The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-09-08
From tile Memphis Ledger, august %.
A Triple Tragedy in Tennessee. nIatrimony
Matter for Money.--Elegant Manners.


Tennessee is famous for its Parson Brownlow,
for its mountain scenery, and for the supera-
bundant energy of its rural population. Its re-
nown as tobacco and cotton-growing country
is only to be equalled by its crop of family
quarrels and vendettas indeed, no emigrant
can be said to be thoroughly naturalized in that
fine State unless he has raised hogshead of
tobacco and has good steady standing quarrel
with one or more of his neighbors, which justi-
fy him and his son and his sons son in shooting
the other fellow, and the other fellows son and
the other fellows sons son upon sight. This
phase of States rights being promised, the sto-
ry begins.
Mr.. John B. Ward, of Hot Springs, Tenn,
was Kentuckian by birth. He had lived in
Tennessee, Arkansas, New York, California,
and elsewhere and studied life, from this point
of view, in those States. He always had diff
fculty on hand. 1t was his just pride that he
always pulled through, and in pulling through
he left his mark. He had killed eleven men
with whom he differed at various times, not
counting skirmishes. His wife found life too
exciting with him, and left for Helena; Arkan-
sas.
Some time before the war he bought $1,000
acres of land around Hot Springs. A Mr..
Barnes, of Shreveport, alleged that he advanced
the money to buy the land on speculation, and
was to have been an equal partner. The deeds,
however, were in Wards name, and Mr.. Barnes
was the loser in long and unsuccessful lawsuit.
Ward went to California, and is said to have
been conspicuous on the Vigilance Committee
in the early history of that State. But he came
back.
This active gentleman had daughter
Jennie Ward. She married MIR. Lewis Jones,
of Somerville, Tenn, a young man of wealth
and responsibility. They removed to Prairie
County, Ark, where he had large property in
land. Jones and his wife's brother, young
Ward, belonged to some Confederate command,
but operated chiefly near home. During 1864
band of Confederates called one evening and
stayed all night. Next morning their horses
were missing. They suspected Jones, and
forced him to confession, and to take them to
the woods, where they found Ward holding the
horses They hung Jones and Ward both on
the spot. This slight occurrence was soon for
gotten amid the stirring events of the war, and
the young widow Jones returned to her mother,
who was keeping q millinery store at Helena.
Being well educated and very intelligent, Mrs.
Jones supported herself comfortably for some
time forward by teaching school.
Two or three years ago Mr.. Ammons, wild
over of fifty, removed from St. Joseph, Mo-, to
Helena. He was wealthy. He was native of
Virginia, had lived in California, was intelli-
gent-had two boys
The name of Jones was soon merged into
that of Ammons Mr.. Ammons was about
twice as old as his bride, but this disparity was
easily excused.
They removed to Forest Hill, handsome
piece of property on the Memphis and Charles
ton Railroad, eighteen miles from Memphis,
1,,,t i 10
over to his darling little wife, as she insisted he
should. They lived together there over a year,
but not as happily as two turtle doves. Forest
Hill was Sold Mrs. Ammons went to visit her
mother at Helena; Mr. Ammons went to For
est City, on the Memphis and Little Rock Rail
road, where he built some houses for rent and
engaged short time in merchandising. Then
he came back last spring with his two boys,
nearly grown now, and settled in his present
residence on Allen avenue, where he owns sew
eral houses. Having amassed sufficient means,
he desired to settle down and spend his remain
ing days in peace and quiet.
Seven weeks ago he went to Hot Springs in
charge of DR.. Rhodes two little daughters,
who had been at st. Agnes, and Mrs. Smith,
DR.. KS sister-in-law. Mr.. Ammons and DR..
Knode have been friends for the last twenty
years. On the way Mr. Ammons was taken
and iokcd as widower by Mrs. Worsham and
others, but he held his peace and made no ex-
PLANTATION.
At Hot Springs he found his young wife
teaching school under the name of Mrs. Jones,
as derived from her first husband Her father,
Mr.. John B. Ward, was also there looking after
his land and milestone quarry interests. He
and his daughter had always been on good
terms, but he was only slightly acquainted with
his son-in-law. They met on the street and for
three days bowed Mr.. Ammons was not known
to the public as the husband of Mrs. Jones.
He remained as the guest of DIR. Knode. On
the fourth day Mr.. Ward was very cordial. He
desired to effect reconciliation, he said, be-
tween his daughter and son-in-law, and after a
long talk induced Mr.. Ammons to write a kind
letter to Mrs. Jones, proposing to forget the
past and live together as man and wife should.
Mr.. Ward carried the letter himself, but brought
no reply.
On Sunday six weeks, Mr.. Ward invited his
son law to take walk, and was unusually
gracious He said "Jennie has been sick, but
will reply in day or two, and can almost as
sure you that it will be favorable, and then all
these hills" pointing to his milestone ridges in
sight, "will be yours and mine in common" :"
Mr.. A. replied that he had property enough al
ready, but if "Jennie" would come back he
would buy her nice home in Hot Springs or
Memphis, and treat her well. They separated
in the most friendly manner.
On Monday morning, about II o'clock, as Mr..
Ammons was returning from visit to sick
man, he saw Mr.. Ward step into house and
come out with double -barreled gun. When
he came in front of the house, Mr.. Ward raised
the gun, and Ammons looked in an opposite
direction to see what he was going to shoot at.
At that instant the gun was fired, and Ammons
felt his arm fall powerless at his side. He broke
for DR.. Knode's Office, hundred yards of, and
Ward tried to head him off, and fired the other
escaped to the office, and DR.. Knode dressed
his wounds. A full load of buckshot entered
the Hcshy part of the left arm, above the el-
bow cut all the arteries, and lodged directly
against his heart without going through the