Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-06-07
FEARFUL TRAGEpYg
An Uncle Efiis his Nephew and then
Commits srIeide-Df shsnesIy the
Cause OF the Crime.

/ From the Cincinn stl Enquirer.i
LEXINGTON, KY, June "A terrible
| tragedy occurred near the Kentucky
river, in GarIard county, to-day, result
| ing in the probable death Of two prOmi-
nent farmers OF this section. VIII.
Hughes, a large stook,FSiser of this
county, failed recently, INVOLVING his
uncle, Granville Smith, in a loss of
twenty-thOusand dollars. Smith could
obtain no part OF bis debt. He is an old
man, over sixty years, and his farm, all
that he has in the world, is to be sold 10
pay the security debt for Hughes.
Hughes made such an arrangement
with his creditors IS to save quite for
tune 10 his wife. Granville Smith was
In Lexington last week, behaving like
a mailman, and threatening the life of
Hughes. The latter, while refusing a
dime to Smith, went over into BOyce
county and bought farm, paying twen-
ty thousand dollars cash, and giving
bis note for ten thousand more More
than one person believed that Smith
would kill Hughes, and so stated. To-
day Hughes commenced moving his ef-
fects TO his farm in Boyle county, and
left here in an open carriage with his
wife and family. Smith knew Of his
movements, and lay in wait for him.
Going in his buggy ahead of Hughes,
and crossing the Kentucky river, he
weRt up the road that winds about the
cliffs for about mile and half to the
toll-gate. Here he left his horse and
buggy i'm the hands of colored boy, and
entered the woods saying he was going
q squirrel hunting. He went back down
the steep hill about half mile, and Sc
lected q spot behind a rock oyerhanging
the road, where he waited for his victim.
Hughes came along In about an hour,
driving a splendid team, which were
toiling slowly up the steep hill. Just as
the travellers came up to where Smith
was concealed the latter opened fire upon
Hughes, discharging three shots from
revolver. One shot took effect in the
right arm passing through the body and
both lungs. The second shot struck the
back, passing out above the umbilicus
Hughes's wife, who was sitting beside
her husband, seeing that he was shot,
took the rains In one hand and supported
her fainting husband with the other
The horses becoming frightened ran Off
up the hill and overturned the carriage
into deep Tavine. Mrs. Hughes says the
third shot was fired at her. IL took effect
III lA4t BtNA VI AiAC bGekg huNCA lhc Hcdls
The team was secured, and Mr.. Hughes
was conveyed to a house near the river,
where, after some time, medical assist
ance was procured. DR.. Welch, OF
Nicholasville, found the wounds as
above described, and at six o'clock, al
though the wounded man was yet alive,
no hopes were held out for his recovery.
After the shooting Smith took 10 the
woods, and il was thought ne was en-
deavoring TO make his escape Such
was not the case, however. In the after
noon, about an hour after the hssassina-
ton, Smith took his way down the road
TO the river, passed the house where bis
victim lay, crossed the river, and went
a little way up the hill. Meeting with
a colored boy, he handed him his gun,
asked him to hold it few minutes, and
turned 10 walk back, saying, as he did
so: "When you hear the report OF q
pistol, come and lay me out" Presently
the boy heard the report, and saw Smith
throw up his hands. On examination
II was found that he had Shot himself In
the head, between the eyes. Atsix O'Clock
he was not dead. The affair creates the
most intense feeling Of horror IN this
community, where the principals In the
tragedy are well known.
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