The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-11-09
REsISTENCE TO ~.
The Fight Lasts all Dayl-TI
Offender Wounded and Take

/ AAo HlSAe LaStS al Ddyl-LIe
Offender Wounded and Taken.
On Monday last the usually
peaceful village of old Lynnville
was the scene ofa bloody and de-
termined resistance to the law.
The rattle Of firearms, reverbera-
ting through the hills brought
back to the minds of quiet citizens
"reminiscences Of other days, when
the ravenous demon ofwar invaded
our land. We are called upon to
chronicle the latest news from the
field Of battle, which is as follows:
An indictment was found at
the July term of the Circuit Court
against one Thos. G. Caldwell, hv-
ing in old Lynnville, for assault
with intent to commit rape upon
the person Of a negro girl eleven
years old. Several attempts have
been made by Sheriff Parsons to
serve the writ for his arrest, but to
no avail, as Caldwell had been fire.
/ quently heard to say that he would
not be taken alive. All possible
persuasions were used to induce
him to peaceably surrender, but
finding him infexible in his deter
mination to resist the law, Sheriff
Parsons deputized Mr.. G. W. West,
Of that place, to effect his arrest.
Mr.. West summoned a posse, con
sisting Of w. f. Simpson, w. A.
Jones, VIM. Smith and Henry
Miller, who were afterwards Joined
by J. Hugh Irwin, and proceeded to
the house of Caldwell, arriving
there about sunrise on Monday
morning last. Caldwell was called
upon to surrender, which he refused
to do, declaring his intention to re-
sist to the uttermost any effort
made to arrest him, appearing be
fore them with a double-barreled
gun in his hand. The posse at
once surrounded the premises and
attempted to intimidate the outlaw
by firing in that direction. Cald-
well returned fire, using both a
gun and six shooter,-retiring into
the house to load, and again
emerging into the yard, &C
cOmpanied by his wife, who chung
to his person, and prevented the
posse from firing on him. In this
manner the skirmish lasted for
several hours, until courier was
dispatched to Pulaski for reinforce |
ments. Sheriff Parsons sent Mr.. |
j. H. Hart, young David Parsons. |
David Myrick and Mr.. Campbell, |
who arrived on the field about 2
o'clock P. NJ. In the meantime
CaldwelIs wife, while at the spring
for water, was captured by the par
ty, thereby depriving Caldwell of
one of his means of defense, and |
giving to the party an opportunity
to fire without danger of hitting (
any one else. He then kept him
self within doors, firing through
the windows at his assailants, who
now determined to dislodge him at
any cost. Acting upon the advice
ofyoung David Parson s, the stable |
was set on fire, which com
municated with the house by a
she'd But not until the stable
was burned to the ground and the
house was on fire did the desper-
ate man make his appearance, and |
then not to surrender. He appear
ed more determined than ever to
resist, and attempted to make his
escape. Deprived of his breastworks !
he ran about $50 yards, when he
was brought to the ground by a
ball from Smith & Wesson pistol, |
which grazed the top Of his head, |
knocking him senseless. Upon
closer inspection he was found to
be slightly wounded in the side and
his left arm broken near the wrist.
Mr.. Caldwell was a man about so
years of age, and had lost one leg
we believe in the Mexican war.
He was brought to this place and
lodged in jail about 9 o'clock on
Monday night, and now lies in
very critical condition. Mrs. Cald-
we'll received a load of squirrel shot
in her face and shoulder during the
skirmish, but was not seriously
hurt. Mr.. Irwin received a slight
scratch in the shoulder from a ball,
but besides this none of the party
we're hurt.