Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-23
BOLD BRIGANDS In BLOUNT.
A Tragic Store Scene at Brick Mill
An Attempted Murder and a Fooled
Burglary.

A Tragic store Scene AT Brick Mill
An Attempted Murder and "A FOiEed
Burglary.
From the Knoxville Press and Herald, Nov. 81.
The residents of the vicinity of Brick
Mill, BlOmt county, are much excited over
a desperate attempt at robbery and murder,
at the store of MeSsIs. Hale, McCOllum IL
Co. on last Tuesday night. About seven
O'Clock that night, three mounted men
alighted in front Of the store and entered,
as if wishing to make purchases. Mr.
John Hale, one of the partners, and Burt
Thompson, a clerk, were alone in the store
al the time. One of the three men accOsted
Mr.. Thompson and asked TO be shown some
sugar. Another OF them made some pre-
tense 10 get Mr.. Hale of to the
other end of the store. while the third
man assumed a lOgmging attitude between
his confederateS. The suspicious Of both
Hale and Thompson We're simultaneously
aroused by the action of the three men. but
before they could take any measures for
defence, the man who had followed Hale
suddenly pulled out a pistol and shot him
I'm the face, dropping the wounded man to
the floor, behind the counter. At the same
moment, doubtless 10y some preconcerted
signal, the man for whom Thompson was
sampling sugar. drew a revolver and fired at
the clerks head, but fortunately the cap
bursted without dscharging the weapon.
PROMPTED bv the instinct of self-preseTva-
ton. Thompson ducl1ed behind the counter,
and then moving along to the cash drawer,
and getting his pistol from his pocket, held
1T In readiness to defend the money and
sell his life as dearly as possible.
The rIffians evidently supposinG they had
killed or crippled the proprietor Of the store
and his assistant. went out to the front
porch and consulted hastily as to their next
movements. While they were out, Mr..
Hale, having risen, was able to collect his
senses far enough to perceive the situation
of affairs. and softly and quickly ran TO the
open door, shut it and bOlted it in atwink-
ling, and left the three astOniShed rltfians
on the outside. They cursed and swere
terribly, uttering horrible threatenings il
the door should not be opened. Soon at-
forwards they left the porch, and mounting
their horses rode rapidly away.
Mr.. Hale was found to have been shot in
the cheek, under the right eye, the bal
having passed upwards and came out be-
meath the ear. infiicting a serious but moi
A dangerous wound. The alarm was promp
Nv given and assistance obtained. Mr.
Thomson Immediately set about collect
ing an expedition for their pursuit and cap
ture, but il was not until Wednesday morn
ING, that they sailed forth in search of the
three bafiied plUnderers and would-be-mu'
derers.
The three men were strangers and from
their dress seemed to be town scoundrels
1t is avemed that they passed through Ma
rvville. early Tuesday morning. They
were about Brick Mil during the afternoon
and were remarked by a number OF the res
idents of the vicinity as suspicious charac
tiers. 1t is to be hoped they will be captur
ed. though their long starr is against tina
desirable result,