Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-19
BILL sTEELE,s FATE.
he Dies Of the wound inflicted by
OEieef Broderiek-watehed to the
Last and MsuEned ~ His Only


he Dies OF the wound Inflicted by
OGicef Observation-Disclosures to the
Last and Meurned BY Hfs Only
Friend v 80. -..t.a.s
At O'Clock A. N. yesterday, Bill Steele,
the man who was shot by Officer Broderick
last "Wednesday night, breathed his last.
DR.. McAlurray, the Jail physician, had been
quite hopeful With regard to his case. but
Steele said from the first that be could not
recover. At 10 O'Clock, Coroner BrarrtIey
held an inquest over the body, having sum-
moned W. Z. Hilton. j. b. Petit. Xii
Wood, Chas. Linger, Geo. Noryell, Chas.
Diggons and John Pike as Jury.
The Coroner himself testified only to
the fact that Officer Broderick told him
that he had shot Steele, and DR.. McAfur-
ray testified that Steele's death had been
caused by the pistol shot in his left
shoulder
These were the only witnesses examined,
and the jury instantly agreed upon ven
dit to tlle effect that William Steele had
come to his death in consequence Of pistol
shot inflicted by Officer Brcderiek.
The following statement was made to a
reporter for this paper by In Jones, yester-
day, as she sat BY the dead body, after the
jury had left the Jail.
aBill was % years old and him and me
have been liyfn' together for nigh on TO FIVE
year. I've give up my mother and my little
child, but none o. that cut me like this
does. His mother lives at PortsYilIe, Ohio,
and wish she was here, but I'll write to
her after the funeral.
sLast night he was quite restless. One
time be said: ooh, Lord, must die like a
rock% didn't know exactly what be
meant by that, but l s'pose it was on se-
count of his bed bein' so hard. said, Bill,
ycu know your condition better'n do, and
ifyCt think you're goin' 70 die, you better
not talk to ME; but begin TO pray and he
said, Il am prayin'; pfas all the time
.sOne time in the night he reused up and
seen me sittin' here cryin' sorter to myself
like, and he says, 'Lu, you've been mighty
good to ME; you've tended me right along,
! and don't know what would have done
| if it hadn't i'een fr- you.'s
Here the poor Hoifz4n burst into tears,
| but after moments silence resumed:
"Mister, somethin' strikes me that Bills
sins was pardoned before he died-pardon-
| ed right here in this cell. The fact is, he
never was wicked man. To be sure he
used to swear some, and last winter he
drinked heap o. whisky, but then he new
er iifolested nobody, but would go right
home and go to bed. As for singin' and
prayin,, be always did like TO be where
they was goin' on" .a.-~.
s:Did he ever attend churcll2n inquired
the reporter:
sOh yes, me an him used TO 90 sften to
the Church on Crawford street. There was
little red headed, red-whisl1ered feller
used to preach there-'pears like ought 10
remember his name, but somehow / don't.
l know sometimes Bill would come from
the preachin' aud I'D be cussin', or mad, or
contrary like, and Bill d say Lu don't do
that; feel mighty serious. he was the
best man ever saw, and now he's gone. /
feel like was alone in the world"
The body was dressed by jailer Patterson
in plain black suit, the hands, which
were folded upon the breast being encased
in white gloves. The funeral took place
yesterday eveping, the remains being de
posted in the vault at the city cemetery,
where services were held by Rev. j. X.
Cobb. Just before the party proceeded to
the cemetery, an old river mate Of Steele's,
who had just reached the city, came to the
Jail and begged permission to see the re-
mains, which was granted.