Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-02-05
FRIGHTFUL MURDER.
An EngIishman Murdered Near
Horn Lake, Miss. = His Body
FOund Six Days After Death.

Last Friday afternoon the citizens re-
siding in the vicinity Of Horn Lake,
Miss, we're startled by the discovery of
the remains Of well-known planter, in
the woods, few hundred yards from
Bethlehem church. about four miles from
Horn Lake depot The dead man was
recognized Immediately as Henry Atkin-
son, an Euglishman and planter who
formerly resided in the neighborhood.
Some months since Mr.. Atkinson re-
sided with Mr.. Everett, another English
man who owned plantation near Horn
Lake. Recently Mr.. Atkinson, who was
a man of some means, purchased a
plantation in the vicinity Of Grenada,
Miss. At the time of his death he was
driving drove of cattle to the planta-
sion Of Colonel Blythe, near Horn Lake
depot. 1t is believed that he hired two
white men near Grenada to assist him
in driving.t cattle, and that these two
men committed the terrible deed
THE DEAD BODY.
3 When found, the body was lying on
the right side; folded handkerchief
was under the head both hands were
burned slightly; wound was discovered
in the right temple, the ball having
passed through his brain and lodged in
side the skin on the left side. Apocket-
book containing notes, receipts and
checks, valued at about fifteen hundred
dollars, was found on the body. The
deceased had about eight hundred dollars
in money, which the murderers took from
the body. When found small single
barreled pistol was in the right hand,
but the ball found in the head was too
large for the pistol and no powder stains
we're on the face. These facts do away
with all idea of suicide.
eoRoEERs INQUEST.
Last Friday evening Magistrate Smith,
of Horn Lake, Miss, held an inquest on
the body. The following verdict was re-
turned by the jury:
The State Of Mississippi,
County of DeSoto. )
We, the undersigned jurors of inquest,
after having been duly qualified by Jas.
A. Smith, justice of the peace and ca
o6iciO coroner, soon recognized the body
to be that of Henry Atkinson, and find
ing pistol in his right hand; and not
believing that he had committed self
murder, we summoned Dr. Charles
Baskerville, who, after q full and thor
ough examination, stated as follows:
That he found death TO result from gun
shot wound, entering the right temple
about one-half inch in front OF and one
inch above the temporal prominence of
the right side, fracturing the right tenn
poral bone and passing straight through
the brain, lodging on the internal
tablet of the opposite temporal bone,
and that he was confident that the wound
was not made By the pistol found in the
subjects hands. Various reasons were
sdduced by him to prove this, which were
accepted by us. All inquiry possible
was made by us, and we think he was
foully murdered, although we could get
;, clue whatever as 10 who were the per-
net, .atcr or perpetrators Of the deed.
Very respectfully,
g. L. BLYTHE, r. CRuMrLEn,
j. C. CLEMENTS, j. 4. DUBOIS,
J. A. STEVENSON, O. ) ROBERTS,
jurors Of inquest.
New bethlehem Churct, February 2 lSiZ'
THE THEORY or THE ~gRRER.
Co lionel Blythe and several othsf eitl-
Gems ,qade every effort to discover the
murderars, and,went to Grenada, MISS
Yesterday, to find out the names of the
two men who accompanied him. Last
Saturday week Mr.. Atkinson was seen
not far frolu where the body was found,
at the head t,f about twenty cattle, which
were driven Ivy two white men. The de-
ceased was t,n horseback, and vas
leading a mule. tits believed that he
eamped near the, church that night, as
the remains of c amp-fres were discov-
cred. During the night, while sitting
near the campfire, he must have been
shot through the he I'D by one Of the men,
The body was dragg ed about two hun
dred yards, and hid between two
bushes. An empty pistol was placed in
his right hand to create the impression
that he had committed suicide, but as
death must have taken place instantly,
he could not have placed the folded
under his head, on the side
where the ball entered. The murderers
after committing the crime took the
money, the horse and mule of the de-
ceased and drove the twenty head OF cat
tie towards this city, where it is believed
they disposed of them. Although the
crime was not discovered for week, 1t
is almost impossible for the murderers to
undiscovered. Mr.. Atkinson
was about forty years Of age, was I'M
married, and had been in the United
States but {, few years. He was highly
regarded by his neighbors and friends.
His mother resides in London, England.
He has no relatives in this part of the
country, nor probably in the United
States.
Remains of william Kidd Pound.
We received information to-day from
several citizens residing near Horn Lake,
Mississippi, that last Saturday some
hunters found the remains of white
man in a bayou near the lake. The
body could hardly be recognized-Owing
to the fact that the hogs had eaten it in
a horrible manner--but it is generally
!. LII - a = thn hnar Of Canlnin