Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-12-30
THE musso.e GROVES TRAGEDY.


come and settle the difficulty. Mr..
Groves and wife, with the witness, start
ed for Musso's house. On the way there
they met Mrs. Hook, who informed Mr..
Groves that Joe Musso told her he had
his pistols ready to shoot as soon as he
got his eyes on Mr.. Groves, When they
reached the store Mr.. Groves asked Joe
if be had said he was going to shoot
him. Musso said nothing; ran behind
the counter, got his pistol and com
msnced firing. The witness caught her
fathers hand as he drew his pistol to
FIRE at Musso, and was struggling with
him while he fred twice. Mr.. Groves
said; sob, | am shotT' Mr. Musso
often threatened my sister; that he
would kill my father. Mrs. Musso was
shot in Tho sight hip; Mr.. Groves was
shot in the abdomen and leg, and bull
let passed through the dress Of the wit
ness, in front of her knee. The witness
detailed in full the conduct Of Mr..
Musso towards his wife. He abused,
beat and kicked her often, from the ef-
feet of which she had large bruises on
her body at present.
Mrs. David Groves testified as fol-
lows: / de not know what the contents
Of the note received by my husband from
Mr.. Musso were. He came home from
the ferry about four or FIVE o'clock, and
said why, you have come home
early" he said Yes, / get message
from Joe" / eaid II would not 60,
il were you" He replied: YES, he
has sent for you time and again, and now
he has sent for me, and am going.
l said well, I'm going with you, and
we got ready and come. Right here at
the corner we met Mary MRS. Grehan,)
and little further on Mrs. Hook. She
told us that Joe had told her that he
was going to kill my husband as soon as
he laid eyes on him. We went on, and
when we got in the store found Joe just
coming out of the door Of the little
room. My husband asked Joe if he had
said he was going to shoot him. Joe ran
around behind the counter and com
menced firing. Mary had hold Of her
fathers hand at the time, and said
Joe, don't shoot" while my husband
said to Mary, Don't hold me and
let him kill me" Hearing the
noise, Joe's wife came down. She
was shot almost as soon as she enter
ed the room. II seemed to me that
there were fifty shots fred. After
the firing Joe jumped over the counter
and ran away. / walked out of the door
and said II am shot" My husband
said, | am shot too, and'wh he got
over to the other corner he sank down.
Joe and my daughter have been married
about five years, and have three children,
the youngest being about three months
old. He abused her just because it was
his disposition to do it. When came
in one time, just after her last confne-
ment, found that he had broken po-
ker over her. l asked her, Honey, did
Joe hit you with a poker2" She said,
YES" Pretty soon Joe came in the
room, and had Honey to strip of and l
found three great big purplish blue wells
on her shoulders She YES down town
the other day and bought thEee little
cane-seated chairs, and when they came
home he threw them out CT the window.
when Joe hit her with the poker | quar-
relied With him, and be said for me never
to come in u.s. house again. Inever did
from that time qnFi yesterday.
Mrs. Hook testified tia. she had in
formed Mr.. Groves Of the threats Sasae
b. Mr.. Musso.
Mr. John r. Grehan testified to sew
eral conversations with Mr.. Musso, aud
it was agreed that Colonel Bullock should
be invited to settle the matter between
him (Musso) and his wife, so that the
troubles could be fixed up.
VERDICT OF THE JURY. a
After moments consultation the
jury rendered the following verdict:
We, the jury, find that the deceased,
Groves, came to his death from pistol
shot in the hands of Joseph Musso, on
the 2sth of December, 1871, which took
effect in the pit of the stomach, which
caused his death.
W. Ringwald, Foreman; A. P. Wood
lock, Patrick Sherry, Frank Powers,
John Tierney, Charles Thomas, Simon
Lambert.
EXAMINATION POSTPONED.
At ten o'clock this forenoon, Mr.. Joe
Musso was brought before Esquire Mil
Ter to answer four warrants, one charg
ing him with murder, and three, shoot
ing with intent to commit murder. Mr..
Musso was represented by his counsel,
Messrs. Horrigan and Robertson. Col.
Bullock, counsel in behalf of the State,
informed the Court that the States Wit |
nesses were suffering from severe flesh
wounds, and we're under the influence of
morphine; consequently, they were I'M
able to attend the case to-day. BE ask
ed for a continuance Of the case for
these reasons Esquire Miller continued |
the case over to three o'clock on next
Tuesday, and remanded the prisoner to J
the county Jail.
Boots and shoes.
A grand clearing sale of boots and
shoes will be inaugurated on Monday
next at the boot and shoe store of L.
Roescher, No. 326 Main street. If boots
and shoes are desired at the lowest rates
you must visit Roeschers, where you
can be supplied with the best custom
made work, Remember the clearing |
out sale next Monday.
AUCTION sale Of watches, jewelry and
- II. L. Il E-a,LI.,I IQ6