Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-18
Moody Tragedy at Lebanon.

A terrible tragedy occurred at Leb-
anon, on Wednesday last. John L.
Anderson, q young man of the place,
about 2l OF p years of age. killed
young J. L, Brcckinridge of Dan
vile, Ky, a son Of the Rev. DR.. ].
Breckenridge, decd, and cousin Of
Gen1 Jno. J. Breckenridge, who was
a student in the law department. OF
the Cumberland University, at the
time of his untimely death. We take
the following account of this sad af-
fair from the Union and American Of
Sunday last, which seems to us to be
fuller and more reliable in its details
than any other that we have yet seen.
Editors w. & T.
ssMess-s. Anderson and BTeckin-
ridge had been spending the day to-
gether, had taken dinner together and
then separated. They did not meet
again until between the hours OF 3
and 9 T.. N. at which time Breckin-
ridge and several other gentlemen
were sitting Ia the back room OF y,
Harrington's saloon, where Anderson
came and spoke very pleasantly to
Breckinridge and others. He asked
Breckenridge to take a drink The
latter politely thanked him, but de-
clined, saying that he had had enough.
Anderson then said that If he did not
drink, he would not look uPon him
as his friend, adding that he did not
believe that BreckinridgS liked hlm,
any way. He then threatened to
shoot Breckiuridge, but finally be-
came pacified and begged his pardon,
saving that he (Anderson) would ''get
on his knees" to him if he would for
give him, which Breckenridge readily
did. Anderson then insisted that
they should 20 to another saloon on
the other side of the square, which
Breckinridge did very unwilllnSly.
There Anderson again endeavored to
fasten q quarrel on him, treading on
his toes and cursing him. Finding
that B-eekinridge would not quarrel
with him, he again begged pardon,
and proposing that they should ce-
ment their friendship with another
drink, they walked up to the counter.
Breckenridge called for a glass of
beer, and resting both elbows on the
counter, began slowly slipping it.
Anderson appeared undecided as to
what he should drink, and the bar
keeper suggested sherry wine. He
said, "Yes, I'll take some sherry"
The barkeeper then turned and walk
ed down to the other end of the cOun-
ter to get it, when he heard the report
of a pistol, and wheeled round in time
to see BIeckinridge fall. He started
to him, when Anderson called out,
''GiVe me my drink, will you?" The
barkeeper did so, and again started
to the wounded man, when Anderson
called on him for cigar, at the same
time looking down at Breckenridge
and saying, "Hallo Breck, you amt |
that drunk why don't you get up and
drink"
He then walked out on the side
walk, and meeting a physician, said |
'"There's 4 man shot down yOnder, |
Doctor, you had better see what you |
can do for him."
The Doctor asked him who did it! |
and he very coOlly replied 'That re-
mains to be found out" He then |
made his escape and has not since |
been heard from. Mr.. Breckenridge /
was taken-tO the hotel and had every
shown him, but it was a
hopeless case, his brains having been
shot out, at such close range that his
lace was badly powder-burned.
Brickinridge lived until half-past 5
o'clock Thursday afternoon. He was
| young man of great culture and rare
His classmates speak of
lim as one of the most talented young
nen in the law class, of which he was
member.
Only day or two ago a well-known
gentlemen in this city, stepped into
lrug store where Anderson was talk
ng to the clerk. Anderson was ex-
lmining some note paper which the
,lerk had placed before him on the
counter, and was insisting in a rather
lnceremonious manner, that the clerk
should go out and get finer paper
dc said he wanted TO write some
notes and wished to ''do them up in
style" as he was going to kill himself.
This was taken as an indication of the
morbid state to which the young
mans mind had been brought, possi-
bly, by strong drink.
Col. w. G. P. Breckenridge, brother
Of the deceased, and wife. passed
here yesterday, for Lebanon,
where they Will take charge of the
body of young Breckenridge and have
t conveyed to Lexington to-day.
1t is supposed that after Anderson
lad shot young Breckenridge, he fed
10 his brothers, Joseph Anderson's
house, at Gordonsvilie, Smith Coun-
y.
John L. Anderson's father is a high
y respectable citizen of Lebanon, of
which town he is now the Mayor and
IN excellent physician.
DR.. Anderson informed the Sheriff
hat if he, DIR. Anderson, knew wher0
MS son was he would make him, the
son, surrender himself. DIR. Anderson
iays that he would much rather his
son had been killed than Breckin
,idge.