Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-26
TERRIBLE MURDER.
EImwOOd, the City of Peace, tn
Scene Of WantOn BlOOdshed.
A Man Killed About Digging a Grave.
The Murderer Escapes, but IS
Closely Pursued.

A shocking homicide occurred with
IN tba helloWed precincts of ElmwOOd
Yesterday afternoon about halt-past
ono or two o'clock. The circumstances
are briefly a. follows:
A man named VIII SteeVer, who
has been employed at ElmwOOd for
some time past as a labOrer, lately be-
came very disconnected and made a
good many complaints to Superinten-
dent Phillips of the amount OF work
that ne was compelled to do. Phll-
lips reported the case on Saturday to
Capt. Lenow, one Of the Directors OF
the Cemetery, and it was determined
to discharge Steever on the lst proX.
He was notified Ofthe fact by Phillips
during the afternoon, and told that
he had better hunt for a new situation.
He said nothing at the time, but
seemed to be more surly than ever.
Yesterday about one O'Clock Mr.. Phil
lips. accompanied by q labOrer named
NahaIey, went to Steever's house and
told him that he would have to
assist in digging and filling up q
grave at five O'Clock. To this
Steever demurred, saying that he dig
Ahll allN ~ Mblh VII fDbAAAAttH - =
remarked that if was apart of the con-
tract that the labOrers should work on
Sunday. SteeVer then fatty refused,
and Phillips told him that he would
hire a man to do it and take 1t out Of
his(Steever's) wages. Steever replied
angrily that he wouldn't do that,
either" and Phillips, seeing that ar
gument was useless, walked off with
NTahaley, taking the path leading to
the rear of the ground.
They had hardly got to the bayou
bridge. when SteeYeF called out to
Phillips to halt, adding that he wanted
to speak to him. They accord
ingly stopped, Phillips thinking that
Steryer had determined to do
the work. As Steever came up
without saving q word he seized Phil
Iips by the throat and struck him with
his fist. Mahaley Immediately inter-
fered and caught hold of SteeYer, Phil
lbs breaking away andrunning down
the path, calling for help, Steeyer
having also got loose rom Mahaley
and drawn a pistol.
The call for help was heard by an
other workman named Mike Dough-
erty, who came out of his cabin and
ran toward Phillips, who had, mean
while, commenced to run toward
the gate, chased by SteeTer.
Taking a diagonal path, he managed
to come into the main walk between
Phillips and his pursuer, and waiting
till the ietter came up he said 10 him,
. LET that man alone-he has done
YOU no harm"
On being thus addressed, Steever
stopped dead short, and presenting
his pistol, which is said to have been
a very large derringer, fired, saying
as he did so. "Then y0u take that!
YOU --" D9Igberty fell al the
report, exclaiming that he was shot,
and Steever fled.
Intelligence was brought to the
Lower District Immediately, and Capt.
BIcAIath and detective McCune started
for the grQands forthwith, after first
sending for Or. Lyncp % attend the
wounded man. They arrived AZ the
Cemetery within a half hour after the
murderer had left, and Immediately
started ID pursuit.
DR.. Lynch fGQnd DOugherty rs bad
As he could be SRd live. The ball
had entered the left side, about two
inches below the heart, and ranged
diagonally through the body, lying
under the skin on the opposite side.
When taken out it proved 10 DC 4
hammered slug of lead, about three
quarters OF 81 inch long and half an
inch in diameter, weighing notices.
than an ounce and'a half The entrails
were prOtruding from the wound, end
blood was Oozing fFGm the mouth q
the sufferer. The ball in entering had
also cut the left wrist pretty badly.
This, however, in comparison with
the other wounds vas but a trihe.
We learn that aler lingering in
great agony the sufferer died about 5ix
Up 10 the present writing
the murderer had Rot been arrested,
though the police were hot f0Gt SfteF
him, and it is not likely he viii long
them. We hope TO chronicle
his Condemnation before next Satur-
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