Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-20
HOMICIDE.
The Tragic End of q Frivolous Dis
pute-One Man Killed and the Other
Seriously Injured.

The Tragic End Of q Frivolous Dis.
pute-One Man Killed and the Other
Seriously Injured.
Knoxville Press and Herald, April 18th.
Yesterday morning, at 7 o'clock, a per-
sonal rencontre occurred at the Machine
Shop of the E. T., Fa. and Ga. Road in
this city, which resulted in the serious
Wounding of one man and the almost in
slant death of the other party engaged in
it. The parties to the tragedy were Mr..
John n. Hammett and Mr.. Robert Tolmie
both employees in the Railroad shop, and
both regarded by the community as quiet,
sober, industrious and excellent citizens.
The evidence elected from witnesses by
the jury of inquest showed that on Tues
day last, Toimie visited the work bench
of Hammett and picking up a
file from it commenced working on q
piece of babbit metal. Hammett request
ed him not to use his file for that purpose.
The precise language used by the parties Is
not satisfactorily known, as it could not be
distinctly heard by those near them. Mr..
Hammett, however, was seen to shove Mr..
Tolmie in an angry manner, and they had
a considerable scuffle around the bench.
When they separated each party was evil
IDENTIFY angry. After the shop closed work
for rbe day, Hammett, who lives about four
miles from the city, and rides on horseback
to and from the shop, morning and night,
got his horse and started for home. At the
junction of Depot street with Broad, he
was accosted by Tolmie on the sidewalk,
and dared to alight from his horse and
fight him. He did not stop; and as he got
further away, Tolmie threw several stones
after him without effect. 7 Yesterday morn
ing, about six O'Clock, as Hammett was
riding down Broad street, to the shop, when
near the residence of Andrew Anderson,
he was met by Tolmie who demanded that
he get down from his horse and fight the
dispute out. The two had some angry talk,
when, as Tolmie approached still nearer to
the horse, Hammett suddenly struck at him
with a stick which had been hitherto I'M
observed by the witness. The stick caught
on Hammett's coat tail, and the blow fell
short of striking as intended. In lodging
the blow, however, Tolmie fell to The
ground and upon rising up threw rock at
Hammett, which struck The horse on the
head and rendered it unmanageable. He
also struck Hammett with a rock,
as the horse was galloping away with him.
When Hammett reached the shop, after this
had occurred, lie had a stick in his hand
and Tolmie was standing near the door.
he approached him and struck at him with
the stick, which Tolmie knocked from his |
lands with a jack-lever, and with another |
blow felled Hamme tt to the floor by striking |
him with the same weapon, on the back |
part of the head. Hammett was knocked /
and Hpon recovering, with assist
ance, walked across the shop to his cup
board, from which he took a pistol and
turning upon Tolmie, discharged it at him.
The shot took effect in the centre of the
forehead and proved fatal in a few mo-
ments.
The parties were each Master Masons,
Mr.. Hammett being the present. Junior
Warden of Maxwell Lodge No. 433, and
CAPTAIN of the Host of Pearl Chapter, r. A.
NJ, of this city. Mr.. Tolmie is member
Of one of the Lodges of Nashville, but has
been a resident Of this city for years, where
he married and now leaves widowed wife
md fatherless child. Mr.. Hammett has
been a resident of this city for about fifteen
7ears, and has wife and family OF children.
Ills wounds were considered extremely
dangerous yesterday, though at late hour
asst night. be was resting easier, and the
zone was cherished that they would not
,rove fatal.