Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-22
believe to be identical with the gOOds from

| BrOWn, whom lie told that he was huntiT
hogs. Myers was with him. But Ham
ton had told his wife, as appears from
statement she made to the coroner's jur
but which could not be used as evidence
the trial before the magistrates court, Il
parties not having been granted seve
ance, that he was going TO Myers to sta
that night TO start early Tuesday mOrnin
to hunt his hogs, and that he had foun
their beds near there. And yet, he an
Myers were then perhaps nearly thrt
miles from Myers house, and lea
ing il farther every step. III
truth is, no doubt, they were the
ON their way to meet the Purdom
with whom they went to some point ne
Grutlie, and awaited the darkness
night before starting on that terrible enteI
prise which reeulted in murder, of whic
the greater part of the people that hay
expressed an opinion, believe they ar
guilty.
The servant girl at BOur's testified tina
the voice which called SIR. b. called in th
English language; that she heard one o
more OF the men speaking to him in En
giish when he opened the store door, bu
could not tell what they said, as she doe
not understand the language well.
The prisoners were overheard talking il
their cells enc night, by the guard. Myer
who said TO Hampton that he was affai
some one (the guard did not hear the name
would turn States evidence on them.
Hampton replied that it would be a low
down trick if he did The Purdons wer
iie All TO say, Il believe We are gone up
IF they find us out we are hung, worll
without end" 81 believe they (meanin
Myers and HamptOn) have gone back OF
us; they seem to be taking it 50 easy," wit
other remarks Of like nature; shOwinl
cOnclusively that there was something
wrong in their GOings OF the few DAYS be
fore their arrest.
One of the Purdoms was hired by Capt
Henry, Tuesday night after the murder, Il
stand guard at the stOckade. He told the
young man who was on guard with hin
that he was very sleepy, be had been up al
the night before, at George Myers, playins
cards. Little did he think that he wouli
be prisoner in the same stOckade tn
next night.
The counsel for the prisOners-COl. Cliff
of McMinnville, and one of the ablest law
Yes Of that bar-tried very hard to finS
some evidence which would throw suspi
eiOn upon Swiss by the name Of Houlz
hover, but his FIRST witness young lad
proved an abb. She swore that HOulz
hover lived at her fathers, and that he was
there. and slept there that Monday night.
The eOrOner's jury continued their in
yestigatiOns for seseral days, and closed by
a verdict that they had good reason to be
lieye the above named men were guilty oil
the murder. The suspected parties were
therefore arrested upon warrant issuedupOI
the eOrOner's verdict, and tried before W
II. ChaPpell and James Bailey, two Of the
justices Of Grundy county, who, after list
ening for over eight days TO the examina-
tiOn OF witnesses and the argument Ot
counsel, returned verdict that the prison
ers be held to appear at the next term Of
the Circuit Court of Grundy county, and
ordering that they be returned to the Gus
tOdy of the jailer all that timd.
1t was a long and tedious trial. No eff
forts were spared by the people
OF Grundy county to ferret out the guilty
parties These men were suspected,
strong reasons pointing toward them; they
have been allowed a fair and impartial
hearing, and being unable to produce any
evidence which could remove the suspicion
resting upon them, are now held for trial.
This murder could not have happened in
a place where its effects would be as ruin
Gus to the prosperity Of Tennessee as at
Grutlie. Here is j peaceable, quiet colony
Of thrifty, hardEorking Swiss, doing more
for the development of our mountain lands
than all the rest Of our mountain farmers.
B0ur was one of their magistrates, their
storekeeper, and really-with
one or two others, perhaps-the leading
spirit Of this important enterprise. That
such a man shOuk he assasSinated is a
terrible blow to these people. 1t would
take but one or two more such tragedies to
prevent any further migration, and would,
drive away many already
there.
The Sheriff, feeling that it would be I'M
safe to keep these four desperate men in
The stOcsade at Tracy City, where, by firing
The premises, they might turn loose upon
The community $50 cOnyiets, and destroy
thousands Of dollars worth Of property; and
having heard that there had been threats
made that the men would be rescued, made
'ider them safe there. A mittimus was ac-
'Ordingly issued, directing him 10 bring
hem to the Jail Of Davidson county.
The Grundy county authorities think
hey have got hold of the men who
committed this awful murder, and are
Teatly incensed. 1t is well that the law
vas permitted to take its course and that
he suspected parties were not hanged by
he Swiss before they got away from the
olOny. We do not wish to be understood,
loweyer, as stating that any threats Of vi
Hence have been made, or any disposition
Fas manifested by the people to interfere
nth the just and full execution Of the law.
ut they wanted these men put where no
arm could befall them, and where they
Ould not do any further DEVILS work, there
D be Kept until jury and judge can hear
heir case.
We have been shown a drawing Of the
Dads in the vicinity of .he murder, showing
nat the statements of the PIrdOms and
hampton are very conflicting. For in:
lance, Hampton and Myers were coming
lYard Tracy, in the Parker road, about
O'Clock p. NJ, when be told parties he
-as hunting hogs, and had told his wife
e was going to Geo. Myers to stay that
ighi; whereas, the drawing indicates that
lyers' is to the left of AltamOnt, and that
ley were going away from there, instead OF
)ward the pace.
Web. Purdom stated ''that he and his
rother left Myers together about one hour
efore dag, came across Rocky creek, and
'Ossed Big creek just above the bridge, and
ruek the AltamOnt and Tracy road just
here the Chattanooga road turns of, got to
OckhGTt's a distance Of about eight miles,
! good daylight; and reached Tracy about
or O'Clock; that they came from Myers
rough the Goods, and struck the Parker
'ad; came that road a piece, left il, came
but mile through the woods TO the Tracy
,ad just this side (sOuth) Of GriswOld's."
hey were, however, seen by little Swiss
)y and Swiss man ct over half or one
Iile from Tracy at just before sun-up, but
Ddged off the road when seen. The other |
urdOm states that they came by the JOna-
ian WOoten and Jesse WoOten cabins TO |
le Parker road, following that road to the |
)hnsOn place. Both state that they were
gether, and yet it is five miles from where |
Teb. said he reached the Tracy road, TO |
here Burt. says be struck it. They can
1t both be right.
Too much praise cannot be given w. +. |
olyar, Esq, for the able and thorough |
amer in which he has "wOTked up" this !
sc. He has been untiring in his |
forts during the whole prosecution,
ID many an older and more ex-
.rienced lawyer might well congratulate
mself in having in so short a time |
ought to the light so much which was
dden in darkness and mystery. The gen