Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-08-12
SENAT0BIA.
The Moral Vineyard Clearing Ont the
Liquor Dealers-Partieulars Of
the Last Two Murders.
William Mullins Kills Oliver Stevenson
aud Jack Dye, Formerly Of Menu
phis, Kills John Hall.
From an Occasional Correspondent

SENATOBIA, Miss, August II, 1S73.-
You refer to this place as a part of the
great "moral vineyard" This is strict
ly true, for the "moral vineyard" in
cludes Senatobia and Tate county as a
large fraction of its rather contracted
territory. We are in the Aforesaid vine
yard, and no mistake. In fact, Sena-
tobia is the capital. We mostsummari-
" disposed of the whisky traffic here by
generously drinking up the stock on
hand, and then quitting the business al
together. The saloon men were told to
take down their signs, and quit, as the
average SenatObian would haveno more
of it. That no loss should ae-
crue to the dealer, their former
customers were willing to help
them of with all the stock they he'd
on hand, but would not touch another
drop after that. This was a fair and
honorable compromise, you know, and
was tempering Justice with mercy.
There was no violation of implied con-
tract in this. as the dealer would have to
bring on his new supplies at his own
risk. He saw that the people had de-
termined on a new departure, and
therefore changed his orders to candy,
soothing-syrup, chewing-gum, hair-re-
storer, etc. The hair-restorer would
have been in great demand had the sa-
looms continued, for the ladies had
firmly determined to discountenance
their further existence. There are now
no saloons here, and what is better, no
demand for them. A more sober, quiet,
orderly population never lived than we
have here. Our town continues to
improve, and grows apace, not
withstanding We have on hand a
most vexatious lawsuit, involv-
ing the title to all the business part of
the place. have said this much of
Senatobia by way of preface and expla-
nation of couple of murder incidents
herewith send you. They were not of
our enacting, not in our line of business,
GEudlOB1d Has 1bLlE NllltG hdsICu DET
hands of the rowdy class.
MURDER NUMBER ONE.
Last Saturday evening a young man
named William Mullins, aged about
eighteen years, stabbed and instantly
killed man, Mr.. Oliver Stevenson, neal
Arkabutla, twelve miles west of this
place. The circumstances are these:
Young Mullins was assisting a Mr..
Whit Carter in hauling boards from
Coldwater river-bOttom. On one
of their return trips they came
up with Stevenson, going in the
direction of the little village of Arka-
butla. He was considerably intOxica-
ted, and had a weli-filled jug of whisky
with him. He asked permission to ride,
which was granted. The wagon had
not proceeded far before the team
baked in going up a hill. All three
got out and began to carry the boards to
the top of the hill. Stevenson imag-
ined that Mullins was not taking hold
of his share of the work as vigorously as
he should, and thereupon asked him if
that was the best be could do in the
way of carrying boards. Mullins said
in reply that it was. Stevenson then
somewhat jocularly derided him, and in
timated that he would whip him if he
did not improve in his gait and the
quantity of boards he was carrying.
Mullins retorted angrily by say
ing that it required "a man )"
TO perform that operation. Ste
vensOn then advanced to the wagon
where Mullins was, and, reaching up,
gave him smart slap in the face. The
latter Immediately leaped out, drew a
large knife, or dirk, and proceeded to
carve Stevenson up after the most i'm
proved manner. Before Carter, who is
almost an invalid, could render the least
assistance he'knife had done its muir
derous work, and Stevenson was a corpse
at the feet of his antagonist, having re-
ceived seven wounds, either of which
would have been fatal. Mullens at once
took to the swamp, concealed himself in
q dense thicket during the remainder of
the day, and attempted 10 make his
way, at night, into the Mississippi
river bottoms. Several citizens were
in time, however, TO reach and guard
the bridges and ferries across the Cold
water river before night came on. Two
young men, William Brown and Jack
Redus, stationed themselves at Pratt's
bridge, the lowest one on the stream,
and vigilantly watched all night. Sun
day morning about daylight Mullins
made his appearance on the bridge, and
attempted TO cross. He was at once
arrested, brought back to Arkabutla,
arraigned before magistrate, commit
ted without bail, brought to Coldwater
depot and placed in the hands of Dep
uty. Sheriff Porter Mckinney, who safely
LODGED him in the Sardis iail which is
used by Tate county, there being no jail
at present here.
MURDER NUMBER TWO.