Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-07-31
MURDER.
Colonel Ten Dickens, ST., Murdered by Un'
known Assasslns.
The Deed Done on the Highway and h
Broad Daylight.
Full Particulars Of the Affair so far as
Known.

The city was startled yesterday by a
rumor, vague at first, but gradually as
Stunning form, to the effect that Colonel
Tom Dickens ESQ we'll known to the public
from his connection with the remarkable
vendetta, or feud, which for many years
has beer carried on with such unparaI-
leled vindictiveness, and has cost so many
livesl, had been shot and killed during
the morning, while on his way to the
city.
On repairing to the Sherif7s Office, we
learned that the report was true, and
while there CLEANED the following partlcu-
lars of the affair, which embrace ali the
information possessed by the authorities
up to the time of writing, being the state
ment of the only witness to the horrid
deed:
For obvious reasons, and at the request
of the Sheriff, we do not give the name OF
the informant. The following, however, is
THE STATEMENT.
"I started from Captain Douglas place
about quarter past seven o'clock in the
morning, and took the Raleigh and Big
Creek road toward Big Creek. Ihad gone
three-quarters of a mile, or perhaps q
mile, N was then in what is called
Hatchie bottom, when l met Colonel
Tom Dickens, who was riding the other
way. 1t was raining, and l had my UNI
brella raised, holding il in such a position
as to shelter nay face. 1 noticed that Col
onel Dickens, for some reason
"sHIED OFF
as if he was afraid of me. Seeing this, /
threw my umbrella over my shoulder, and
said, Good morning, Colonel Dickens"
He replied in the same manner, and rode
on. A moment had scarcely elapsed
when / heard a gun shot, and heard Col
onel Dickens say,
"'MURDER =
al was startled-frightened, but 1
looked around instantly and saw Colonel
Dickens only a few feet from me-, striking
his horse with a rod or stick $50 it looked
to mel as il to urge him on. In an instant
another shot was fired, and l saw Col
onel Dickens reel, and fall of his horse,
falling toward the left side. 1 was totally
unarmed, not having a weapon of any
sort on me, and frightened so L
ERODE OFF.
as rapidly as l could. AS soon as /
reached the first house, Civilians, /
belieye,) l raped on the gate and Mr..
Williams came out, 1 said - there is a
man killed down on the road n de-
tailed the circumstances. Williams asked
me if / would go back with him. / as
scented, and in company with Williams
and another man, whom l don't know,
went back to the spot. We found Col
onel Dickens
"sToNE DEAF.
lying where he fell. His head was In
the road, and his feet slowed up to the
side, against a tree. An umbrella had
been raised, and sheltered his head. We
did not strip the body, but could see that
it was literally
"RIDDLED WITH B~UCK-sHoT.
'"There were shot holes through his
neck and the lower part of his head,
through his chest, and in the abdomen.
1 went afterward back to Captain Ira
Douglas place, and informed the Captain.
He and others went down to see the body.
Captain Douglas said that he heard the
shots. He said that there were three or
four, but i did not hear them."
FURTHER ACTS
The above embraces the whole state
medt made by the informant. By cross
questioning him, and from other sources,
we learn the following additional facts:
The umbrella found protecting Dickens.
head had peel placedthere by some party
while the lOitReSS tDGS absent. ShOti as Col
Onel Dickens was, 1t is an impossibility
that he could nave raised it. IL is there
fore probable that it was put there by
the assassin or assassins who fired the
fatal shots.
II LOCALAIl
is one peculiarly fitted for a deed of the
sort. Hatchie bottom is 9 mile and a
half wife, and there is not a house or a
human habitation in it. When Colonel
Dickens was shot he was between two
small oaks tina grew one on each
side of the road. A grape vine
runs over them, and connects them,
making a sort of arbor over the road.
Right there b road has been cut out,
snd close by it stands a dead tree, near to
which is a large stump. 1t is the opinion
OF those who examined the place that the
fatal shots were fired from behind them
by parties concealed there in wait for the
purpose. The informant, on being asked
the hour at which the deed was COM
mitted, said that as near as he could guess
it was half-past eight o'clock.
WHERE COLONEL DICKENS WAS GOING.
1t is supposed from various circum-
stances, by those who know him, that
Colonel Dickens was going from John
Bottoms farm to his own home place,
which is about three miles northeast of
Raleigh, on the Raleigh and Randolph
road. He generally went armed, when
going through the bottom or along the
u%nfrequented roads, with a double-bar-
relied shot gun, but yesterday morning
unarmed.
WHO DID IT?
This is a question that we must leave to
time and the detectives to answer. Under
the circumstances, we do not hin it
proper to hazaad even a guess. 1t is, how
everi in the opinion of the public, at least
all whom we have heard speak of it, an
other entry in the CORY record of the hor-
rible vendetta which for fifteen years has
been waged between Col. Dickens and
called generally, the Bolton
Dickens feud." AS soon as Information
Of tho deed was conveyed to General
Wright, be sent out several of his most
deputies to investigate the affair
and take such steps as might be necessary
the premises. Up to a late hour last
night they had not returned,
ALL musicians, without exception, pro-
and amateur, are invited to a
meeting at Cochran Hall, on Sun
lay, July 3lst, at 8 pm.
- l
BONDED WAREHoU=E.-In reply to
questions, and for the Information
Of merchants generally, l would say that
The store-house, known as No. 2l9 Second
street, Adams Block, has been bonded
Tor the purpose of storing imported mer-
chandise.
Importers can store goods at customary
rates of storage, and insured at the very
rates of insurance, where goods
IAN remain from one day to three years
Do:ore it is necessary to pay duties there
IN. C. S. COOPER,
Surveyor of Customs.
A LINE of French Percsle Shirtings just