Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-21
CAUGHT AT LAST.
Robert z. Bates, the Murderer Of
Joe Briefly, of Davidson County,
Safe i'm Jail.

Where and How He Was Captured
Description Of the Prisoner-His
Confession OF the Crime.
From the Memphis Appeal, March 10.
Special Detective Harry Cranmer ar
rived yesterday with Robert =. Bates, whom
he arrested the previous day at the resi-
dence of DR.. Eddings, five miles from Bart
lett, for the alleged murder of Joe Briefly,
last January, at party in the sixth civil
district of Davidson county, and near
Nashville. Procuring a horse at Bartlett,
Cant. Cranmer rode TO DR.. Edding's, and
after alighting near the dwelling, saw the
object of his search sitting OH fence in the
horse-lOt, about one hundred yards distant.
Bate was evidently on the q,i riUe, but his
apprehenSions were allayed by Capt. Gram
mer asking if the doctor was at home, and
upon receiving negative answer, stating
that he was an assessor, and had
come there to correct a mistake in
this respect. Bates, eyeing Capt.
Cranmer closely, consented to 60 with
him 10 the stable, in order to count the
number vi horses and mules, so that the
erroneous assessment could be corrected.
This was subtle device on the part of
Captain Cranmer, who, knowing full well
the impracticability Of attempting Batess
arrest in the open lot, sought more con-
fined place for the accomplishment of the
purpose of his visit. When the two had
reached the stable, Captain CTanmer drew
his pistol and said TO the young man: "Mr
Bates, have come to carry you to town,
and l am determined to do so. am not
an assessor, but a detective. l hope You
will make no resistance, for if you DO, l
will be compelled to hurt" With this
Captain Cranmer pulled out a pair Of
handouts, the aStOnishment of the
young man being already dlspelled by
the realization that no was to be arrest
ed. Bates was quickly handculieG, and
upon reaching the residence, Mrs.
Eddings, behOlding the manacles and
chain, said: sRobert, We did not think
this of YOU" Tbs prisoner, who was calm
and quite preposseSsed, remarked: SHow
do YOU like these kind of bracelets - at the
same time holding up his own bound
wrists to the gaze Of the sympathetic lady,
and her astOnished little son Charley.
Placing Bates upon another horse, the Off
Ger started to Blrtlett, and when about
halfway met DR.. Eddings, who also ex-
pressed much surprise to see his faithful
labOrer handcuiled the cause Of which was
quickly explained by the prisoner, who
asked him To settle the amount due for
services rendered. This the doctor did,
the amount being three dollars. Upon
reaching Bartlett, Capt. Cranmer guarded
his prisoner, who slept a greater part of the
night, until yesterday morning, when they
boarded the train, which brought them to
this city.
Bobert Bates is Z tall, well-built young
man, who has a good appearance, is not adj
dicted to drink, and speaks with apparent
candOr of the murder an! the reasons that
induced him to take the life of a fellow
being. His story, as related to Capt. Gran
mer, is as follows: ave had been giving
parties in the neighbOrhood, and last Janu-
ary, upon one of these occasions, towhich
Joe, Jim and Robert Briefly had not been
invited, was informed by my friend Ferd
Morton to keep my eyes skinned, as the
above named persons, while out foX-hunt-
ing, hearing Of the entertainment, had re-
solved to break it up and do me bodily
harm. They finally came, and L had Sc
lected place in the room for my position
with a young lady. Ascertaining this.
Bob Briefly, who hated me because 1
gave him beating one time at Waver
IL, when we were running on the Nash
vile and Northwestern railroad, said:
Il am going to have that place
Wishing to have no difficulty, l replied:
All right and Just before the set was
formed, started out with my brother Ben
to get a drink Of water. One Of the Bri-
erlys said: Are you going to give Us up
to which replied. 30, ! won't This is
a railroad term, but without realizing iJ
meant a challenge, went out of the door.
The BrierlyS followed after me, and jim
said: Where is her Where is who?'
asked Ferd Morton, or some other person.
'BOb-Bob Bates replied Jim Briefly.
There he is exclaimed another OF the
brothers, pointing TO where l was standing
outside. They had by this time crowded
to the front of the DOR, when Joe Briefly
remarked to me: we are aImel.' SO am
J. -yas the reply / made, and
diy.hing their purpose, my brother
Ben gave me my pistol, which he
had, Joe Briefly, in the meantime
saving, If YOU are armed you had
better use them;' he now was in
the act Of drawing a pistol, which,
fortunately fOr he, caught III the lining OF
his pocket; seeing my life was in immi-
nent danger, L drew my weapon and fired;
the ball pierced the heart of Joe Briefly,
who fell dead was compelled to shoot
him l did not seek the difficulty; l am
peaceful and never drink, but attend to my
business; the BrieTlys do not bear the best
characters, and are given to dissipation;
that night joe was half drunk, and when
! saw him trying to get his pistol out, |
knew that either his life or mine would
paw the forfeit; had to shoot, and would
you nOt have shot, too, when an infurlated
enemy, cTaZed with passion and whisky,
was rushing upon you, with his hand try
ing TO draw the pistol? l did not leave
Nashville, because of this homicide.
have killed two negroes i'm my life, one in
Edeefield. and the other in Nashville. Bat
1 do not think much OF killing negroes,
and vet hate to take the life of a white
man. Upon leaving home,
went to Cousins house, below
Nashville, where l remained some time,
and then came to work with an uncle in
West Tennessee. Leaving there, COM
menCed working for Or. Eddlngs, where
had been almost one month when you
arrested me. fortunately for you, hap
pened not TO have with me my pistol,
which was az the house. If had had it,
YOU never would have arrested me. When
you dismounted | thought YOU were an of
ficer, and had a weight Of a thousand
pounds removed from my brain when you
said YOU were an assessor. Knowing the
Governor had offered a reward for my ar
rest, and seeing from this letter by my
brother Bon thai WatsSn and Cunningham
of Nashville were after me, was not sur
priSed so very much when / found myself
in your clutches. Cunningham never
could have arrested me, for he knows
have no fOoliShness about me. l am GER
tain Of establishing my innocence and pc
ing acquitted, for 1 acted in self-defense."
The prisoner was put in the Adams
street statiOnhOuSe to await the arrival of
Detective Watson, Who VIII take him to
Nashville for trial. Bates does not have
the appearance Cf being bad man, Dut, ON
the contrary, would impress one with the
belief that he is a handwriting man, full
of determination, however, and cool under
any emergency. After arTesting him, Capt.
Cranmer recognized him as the man who
went to the police office, about six weeks
ago, about some carpenters tools that be-
lOnged to his uncle who died Of yellow
fever in this city last fall. John Bates,
aged As, who died of intermittent hemOr-
rhage in the old postOffice building, Oct. II,
1873, was not the brother of the prisoner.
TIC ,,-ictal-a vr,sohf arica Jobn Rates.