Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-11
THE BOLIVAR MURDER.
ParticuIars of the killing Of Deputy
Sheriff Crisp-EscaPe of the Muir.
dcrer-R umOr of his Capture and
LYncIling,
From the Memphis Appeal, Aug. ..

hyHcHInSs
From the Memphis Appeal, Aug. Q.
On Saturday morning last we published
a special dispatch from Bolivar, Harde-
man county, announcing the murder of
Benton Crisp, special deputy sheriff or
policeman, by James Graham under most
atrocious circumstances. From the Boil
var Bulletin of Saturday we CLEAN the
following particulars of the affair:
A. p. Graham and his son, James Gra-
ham, the murderer, were in town early
yesterday morning, and, as usual, were
hasty to get under the influence of
whisky. Poor Crisp, who was in our
employ at the time, and being on an er-
rand for the office, met, while on the
street, and within short distance of the
steps leading to the office, James Graham,
who was conducting himself in disOr-
derly manner. Mr.. Crisp told him that
he "was acting badly" that he "was
drunk" and advised him to ego some
where and lay down and take a few
hours Sleep" and that he "would be all
right and feel better" To this kindly
advice Graham took no heed. Crisp
came to the office, resumed his work,
and in few moments it was
made apparent to all in the vi
cinity that Graham was, to use a common
phrase, on the rampage, for, going into
Umhaw's saloon, he drew his knife, and
threatened to use it upon a colored person
present Hearing the "rumpus,n officer
Crisp stopped work, took the station
house key from his coat, and, unarmed,
save by the majesty of the law, went
down and arrested the offender, and
lodged him in the calabOose. Within an
hour thereafter old man Graham came to
the office in company with friend, and
the friend impOrtuned Mr.. Crisp to release
the younger Graham. Crisp refused, as
serting that what he had done was at the
call of official duty, and however much he
disliked to incarcerate a fellow being, he
could not take back anything,
and expressed his friendship then
and there for the man, who, a few
hours afterwards, murdered him. Being
present and hearing his assertion, the
elder Graham denied it. In an instant
the two men were face to face. Blows
were struck, and Crisp was victor, al
though one of his eyes was almost gOuged
out. In ten minutes be was at work
again. About o'clock in the afternoon,
the Mayor who had been fully apprised
of all that had transpired, and wishing to
avoid further trouble, consented to re-
lease the younger Graham, under promise
that he would go home and give no
fu ther trouble-the old man promising
that he would not go near the prison or
make any interference-and he came and
got the key of the prison and went down
and liberated the offender, the costs
all being arraigned satisfactorily.
When the door was unlocked Jim
Graham came out. The old man never
kept his word, but was on the ground a
rear windows of the office, saw what was
going on, and also went down to theplace
where the murder occurred. A few ang-
ry words passed between him and the
elder Graham relative to the difficulty
which had occurred between them, and it
was renewed. At this time Jim Graham
was walking up the path, and distant
from the parties-he being with Mr.. Wig
gins-about twenty feet. Turning on the
instant, he made at Crisp with a drawn
knife, and stabbed him five times-once
in the back, and the other four in the re-
gion ofthe heart and lungs. The wounded
man sank rapidly, and in less than thirty
minutes his soul had gone to the God who
gave it, and poor Bent. Crisp was a
corpse.
After committing the murder, Graham
fled, and, after unnecessary delay, was
pursued, but to no purpose, as he made
good his escape, although party of gen.
tlemen were close on his heels.
LATER.
The above comprises the substance of |
the Bulletins report of the affair. Since |
it came TO hand we learn from a gentle |
man who left Bolivar yesterday morning, |
that it was currently reported and be-
lieved in Bolivar, that Graham had been |
overtaken in Hatchie Bottom by a squad |
of his pursuers, and on being called upon |
to surrender, refused to do so, and show
ed fight. He was thereUpon fired upon
and killed. This is only rumOr, but 1t |
is probably true.