Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-03-20

The noay OF the .Prsprie,or Pound Among
the Ruins.
Efforts Of The Cerener's Jury Their La
bors Productive OF fnsportent Resuits-f
George simpson Killed by the onicers nj
MOrrtstown.
From our correspondent at Greenevillc, Ar
thur" we learn that enterprising village was
visited by disastrous conhagration.
About one O'clock Yesterday morning the
store house OF Mr. JOSEF IA Mason, situated near
the depot just across the railroad, was discover
cd to be
ON FIRE,
and despite the efforts of the hastily awakened
citizens, which we're OF course without system,
there being no ,Teguierly organized hre depart
velopcd the building, which was n wooden
structure, and in n short time reduced it TO
mass of smouldering ruins That the fire was
the
WORK or AN INCENDIARN.
there can be but little doubt, IA when the fire
was first discovered the door of the store was
found open and also the safe door Mr.. Mason
was in the habit Of sleeping ut the store, and
tho key was found on the inside, which at first
induced some to think that If there had been
any foul play it was done before the store was
closed for the night. But as it is well known
that ..4- t..# .-.-4....E.. -.......-
BURGLAETEs
are by no means of rare occurrence the suppo-
kltlOn lual u EeRulNT bTRuulIcu DhHN bl NItNN--
men have been securing the country and with
their appliances for robbery could open almost
any door they chose is entitled TO belief 1t Is
known that Mr.. Mason had lately received
50 900 from parties South with which TO buy
wheat, and was also known TO handle
LARGE SUMS or MONEY
in his business, and ms no secret of the fact any
one could have ascertained the fact, and the
comparatively lonely location Of the store was
as good plant" as the thieving fraternity
could desire. The amount of money estimated
to have been in the store is between 50, 80 and
$500. .|H
MISSING
For several hours nothing was seen of Mr.
Mason, and conjectures were rife as to his
whereabouts, his friends fearing foul play, his
we'll known steady habits precluding the thought
that he could have neglected to properly close
the store or that he would have been care
less in any way sufficient to endanger his prop
erty. But becoming alarmed systematic search
was made and soon the worst fears of his friends
were realized by the
DISCOVERY or HIS BoDY
under the ruins of the burned building, sshrve-
cd and scorched presenting q sickenng spectacle.
Mr.. Mason was brother of the proprietor Of
the Mason House, and was a highly respected
by all who knew him Whether he was muir
dered in cold blood and the safe ri1cd of its
contents, or whether he was secured in bonds or
put under the influence of some deadly drug, is
not now known. .. .....
LATEST
From parties who came down on the freight
train last night we learn that there is no doubt
whatever, judging by the circumstances in the
| case. but that the unfortunate man was foully
dealt with. His body was found in piecemeal
among the debris, the body proper, from his
hips to the neck being found parched and burn
ed out of all sembance of flesh, and a little
| further off the ....r ...
TOR OF HIS SKULL,
with a portion of the brain dstinguishable,
| though perfectly charred, while - stil further
off portions of the bones Of his feet were dis
covered. The remains were found on the OPP
| posite side of the house from where his bed
| stood, among q quantity of bacon and wheat,
| partially consumed, and the presumption is that
| the fends, after perpetrating the s,F
ATRocIoUs DEED,
| piled the bacon and wheat on top of the corpse
| and set il on fire, intending that it should bC
utterly consumed. The key was found in thu
| safe door and melted gold coin was found II
the cellar. Mr.. Mason had q quantity of golC
| and silver and it is thought that in their hurry
| the murderous thieves failed to secure all. Sus
/ pic ion, as yet, rests on no one, but it is hoped
| that rctribution may speedily oyertake the dia
bolical scoundrels, whoever they may be.
| The Greeneville Sentinel estimates the loss n
about Sc, 900 and says of the unfortunate nal
who met the horrible fate that befel him.
Joseph p. Mason was II man of about fort.
years of age, unmarried, and brother of join
/ n. Mason, OF the MASON hOtel, tTrceneNllle
and brother to Robt. Mason, who was som
years ago shot and killed by A. j. Fletcher i
Greeneville." ."s.
| (F'rom Tuesdays Daily
From gentleman just from Greeneville, W
learn that the perpetrator Of the murder an
arson at Greeneville last Wednesday morning
has boon discovered beyond all REASONABLE
doubt, and though for the present he has man
aged to elude capture, yet precautions hav
been taken against his escaping justice.
The jury are energetic and faithful men, an
consists in part of the following: George Jones
James o. Brien, A. w. Walker Emanuel vii
holt and James Galbrath, with Mr.. James Lyo
I ms coroner. who have unearthed important facts
The evidence adduced goes to show that a dis
reputable fellow who lives near Greenevill
committed the horrible deed after mature do
liberation and had tried TO persuade a youn
man named Fry TO be an accomplice. He DE-
tailed his plans also to another young man, "
are told, who spurned it as Indignantly rs di
young Fry. The plan proposed TO both wer
carried out TO the letter. according 10 our infoI
nation, with what result we are, alas, too we
aware
The scoundrel, after making the atrociou
proposals, upon finding them proof against h
! murderous scheme, threatened them with deaf
il they should divulge what he had said c
might do, and since this evidence, has been see
lurking around Frys residence, doubtless wit
the intention of putting an end TO his life, on IN
principle that dead men tell no tales"
The murderer was seen near Blue Spring yes
terday morning, and il is thought he is alarme