gfn