Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-15
rhe perpetrators Escape.

It becomes our painful duty to chronicle
another one of those chilling horrors and
deeds of blood resulting in the taking of
human lie, and the bereaving of friends
and home, which have been but too com
mon in some portions of our State and
upon our border for two OF three years
past In this instance 1T was a double
tragedy, enacted, it would appear, with
atrocious generalization and deliberate pur-
pose. By the outrage two gentlemen of
high standing, of extended and influential
connection, of chivalrous and manly
courage, have been deprived of life, and
their souls, without a moments Fremont
ton, sent to the presence of their God.
The scene of the tragedy is near Leighton,
between CORTLAND and Tuscumbia, in
North Alabama, and the names of the par
ties thus suddenly deprived of life were
Granville and William Pillow, sons of the
late Major G. A. Pillow, of Maury county,
and nephews of Maj. Gen. Gideon j. Pill
low. They had many relatives in this sec
ton. and were well known both here and
in counties adjoining. The particulars of
the affair, so far as we have been
able to learn them, are about these ::
Late in the evening of Sunday two men,
masked and in disguise, rode up to the
house of Granville Pillow, at the locality
indicated, and called him to the door. On
reaching the door, one of the masqueraders
of death drew his pistol and fired, the ball
striking his victim in a vital part. The
wounded man fell bleeding from the
wound. William Pillow, brother of Gran.
vile, rushed to the door on hearing the
firing, to the rescue of his brother. Nc
sooner had he made his appearance than
the disguised fcnds commenced firing al
him also. He was soon Frustrated by
their fatal balls. They then took William
a short distance from the house. and in &
species of sink left him dying riddled with
balls. Thinking that Granville, the eldel
brother, might not be quite dead, they
then returned to the house, and driving
the inmates away, made sure of theil
bloody work by firing additional balls int
the body of their victim. Assuring them
selves that he was dead, they left tn,
premises, and up to the date of our lates
| information no clue as to who the perpetra
tors were or as to their whereabouts haC
been discovered.
The two men were closely masked anC
otherwise disguised, and though it is as
| serted that their actions and their word
indicated that they were negroes, no posi-
tive certainty exists that they were such
The supposition that the perpetrators ma,
have been negroes is somewhat strength
ened from thefact that some negroes, SOM
years since, had quite serious difficult,
with one of the Messrs. Pillow, sine
which time an old spite has existed, ant
threats against them have been freely in
dulged in. Be they black or white, mel
or devils, the deed is one OF the most mel
ancholy that has attracted public attention
for some time past. Granville Pillow wa
twenty-seven years of age, and leaves
saddened and bereaved young family t.
mourn his tragic and untimely death
| William, the murdered brother, was bu
twenty-three years of age and unmarried
By the unknown hand of an assassin he i
thus cut off from his friends and his use
frllness in the first flush of his young man
hood. 1t is to be hoped that the perpetra
tors of this dark deed may be ferreted on
and brought to speedy and summary jus
| tice