Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-07
TERRIBLE MYSTERY.
Barkeeper Killed Saturday Night,
and Hastily Buried Yesterday
Morning.
The Grave Guarded by an Armed
Squad.
second Inquest Going ON To-Day.

The Adams street station-house is the
scene, to-day, Of an unusual excitement
A Coroner's inquest is going on in the
hall on the second floor, over the livery
stable near by, with closed doors. Forty
witnesses are under guard, and the ex
traordinary proceedings have enlisted
the interest Of large crowd. AT an
early hour to-day our reporter was sent
for, and admitted to the scene Of the in
quest The facts that can be made known
at the hour of going to press are few, but
startling
Some time yesterday Coroner Mofet
learned that man had been killed in a
saloon on Poplar street. He was also
informed that secret inquest had al,
ready been held by magistrate, whose
name we did not learn, and that the body
was hastily buried by unknown parties,
between seven and eight clock Sunday
morning, at Calvary CeAetery. Upon
this information Coroner Moffet sent out
guard Of seven men, armed with Spen-
Ger rifles, who watched the grave until
this morning, when the body was disin-
tered and brought to the city for the
purpose of regular inquest and to in
vestigate the mystery. The following
gentlemen constitute the jury now in
session; Major J. g. Barbour, Eugene
Leidy, William Miller, X. H. Coleman,
Henry Eichman, Il. G. Forrest, L. d.
Grant and -.
The victim proved to be young man
named Charles Willis, lately from Geor-
gia. He was a barkeeper, and being
a stranger had few friends. He was
killed about nine o'clock at night
Drs. Taylor, Nuttall and Freeman are
examining the body. 1t is doubtful as
yet---that is at the hour of this writing
how he was killed. The only mark of
violence discovered so far is on his nose,
which is completely broken in, as if
struck with a heavy weight The brain
has been examined, but does not seem
affected
Chief 0'Donnell and Coroner Moffet
were busy all night, and succeeded in ar
resting the forty witnesses now locked
up, who testified on the first inquest.
Some of them state that they are afraid
to tell what they know; as their own lives
would thereby be endangered.
A strong guard of police is stationed
around the house on Poplar street where
the death. occurred. The proprietor of
the house was at the Democratic meet
ing Saturday night, and was seen on the
streets yesterday, but it is said he can
not be found to-day.
LATER.
The magistrate, who held the inquest,
we since learn, states that the inquest
was held regularly; that the jury was
composed of good citizens, and that no
evidence was given of any violence. The
deceased fell dead suddenly, and, as was
supposed, from disease of the heart. In
falling, he bruised his face, but no other
mark was found. 1t is stated further
that the funeral took place regularly,
and that the hearse was followed through
the streets by one or two hacks. Another
report has it that the proprietor of the
saloon in question escaped by a trap
door from his house, and went down the
river last night in a skiff. Many other
reports are flying about, but there are
enough to indicate the state of
the public mind The whole matter
will be fairly investigated, and the yer
dict will decide whether the terrible sus-
picions aroused were correct or incor-
rect. We have given such statements
as have been received, right or wrong
LATER-TEsTMoNY.
Our reporter was at Willett's, where
the examination is going on, up to one
o clock Two very important witnesses
had been examined up to that time
They were members of the jury which
held the inquest Saturday night They |
we're not sworn at the inquest. The de-
ceased had a scufii. wi tn another man;
was kicked and terribly beaten; be was
afraid of the man who did the beating; |
was still afraid of him; the jury returned |
} verdict that be died of disease of the
ieart; he signed paper without !
what was in it; doc
or was present. but witness did
Tot know his name. =. Deceased lived
,nly a short time after the beating. The
men who beat him went for a doctor,
,ame back and rubbed the dying man
With whisky, and tried to bring him to.
Deceased never spoke. He was kicked
'ut of the house, but was brought back
md laid beside the stove. Witness did
lot want to go on the jury, but was
orced by the men who did the beating
he coffin arrived for the man thirty
minutes after his death. The funeral, it
'as found from the evidence, took place
etween seven and eight o'clock Sunday
morning. The hearse was followed by
wo hacks with closed curtains.
Tic physicians present this morning
ave it as their opinion that Willis came
0 his death from violence, and privately
their opinion that his death
-as caused by kicking in the side. Sc
ere bruises we're found on his side and
tomacb. The medical examination ,
lsted several hours.
The Sheriff the Coroner and Chief of /.
'olice, have worked this terrible bust
ess up with the utmost zeal and success,
nd deserve the highest credit for their ]
forts. Such startling revelation has
OF been brought TO light in years. Il