Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-07
THE WILKINSON MURDERS,
Death of "Bill JOllnsOn," One Of tn
Witnesses in the Celebrated
Calf House Tragedy
Of 1888.
AsKETCH OF THE AFFRAY.

From the Courier Journal. August 81
William johnson, one of the oldest,
and during one period of his life at
least one Of the most prominent, citi-
zens of Louisville, died a few days since
in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He
was one of the witnesses in the cele'
brated Wilkinson murders" which oc-
cured at the old Gait House thirty-fve
years ago. The death of this witness,
commonly known as Bill Johnson, F"
revives the memory of this murderous
ARRAY, making the details Of interest in
this connection.
On the night of the 10Th of December,
1888, the city of Louisville was excited
with the news of a murderous atfray at
the Gait House. A comparative stran-
ger in the city named Meeks was
disemboweled and fell to the floor dead.
John Rothwell, popular and highly re-
spected citizen, was fatally stabbed
and died next day after the stabbing. Of
the persons here mixed up in the affair
"Bill johnson" whose death was an
nounced yesterday, was, we believe, the
last survivor. One of the eleven gentle
men who certified, on the application for
change of venue, to the great excite
ment that followed the murders and the
difficulty of finding here an impartial
Jury, the venerable Horace B. Hill is the
only survivor. OF the iilty-nine citizens
who defended the character of j. w.
Redding against the aspersions cast
upon him by the counsel for the defense
of the persons accused Of the murders at
the Gait House only three are now
among the living: S. s. Casseday, Hon.
James Harrison and DR.. L. S. Bell
The circumstances connected with this
murdereus affray are Of interest yet, and
we give an extract of them. DR.. Wilkin-
son, of Mississippi, engaged j. W. Red
ding, a merchant tailor, occupying the
building on the southwest corner of Main
and Third streets, to make him a suit Of
clothes. On the afternoon Of December
Is, 1888, DIR. Wilkinson, accompanied by
his brother, Judge Wilkinson, and John
Murdaugh, called at Reddings, where
Judge Wilkinson behaved in rude and
ostinsuliing manner, and seized an iron
poker, with which he attacked Redding.
Redding pushed him to the side door.
Reddiug slipped and fell, Wilkinson
falling on him. He managed to rise
and free himself from John Wilkinson,
and found, according to his testimony,
DR.. Wilkinson and Murdaugh with their
knives drawn on him. Persons in the
street stopped the ARRAY on the side
walk and Judge Wilkinson marched of
to the Gait House with the poker. The
news of this afiray attracted the atten
tioA of Reddings friends, and among
them Bill Johnson, who advised him to
Saye the Mississipplans arrested. Red
ding went in search of +. Turner, the
city marshal, to secure the arrests. Not
finding that officer, one ct the officials
informed Redding that he could not get
a warrant without the names OF the per
sons. ReddiHe started to the Gait House |
in order to get their names, and as he |
reached the corner Of Sixth and Market |
he saw his brothin-in-law, John Roth |
well, whose place of business was at that |
corner. Upon hearing of the object of
Redding in going TO the Gait House, |
Rothwell proposed to walk ND there
with him. ReddiBg obtained the names
from Isaac Everett, but, unfortunately,
Judge MliklutOu httppcu lHbO the
room for a glass Of water and an in
sultiug alteration began between Red
ding and Wilkinson. Wilkinson left the
barroom, but soon returned with his
brother and Murdaugh. Redding charged |
with having drawn knife on |
him in his store, to which Murdaugh |
made an insulting reply, throwing up his
hand with a knife in it. ~ this mo-
ment, Meeks, a stranger to hedding, !
rrasped the right hand Of Murdaugh,
grossly insulted him and struck him on
the head with the heavy end Of a COW
hide. Murlaugh swiftly changed the |
knife to his left hand and killed Meeks
with a single blow. A powerful man
named Holmes had attacked DR. Wllkin-
son and beat him severely. John Roth
sell stepped % 10 them snd begged for
peace At this moment, Judge NIlkin-
son. who was striking wildly with bowie
Knife at every one be passed, rushed up /
behipd RothWell and stabbed him 10 the
bacL. Murdangh also stabbed him above
he collar-b0ne, and in6ioted the wound
tbat determined Rothveli's death the
neTt day. Immediately after these
events. the Mississippians reireated to