Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-05
HOMICIDE.
Fatal Family Feud--'HOmiclde
in Chelsea Last Night.
John Newell Shot and Killed with n
Double Barreled Shot-Gun
by Johnny Keel, Aged
Fifteen Years.

church 10 Chelsea. The morning jour
nails have stated that Mr.. Newell was
killed by Mr.. r. II. Coleman, both gen
tlcmen being sons.in.law TO Mr.. +. T.
Keel, a well-known citizen and promi'
nent merchant. Our contemporaries, no
doubt owing TO the lateness OF the hour
at which they obtained the information,
fell into the error Of making Mr.. Cole
man the slayer Of Mr. Newell, and were
probably influenced by the dying dec
laration which Mr.. Newell was said to
have made to Magistrate Hoist, who held
an ante.mortem examination. The dec
laraton as published is as follows;
|. John Newell, was shot by r. ii.
Coleman, in the brickyard 10 front OF
Keel church, and believe that Il. I.
Keel caused, or hired the same party to
commit the assault / had threatened
TO kill l.. Il. Keel. Keel has the letters
| sent him. | never had any difficulty
with Coleman. had no weapons OF
any kind except pocket-knlfe.
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
NJ. Hoist, ]. p.
Witnesses-J. T. Walter, II. S. ST.
mons, T. j. Mast.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.
This morning Sheriff Doyle was noti-
fed that r. II. Coleman and Johnny
Keel would surrender themselves to
him in Chelsea, and Sheriff Doyle re-
paired at once to the residence of Mr..
E. T. Keel, whore he found the parties
and conveyed them to the Sheriff'S Office.
Our reporter received the following cor
rect statement Of the affair from Mr..
Coleman, which statement places the
matter in a new light.
At about q clock yesterday evening
went out to Chelsea for the purpose OF
attending prayer meeting at Keels
church. which is situated about one
hundred yards from and in sight of Mr..
'Keers residence. At the corner OF
Looney and Fifth streets met Johnny
Keel tagged Is years. and his sister Miss
Rosa Keel. They told me there was no
one at the church, and to 60 with them
TO Mr.. Doyle's, on Fifth street. We
went and remained there a short time;
during our stay Johnny went out to pur-
chase some candy for the children; when
he returned |, with Miss Rosa Keel and
Miss Mollie Washington, went to the
prayer meeting. When we got to the
church Cumberland Presbyterian Rosa
said. excitedly, Look there" turned
around and saw John Newell looking at
me and as | turned ! asked him, What
do YOU want2" He threw his hand
back, as if to draw pistol, and !
did the same, telling him he had
better stop that. He replied that !
should attend to my own business, and
| said it was my business. then went
into the church aud looked to see if my
| father.in.law, Mr.. E. I. Keel, and his
son, Sam Keel, were in the house, but |
did not see them; | remained in the
church. and soon aiterward started to
Mr.. Keers with Miss Rosa. When we
rot outside Mr.. Newell was still there,
and as passed he muttered some threat,
10 which / replied, THAT is all right.
| went to Mr. Keel's residence, on Third
street, and told Mr.. Keel what had hap
pened; this was about eight o'clock
| Mr.. Keel told me to 90 for a policeman
and have Newell arrested. Sam Keel
and | went out down Third street
for a policeman, and went back
toward the church in order to see
| if Mr.. Newell was still there. We
saw him sitting on some steps, about
twenty PAGES from the church. Sam
Keel went for the policeman while re-
NAMED in order to watch him. Mr.
Newell came down to me and asked,
"What does that old son of q - pay
YOU for watching me and guarding himY
/ answered, Never mind" he drew
bowio or long knife, and | drew my PTS
tol partiallY out. He commenced ours
ing me and / walked back toward Mr..
Keeps house, he following in threaten
ing manner As | reached the house,
Johnny Keel came out on his way to the
church to put oat the lights. Mr.. New
ell continued to advance on me, and
Johnny said, "I'll 90 back and get the
rum" He went and returned in few
minutes with double barreled
shot gun. Mr.. Newell exclaimed
at once, "Stand your ground, you
damned cowardly puppies, and ad-
vanced rapidly with something in his
hand, which could not detect, it being
rather dark. | was cooking my pistol
TO defend myself, when Johnny, who was
four paces from me, threw up his gun
and fred as he fell back. Mr.. Newell
did not fall, and Johnny threw up his
gun again and fred, when Mr.. Newell
fell Immediately, saying, You have
killed me" We went into the house
and told what had happened. Mr.. Sam
Keel and went out for the purpose of
conveying the wounded man to his home
on Front street, but crowd had gath
cred and had taken him up. We went up
ard sent Drs. Irwin and Willett to Mr..
Newell residence Immediately, and then
= turned IN Mr.iKeers residence. knew
hat Mr.. Keel had received a note from
Mr.. Newell yesterday, in which it was
stated IF you do not give me a thousand
dollars by II o clock tomorrow | will kill
you" and knew also that Mr.. Keel had
received many other notes Of like inn
mort. and Mr.. Newell had been seen
around the house late at night, which
caused Mr.. Keel TO keep his lights put
ont fearing assassination. Mr.. Newell
had made many threats to take Mr..
Keel's life.
Johnny Keel, small but bright look
ing boy, aged llteen years, made q SINH
lar statement, aud detailed the manner
in which be shot Mr.. Newell.
This afternoon at 3 o'clock Mr.. r. b.
Coleman and Johnny Keel will have an
examination before the Criminal Court.
BEsr AxD PuREsT.-Soda is delicious
H. -arm DAYS; il is healthy. too. II