Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-12
BATEMAN's LANDING TRAGEDY.
T. l.. Keefer and william Ferguson
KfIIed-TOny Bateman Wounded.

BATEMAN'S LANDING TRAGEDY.
T.. l.. Keefer and William Ferguson
KiIIed-TOny Bateman Wounded.
1t will be remembered that Deputy
Sheriffs Frame and Taggart left the city
on Tuesday morning for the scene of
Embellishments Landing. Last night
the Deputy Sheriffs returned to the city,
having in custody H. W. Bateman, Tony
Bateman and A. E. Mills, all of whom
we're connected with the unfortunate oc
currerce. These parties were brought
before Esquire Winters last night at the
| Criminal Courtroom, and an investiga-
| ton of the affair was had, which resulted
| in Justice Winters binding over the de-
PENDANTS in the sum of $4,000 each TO
appear before the Criminal Court. The
facts elected before the Magistrate
showed the case to have been one of
Those unfortunate feuds arising between
the parties from misconceptions of each
others determinations. The habit of
carrying deadly weapons is at the bottom
of the whole affair, for all the parties be-
ing armed to the teeth, it required very
little provoeation to get up hrst-class
tragedy. The facts elected before the
Magistrate are as follows:
1t appears that Ferguson and his wife,
who were strangers, came down the
river; that Bateman made a bargain
with him to work ten acres of land up
therefor half and half to be planted in
cotton; that when the cotton picking
came around Ferguson would not pick
it, but attempted to sell out; he then
went to the elbow" to chop, after
ward he came back and settled himself
in another house, at the other end of the
| field, while Bateman had made arrange
ments for gathering the crop; that Bate
man notified him to leave; that he hest
tated; that Bateman and others visited
the house on Saturday last and found
Ferguson missing, but left word with his
wife that they must leave the next day,
! but qualified it afterward, and said Mon
day; that Mrs. Ferguson was very abu-
sive IN her language toward him, and
called him a son of b-h; that on Mon
day, about noon, four of them went to Fer
guson's house, the two Batemans-father
and son-Mills, and a person called John
Ferguson, about whom there was not
much learned and attempted to get in;
Mrs. Ferguson objected; she attempted
to draw pistol; old Bateman seized her
| by the hands, and young Bateman wrung
| the pistol from her; that in the scuffie
she was thrown upon the floor, and hav-
ing screamed, an answer was returned
from the wood, and Ferguson at that
moment was seen approaching with a
shot gun to his shoulder Mills gave the
alarm; firing commenced, and Keefer,
who was outside, was struck and he ran,
while Mills remarked: Look at that
damned son of b-h, how he deserts us
now in time of trouble" Mills then pulled
out an army revolver and commenced
emptying it at Ferguson; another shot
was fired from the cane, and that one
struck young Bateman as he left the
door-not much of wound; Ferguson
began to retreat and the John Ferguson
who was inside in the house with Bate
man, seized shot gun from the bed
where Bateman had left it when enter
ing into the fuss with Mrs Ferguson, and
running it out through a crack in the
side of the house, fred and killed his
namesake, who was fastening into the
brake again, 1t appears that a person
named Copeland was in the brake with
Ferguson, and he had fred the shot
which struck Ferguson. After this,
they took charge of Mrs. Ferguson and |
marched her off to Bateman'sa prisoner;
found Keefer about four hundred yards
away, and then Mrs. Ferguson remarked,
i hope the son of b-h is dead, but |
he is not the right one; I'll shoot the
right one myself" meaning young Bate
man.
Sheriff Fraime, on arriving at Bate
mans Landing, found the parties pre-
pariug for another fight and all antici-
pating an attack. Keefer was found
dead at Bateman's, and Ferguson was
found dead cut in the cane, short dis
lance from his house. Copeland, who
was with Ferguson in the cane, and who
also did some shooting, has not been
arrested. 1t is even thought that he too
has been killed, and that his body lies
out in the cane. The whole neighbor-
hood was aroused, and armed parties
we're patrolling the country-friends of
the Batemaus and friends of Ferguson.
This unfortunate occurrence could have
been avoided had each Of the parties a
correct and proper appreciation Of the
others legal rights. The body Of Keefer
was brought down on the Oil City last
night and an inquest was held by Coro-
ner Moffatt this morning. The jury re-
turned verdict that the deceased came
to his death at the hands Of Mr.. Fergu-
son. Ferguson, although wounded in
Shelby county, died in Upton county,
and the authorities Of that county took
possession of the body.
Fine cider st willstt's ,slper gal, [l4O
A scHEIFERs 1 Co., l6O Front street.
are in want Of a young man as sales