The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-01-10
Brained With An Ak.

The Memphis Avalanche of the 4th
furnishes the following account of the
terrible murder of Robert Il johnson
by Simpson T. Caldwell:
When Chief of Police Athy reached |
his ufice yesterday mSrning he found a
telegram from the Mayor of ColdwaUer, !
Mississippi, Offering a reward of 500 for !
arrest of one simpson 7 Caldwell, who |
murdered a man named Robert a John |
son, near that town, Thursday evening. |
No particulars were given of the crime, |
and but slight description of the per
sonal appearance of the murderer About
9 O clock Sheriff Daily, of DeSota county,
in which Coldwater is located, made his
appearance in the Chiefs Office and gave
the following particulars:
Some three weeks ago a LartY of
GeOrgiaus, emigra 1ts, arrived in Cold
water, en- route to Texas. One of them,
named Caldwell, remained behind when
the party moved on, and stopped around
COldwater for about week. During the
time he made numerous applications fer
work to planters who visited the town
One of them, Mr. johnson, being in
want of hand employed him, taking
Caldwell home with him. The next day
Mr.. johnson sold tract of land t. a
neighbor, receiving III part payment,$llO0
in cash. This money was given him in
Caldwells presence, who afterwards saw
MIR. johnson place it in trunk in his
sleeping room, the key of which he put
in his pocket
Thursday, after dinner, Mr.. johnson
took Caldwell, and with axes on their
shoulders started for the woods to "get
0uJ' some boards suitable for covering a
house. They went about a half mile in
the woods. but not so far bnt that the
sounds of their axes as they labored could
be plainly heard. The sounds we're
heard until little after sunset, when
they ceased Mrs Johnson supposing
they had quit work commenced getting
ready their suPperd, when just after
dark Caldwell, ak on shoulder, entered
the house alone. He seemed greatly cx~
cited, and walking directly to Mrs johns
son, who, alarmed had drawn off towards
door, held out key in his left hand
while he swung the Misunderstanding
ak in his right, as he said: Get me
that money or IL kill you"
In great fear and hardly knowing what
she was doing. the lady answered mol
No! l cannot give it TO you. If You want
the money, there it is in the trunk, go
and take it
With terrible oath Caldwell advanced
| upon her and swinging the ak over his
head as if ready to brain her, said, Get
me that money Or I'll murder
you" As he said this the numbering
villain drew back his weapon as if ready
| to strike
Feeling certain that he had killed her
| husband, and knowing that he would not
stop at another murder, she took the key
and kneeling down in front of the trunk,
/ unlocked it. Owing TO her great fear,
| she was very nervous, which necessarily
retarded her movements. Caldwell kept
swinging the ak over her head and utter
| ing terrible curses while she vas looking
! for the money, never ceaSlng until the
| package was handed him.
1t should have been stated that when
! Caldwell entered the house he locked the
door aud placed the key in his pocket.
When the money was handed him by
| Mrs johnson, he, without another word
turned and walked to the door, as if in
tending to go away. Trying the knob
and finding the door locked, Caldwell
looked confused, having evidently fDrgot>
ten his action when he first cane IN
| Turning around, he walked 60 near whore
Mrs Johnson WAS standing, weeping hit
terly. Afer looking at her for II fui
minute, he turned suddenly and, throw
ing down his ak, his hold on which ht
had not before loOsened, made a .runniBs
jump and plunged, head foremost thr :ugi
one of the front windows, taking the en-
tire lower sash with him
Listening for half minute, until hi
retrpating footsteps conlt be no lOnge
heard, Mrs Johnson also ran to the win
dow and gave series of screams for help
A near neighbor, MIR Black, hearing he
cries, came running to her assistance
and found ner lying in an insensjble cor
dition near the window, where she ha
fallen from an excess of fear and nervous
ness. She was speedily revived, whe
she told the story of Caldwelrs visit an
robbery substantially as given above.
Fearing that a horrible mur'er la
! been committed, Mr. Black alarmed 9th
: ers of the neighbors. and a party wa
! formed to go in search IF MIR. johnson
J With lanterns in hand, the party move
, slowly into the woods, looking on side
/ for traces of the missing man, wher
: without warning, one Of the searcher
: tumbled and half fell over the body ,
him for whom they were looking. A
: examination showed that the back part {
: skull had been crushed in at one blow
e as if done by the pole or blunt end of a
: ak No marks of violence were visible
= with that one exception, and no traces
s a struggle could be seen on the surround
e ing leaves and twigs. Mr.. johnson ha
= q part of sandwich in his right hant
t from which he was eating when the fat,
s and, to him, totally unlocked for bio
= was struck He must have died WithuU
t a struggle, as no evidence of one could b
# seen. HIS body was placed on hastil
d improvised litter and conveyed to th
i house, while several of the party WEI
: through the neighbOrhood giving tE
7 alarm. Nothing was seen or heard Of tt
!, murderer, who it is thought made his wa
Il to the city.
It While in the city yesterday, Sheri
it Daily got out handful Offering 5000 n
n ward for Cald we'll The following is
e description of him: About 5 feet
= inches in height, 80 or 40 years old, rec
5 dish complexion, a few dark spots on b
h face as if caused by the small poz, dal
r brown eyes, smooth shaver face, one frol
o upper tooth gone, and reddish cOIOre
= hair worn long at the time of the mul
It der, Thursday, he wore dark brow
If coarse coat, snuff colored pants, vii
i black side stripe, and wore his stOckin.
a drawn.up over his pantaloOn ends, gu
T side his shoes.
In addition to the above reward, thel
will, doubtless, be another of $500 Offere
for Caldwelrs apprehension by the Go
Z ernor of Mississippi. 1t is to be earnest
hoped that he may be arrested ar
brought to Justice.