Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-06
SHOOTING AFFRAY.
Assassination Of a Well.
Known citizen by Young
man Under an Alias.


We copy the following from the Ap
peal,of Sunday morning, which is, as fa'
as we know, in the material points cor
rect:
Up 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 Unicn. Barring the earth
quake and the balloon ascension, there
was nothing whatever Of sensational
character until about the time mentioned,
when the good order and quiet was broken
by shooting sffray, the circumstances
| of which are as follows: .4iLl
On Wednesday last local item in the
LEDGER spoke of the doings of one +.
M. Powell, who, according to the Somer-
vile Falcon, had married an estimable
lady of Fayette county and then aban-
doned her. This ELECTED the following
communication, which appeared in the
LEDGER of the ensuing day:
"In yesterday issue you say that Q
man named f. M. Powell has made him.
self infamous in the eastern portion of
Lafayette comfy, Mississippi, by mar
rying the daughter of poor widow, and
a few days thereafter deserving her, taxi
ing with him her only horse, since which
time nothing has bean. heard of him.
From description of the party alluded
to, and other corroborative oircum-
stances, am confident this must be
Forrest Poioeli, Of this city, who, in the
latter part of 1867, married young lady
in South Memphis, and q short time
afterward deserted her, leaving her with
out means. He first boarded with his
wife at the Commercial, next at pri-
vate house-neither of which parties ever
received any pay. He is a notorious
dead beat and his victims are num-
bered By the score. He is now lurking
about this city, munching his hash by
his wits"
This communication was signed D."
but further gave no clue to the author.
On Friday morning young man called
on Captain Harvey Msthes, local Of the
LEDGER, and demanded the name Of the
author Captain Mathes declined an
swering at the time and requested two
hours to consider the matter. This was
granted by Powell, who returned at the |
stipulated time, and received the name of |
the author-Mr R. W. Shelton.
After obtaining Mr.. Sheltons name,
Powell went to his house or place of bust
ness to find him, but learned that be was
out of the city on q fishing excursion,
and would not probably be back before
Saturday evening.
Mr.. Shelton did not return until yester-
day afternoon, and on the arrival of the
steamer went Immediately to his board
ing house, Mrs. Morgan's, No. l69 Sc
cond street, About six o'clock the SER
want brought up woyd to his room that
gentleman, giving his name as Robin
son, was in the psrlor aud wished to see
him. He went down and found Powell
sitting in rocking chair.
A conversation Immediately ensued,
on the subject Of the card, Powell de-
manding retraction and Shelton refus-
ing to give it. Powell al last told Shelton
that unless he did retract openly and
through the ssWs ehsnpel in which he
had made the charges, he would kill him.
Mr.. Shelton being unaFmed, at this threat
tried to leave the room, and as he was
doing so Powell took pistol off his lap,
where he had held it during the inter-
view, and "drawing q bead" fred.
The ball, luckily, vas not we'll aiIaed,
and struck Mr.. Shelton in the left arm,
near the elbow, making q painful but not
dangerous wound. 3ia
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 himself up. Cullen, after
waiting few minutes to ascertain the
extent Of Mr., Shelton'e 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 for
bear making any comments until the af
fair can have fair examination. Powell
is the son of j. V. Powell, Esq, gas filter
and plumber, Madison street. Mr.. Shell.
ton is book-keeper for a Front Row
house, and is very highly esteemed by all
who know him.
Mr.. Powell was taken before Justice
Foley on the charge of shooting, with
intent to kill, R. Fl. Shelton" and he
plead guilty to the charge. The prose-
cutting attorneys then amended the war.
rant so as to read, shooting, with intent
to commit murder in the first degree"
The prisoner declined to plead guilty or
otherwise. " Did you do the shooting,
and did you do it with intent TO kill ?"
The prisoner answered, Yes" "Then,"
said the Justice, II hold you to bail in
the sum of $4,000 bonds, to answer
before the Grand Jury, now sitting ia the
Criminal Court" This was an unex-
pected turn of the case, but there was no
halo - sr