Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-03
HOMICIDE AT soMERYILLE.

HOMICIDE AT sOMERvILLE.
Attorney. Shot Dead by Mr.. ssSs
Word.
Somervlle. had its horror on Wednes-
day evening last, during which William
II. Reeves, an attorney, was shot dead
by Mr.. Nat Word, clerk in the store Of
Mr.. Trimble. The difficulty originated
some time since during an election ex-
element Mr.. Word, who is Demo
crat, was arrested several times by vir-
tue of the Fourteenth Amendment. The
Reeves, who are Radicals, were accused
by Mr. Word as aiding in this perse-
cution. This brought about the difficulty
on Wednesday. The parties met and had
some conversation, and Reeves struck
Word several times with cane. Word
Immediately drew repeater and com
menced firing, two balls striking Mr..
Reeves in the leg and the third passing
through his body near the region Of the
heart During the melee. Reeves drew
his repeater and fred one shot, which
took effect in the hand of Word. The
greatest excitement prevailed in the vii
lage, and Mr.. Word was at once arrested.
During the confusion incident TO the
arrest, number Of shots were fred at
Mr.. Word by the friends of Mr.. Reeves.
Both Mr. Reeves and Mr.. Word were
raised in Fayette county and stood high
in the community. The unfortunate diff
Guilty is a source Of great regret among
their respective friends 1t is probable
that old war and political feelings precip-
itated the calamity. Mr.. Reeves was the
son of Judge Reeves, who died some
months since, and who so long presided
with dignity and iirmness over our old
Circuit Court.
From gentleman who was present,
and witnessed the difficulty, we receive
the following facts On Wednesday
morning Mr. j. c. Reeves, Deputy
United States Marshal, went to the store
of Cooper & Trimble, where Mr.. Word
was employed and informed him he had
eapias from the United States Court
for his arrest on the charge of intimi-
dating negro at the polls. Some
months since Mr. Word was arrested for
the same offense, but not. pros. was
entered by the district attorney. A Sec
ond capids was issued, and disposed of
in the same manner, and this one in the
hands of Mr.. Reeves was the third, and
all for the same specific offense. Mr..
Word said to Marshal Reeves Well,
sir, I'll see my attorney and get bond.
Mr.. Word was annoyed at again being
arrested. He started out Of the store,
saying it was shame that he should
be dragged up again on false charge,
and he could whip any man engaged in
it, and any man so engaged was a scoun-
drel." Mr.. j. G.. Reeves left without
saying anything, and told his cousin,
Mr. W. H. Reeves, what was said. Mr..
Word got bond filled up and carried it
to his attorney, Mr.. Shelton, whose Office
is at the courthouse. As he was return
ing to the store to get another bonds
man. he met friend and asked him to
walk with him. Just then Mr.. W. II.
Reeves met him on the walk, and said,
-" Mr.. Word, | want to see you mo-
ment." The conversation between the
parties was not overheard, but Mr..
Reeves was seen TO strike Mr.. Word
several times with heavy hickory cane.
Mr.. Word retreated and both drew PTS
tolls. Word fred twice, Reeves once.
Word shot twice again, and Reeves
fred second time, and as he did so he
fell forward on his face and died. The
last shot fred by Word passed through
Reeves body, while his last shot disabled
Word right thumb so that he was un-
able to use his pistol. Mr.. Word saw
several of the Reeves family coming up
with pistols in their hands; he, therefore,
retreated to the store of his employers,
Cooper & Trimble AS he went in the
door, Mr.. ]. G. Reeves fred a shot at
him, which glanced down the brick wall
and struck lady who was standing in
the doorway of the next house. Mr.. Word
shut the store door, and, getting out Of
the back window, went to his boarding
house, where he was arrested in a few
minutes by Sheriff W. II. Hester and
lodged in Jail, where he remains to await
the action Of the Grand Jury, now in
session in Fayette county. This morn
ing a squad Of negro soldiers went up to
Somerville for some purpose not as yet
explained to the public. These are the
facts as we heard them recited by those
claiming to have seen the commence
ment and end Of the deplorable and I'M
fortunate difficulty.
MUNICIPAL.