Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-21
A matter of Explanation.

To the Editors of the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, April 20, 1872.-DEAR SIRs:
An article in your paper in reference
to the killing of Robert TOlmie, copied from
the Knoxville papers, does grea: injustice
to the deceased.
Having received a dispatch of bis death
on the nth inst. started for Knoxville on
the first train, not knowing under what cir
cumstances it originated. On my arrival
In Knoxville l was informed by parties who
were witnesses at the inquest that the state
ment published in the paper was not cor
rect account of the evidence given.
Knowing these facts l proceeded to the Of
fee of the magistrate who held the inquest,
and asked for a copy of the evidence given
He told me be did not have one, that thd
person who acted as clerk had made bOtce
of it, and he could not give me one. l tolh
him [ wished TO have one, as it was my in
tention to have true statement Of the case
published. He said it was not needed; all
they wanted was to prove how he came by
his death, and they had proved that he died
by the hands of n. Hammett. then pro-
cured a statement from the witness, which
is as follows:
Tolmie was using file belonging to Ham
NETT, which he did not want him to use
and told him to lay it down or he would
kick him. Toimie replied, 81 guess not"
and still kept using the file. Hammett re-
Piled, 81 mean what say" and went up to
Tolmie, pushed him out of the shop and
struck him twice. TOlmie said, "Ham-
NETT, you know what we both
are, and you are coward to
strike me when you know l won't resent it;
but will see you after six o'clock. TOlmie
met him outside of the gate, and he was
on horseback. Tolmie told him to get down
and apologize; ''for you know you done
wrong" He refused and rode off Tol-
mie picked up a rock and threw at him.
Next morning as Tolmie was in his yard
he saw Hammett coming down the street,
and he went out to him, and repeated the
same demand as the night previous. Ham
NETT still refused. Tolmie then said, ''you
are a coward" With that Hammett drew
a stick, which he had concealed up to that
time, and struck at him.
He fell down. Rising to his feet,
he raised some rocks and
threw at Hammet and struck his horse,
when he got frightened and ran of. This
all happened on the 18th, at 6 O'Clock A. NJ.
Tolmie then concluded to let the matter
drop, and proceeded towards the shop to
his work. AS TOlmie entered the shop
Hammet advanced towards him with a
stick in his hand in a threatening manner
and struck at him, when he lodged the
blow. Hammet then struck at him again.
Tolmie then lifted a jack-leveT and knocked
the stick out of his hand. Hammet turned
to run, and Toimie struck him on
the back of the head with the lever. Ham
met fell. Tolmie stood still and made no
attempt to strike; after that Hammett got
up and went to his cupboard, and took from
there pistol, advancing toward Tolmie.
Some one cried, Tolnlie, get out Of the way,
he is going TO shoot. TOlmie replied, he
won't shoot me. Hammett still advanced
within few feet of Tolmie, and rested his
hand on an iron cone, took deliberate aim
and fired. TOlmie fell with the lever in his
left hand. ! make this statement as in
duty-bound in justice to the memory Of
him, who always was dutiful son, love-
ing husband and father, which all can tes-
tify that knew him from his boyhood up to
the fatal hour he met his death.
His father,
ALEX. Nc. ToLAuE.