Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-23
OUTRAGE IN wIIllAmsoz COUNTY.



tempted Murder Frustrated.
On Wednesday last Nolensville, in VIII
hanson county, was the scene Of a most
disgraceful outrage, the particulars of which5
so far as we have been able to learn, are as
follows: -Four young men, named Henry
Warbler, Henry Cornish, Zach. Richards
and Jas. Goldsworth, in the employ of the
Pioneer Lead Mining Company, had occa-
sion to GO to Nolensyille to procure some
wearing apparel. They were detained some
time, and while waiting in the village they
stopped at Kings saloon. They were
ushered into little room back Of the bar,
where, to while away the time, they en-
gagged in game Of cards. They had not
been long playing, when notorious des-
perado, well known in Nashville, by the
name of George Thomas, entered the room.
He will be remembered as having been
at one time member of our fire depart
ment, and as, more recently, the shooting
of negro In the employ of Mr.. Cooley, Of
this city. Thomas walked up to Cornish
and asked him, in whisper, If he would
play for money. Cornish replied aloud.
mo" Thomas then went to Goldsworth
and made similar request of him, and re-
ceived the same answer. He urged the
miner a second time to play for stakes,
when the latter replied that he was not pre-
pared for that kind of business, and conse-
quently did not wish to hear any more
about it. Thomas then went to the door
and said to Goldsworth; ''May be you don't
like what said to you just now--if you
don't I'll show you something you will
like" He drew pistol and pointed it at
the miner at the same time. Richards rose
from the table and grasped Thomas by the
wrists to prevent him from firing. Mr.. j.
Fly, who entered at that moment, come to
his assistance. At the request of Cornish,
however, they allowed him TO 90 with
out injuring him. Thomas, on being
released, left the room. and the party re-
sumed their game. Soon afterwards Cor
nish heard sound at the door, and looking
up, saw Thomas pointing double-barreled
shotgun at him. He rose Immediately and
rushed at the ruffian to strike him, but was
prevented by Fly and Warbler, who stepped
between them, and took the gun from
Thomas. The desperate, on being de-
prived of his weapon, drew his pistol, and
leYeled it at Cornish, but before he had
time to fire, was knocked into the street
by blow from Richards fist. he rose and
pointed the pistol at Cornish again, but was
prevented from numbering him by Fly,
who knocked the pistol down in time to
lodge the ball in the ground. Richards
knocked him down second time, and left
him in the street. Soon afterwards Thomas
went away, and, thinking that the trouble
was all over, all the party, excepting Cor
nish and Richards, left the village and re-
turned to the mines. Shortly Afterwards, as
Richards was returning from the postoffice,
to the saloon, a blacksmith named Hite
called to him and asked him to come into
the forge. he complied, and the black
smith expressed regret at seeing a man
knocked down in the street. Richards said
he was sorry for it too, but he could not
stand by and see his comrade shot down for
nothing. Hite said he did not like it, and
at the same time sprang at Richards, and
struck at him with his fist. Richards ward
ed off the blow, and retreated into the
street. Hite followed and overlook him,
when Richards turned and knocked him
down. He then ran up the street, but was
overtaken by the blacksmith, who was a
second time knocked down for his trouble.
By this time quite crowd Of men had col
lected about the place, and some one struck
Richards over the head with some missile,
inficting terrible cut, and knocking him
senseless. Cornish, who was near by
at the time, ran to his comrades
assistance, and was Immediately knocked
down in a similar manner. The crowd
then dispersed, and Richards, who had re-
covered consciousness conveyed his friend
to the nearest doctors Office. Cornish's
wounds are dangerous, and he still lies in
in al
On the following day Thursday Colds
worth returned to the village to look after
his wounded friend. He was met on the
street by Thomas who pointed gun at
him and asked him what he wanted in No
lensville. Goldsworth explained the OBJ
ject of his visit, and Thomas offered to &C
company him to the doctors. When Colds
worth went into the house, Thoms tried to
accompany him, but was promptly turned
out Of doors by the doctor. He then went
round to the window of the room in which
Cornish lay, and attempted to shoot the
wounded man, but was dragged away by
some of his friends who had followed him
10 the house.
These are not the only instances in which
this man has been disturbing the peace
and threatening the lives of the people of
Nashville. On the very day on which he at
tempted to shoot Cornish, be pointed gun
at a negro who was driving a wagon into
the village, and was only prevented from
firing by the interference of third party
He has threatened the lives of Mr.. Fly and
the four miners with whom he had the al
tercation ON Wednesday last. No attempt
has been made to arrest him, and he is still,
with his companions, violating the peace of
Nolensville. Lest imaginative Radicals may
to represent this as a Ku-Klux
outrage, we may add that Cornish was,
during the war, a Confederate soldier, and
that his comrades are Democrats.