The Lincoln County herald., 1871-11-02
Bloody Tragedy--TwO Men Killed.

Bloody Tragedy--TwO Men Killed.
Again we have 10 chronicle another Of
those fr,ghtful homicides which for the
past year Or two havo SO daskened the
name aud history Of our county. On
Sunday night last at 10 o'clock Andrew
j. FeD.on, one Of the worthcst citizens
Of this county, living about eleven miles
north Of Columbia, near the Huntsville
: Dad, was ruthlossly murdered, and few
hours afterwards his murderer, George
Wells, was shot down while attempting
to escape from the officers Of the law.
The circumstances, as we gather them,
are as follows:
Wells, it seems, came to this county
about two years ago, with q wife and
child, and rented = cabin On Mr.. Fenton's
farm, about quarter of u mile from the
latter's house. His wife, it seems, was
very efficient woman and was frequently
engaged to work at Fonton's house, while
Fentcn's farm. But little was known or
Wells antecoient history, except that
during the war he was q member Of the
infamous "Aierril's Horse" regiment
Of federal soldiers stationed at this place
in 1862. He was Of an unpleasant and
surly disposition and was addicted to
drinking. He frequently violently
matrcaied his wife, and on the night of
the murder, according to the latter's
statement, he without cause, badly bruised
her face by choking her and striking her
with his fists and endeavured to burn her
in the FIRE. She escaped from him and
sought refuge in Fenton's house in a
bleeding and almost dying condition.
Here she entreated Mr.. Fenton to hasten
to tho cabin and secure her child-a boy
about five years old-as she feared her
husband in his rage would kill him.
Fentou j. mediately in company with
neishbor, George Weaver, repaired to
Wells cabin, and when within about forty
yards of the house, and while talking,
without apprehending danger, a shot was
fred from some concealed place and q
rife ball struck Fcn,on in his left side
and ranging downwards, came out be-
tween The right rib and hip bone. The
shot was a terrible one, being fred by d
rifle loaned by Fenton to Wells, which it
is said would range 800 yards. The
deceased and Weaver retreated a short
distance, when the former sank to the
ground and the latter hastened home and
securing assistance, removed the wounded
man to his homo, where after lingering
till o'clock next afternoon he died, hav
ing suffered excruciating agony. He was
inferred at Rock yfork church burial
ground At 2 o'clock On Tuesday, his re-
mains being attended by the largest fu-
neral procession ever witnessed in that
sectiuu vr tho county.
Early Monday morning, tho day
succeeding the murder, posse Of thirty
, or forty men under constable Hulen, by
, warrant Of Squire Corlew, proceeded tc
the arrest Of Wells. Having surrounded
the house, the latter refused to 60 ou
until about IL o'clock, when he camo ou
with rife, two edged axe and satche
0 Of clothing and walked from the hous,
iu a northeastern direction, apparently
, unconscious Of the presence Of the posse
. He was ordered to halt, but refusing wa
fred upon and fell pierced in many place
!. with pistol balls and shot. He wa
J. brought to the house and Drs. Brow
n and Dejarnatt we're called upon, VIII
attended him till his death at 2 o'clocl
on Tuesday. .-Columbia (Mo) Herald,
Y Charity is indeed beautiful, but it
:: one of the virtues the exercise Of whic
should not be paradcd before tho public
4 The Radical Office holders and rewspa
pers, over anxious for Grants renomins
J ton, are gazctting upon the bulletio
! boards and dead walls the statement tn,
,e tie Executive subscribed $1,000 to th
ID Chicago sufferers. This may or may M
be true, but before tho knowing public
asked to change its opinion that Grant
greedy, unfeeling, avaricious man, lot
" have time to ascertain who pays II
y amount subscribed in the President
name. 1t will be remembered that
y. making up the fund for the widow Of Il
- - late Secretary Rawlings, Grant was dow
81 as giving $1,000. 1t appeared in ev
I'd dence taken OF the great gold conspirac
ut a couple Of years since, engineered
t. Jim Fisk. Jay Gould aud the Prcsiden,
); brother in law, that Fisk aud Gould pa
" tho $1,000 subscribed in the name
or Grant for the benefit of Mrs Rawling
~ for the purpose Of securing his co-ope
alton in their schemes. Is it not possib
h that some fellow having his eye on
!. good fat Office has not ere this stepped
. and liquidated this $1,000 donation !?
Chilliecotha Constitution.
e. III. W: KEeNPER