Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-18
pAsTARDLr WORK.
4 Brutal Outrage Upon the City Editor
of The Union and American.
The Perpetrators Two Sworn Officers
Of the County.
Universal Condemnation OF the Cow.
ardly Deed.


At about 10 O'Clock yesterday morning,
Robert s. Patterson and James \. Steele,
Jailer and a Justice of the Peace Tor Da-
wilson county, respectively, entered the
editorial room of the UNION AND AMEH-
CAN, the former holding in his hand copy
of Yesterdays issue of this paper, which he
presented to the City Editor, Mr.. John L.
Bell, with the enquiry, s'Did You write this
article about me?" The article referred TO
was as follows:
EsThe acl-and-Tan Executive Commit
tee held another secret meeting at the
postoflice last night, at which there was
full representation Of members, larson
Dilin presiding. MeSsTS. Bob Patterson,
II. N. Brien, Jr., Chris. Powers and
Major Dick Mccain were around
there somewhere and were evidently
in excellent spirits. After the committee
adjourned. they went TO Briens Office, ac-
eompanied by PaTsOn Dillin and a. "A. Car
fer, but remained there only short time.
Ii is understood that strong efforts are
being made by the white members OF the
committee TO get Robertson, the coiOred
candidate for taller, 10 withdraw in favor OF
Bob Patterson, but the colored portion OF
the committee fail to see 1t in that Illuml-
nation, and swear they'll stand by Robert
! son, while the latter says he is on The track
until p. NJ, Aug. q. Hence there IS a
| GOODNESS in the committee, among IFS indi-
vidual members, and il is possible that II
will share the fate of the party IN DAVID
/. 90. ~ ibid o.
1 itself that it will be unable To accomplish
ANYTHING. Meanwhile the ticket noml-
mated by the Democratic Convention Is
growing more popular every day, and Its
complete triumph is already dead
certainty"
llr, Bell-"YeS, | wrote it,
Patterson-apidn't YOU know you were
writing a id lie?-
When the question was asked, Mr.. Belt
Was sitting, in a leisurely way, with his
chair tilted back ana his feet upon table.
Before he could frame reply, Patterson
struck him behind the right ear and felled
him to the floor. Il is not hard matter TO
hit and kick man when he is down. This
the eoEardly rufian did until Mr.. Bell,
bruised and bloody, vas al but insensible
from his injuries.
In the meantime, another member Of our
editorial staff had left his seat and was
fastening 20 Mr.. Bells assistance. He was
promptly met by Steele, who presented a
revolver at his head and threatened to
shoot him if he moved an inch further.
After Patterson had gotten through his
brutal job, he and the hired blackguard who
had accompanied him withdrew from the
room, Patterson remarking, IF you use my
name again, wei! come down tomorrow
and clean your whole Office Out"
No person in Nashville is more quiet and
inofiensive IN his habits than Ar. Bell. He
weighs perhaps 12O, certainly not over 125,
hounds. Neither be nor his associate was
armed. Patterson Is man Of burly frame,
Sou; as an OK, and a recognized buiiS. His
alder and abettor in the outrage, Steele,
is a tall, row -boued, muscular fellow, Wits
all The f,rocious instincts os the bulldog,
whose company ne prefers to that Of decent
men. As intimdted above, both are officers
elected by lhepcople Of Davidson county
the one 10 guard offenders not one whit
worse than himself, the other TO conserve
the peace which he assisted, yesterday. TO
break in so disgraceful a manner.
The cause-if cause there be-of the at
tack upon Mr. Bell is alleged TO be the eX-
tract above quoted. 1t was certainly an
inofIensiye allusiuu, written without malice
AMI intended i,ylNr. Bell simply as a re
port of what lac had gathered the evening
previous. Every word Of it was true. No
doubt. il was the truth that hurt Patterson.
| His fortunes are at their most desperate
pass; the game is up: no respectable white
man will vote for him, and the choice of
the negroes has fallen upon one of
their own color; he is already beaten. We
are charitable enough to believe that an as
surance of this fact goaded him on to per-
petrate the outrage of yesterday; or, a. the
| ECrst, he may have done il, rs so many
suppose, al the instigation of Steele
Steele, whose tender sympathy for ''slaugh-
tered ex- Confcderates- has >tiTedthe whole
community.
But, after all, their real purpose was to
bully and b-ow-beat the UNION AND
AMERICAN into silence. And on this
point we care TO say only a word or Two.
Patterson and Steele, backed by
all the cut-throats and aSSasSins that
lurk in the sIums Of Nashville, cannot
silence this paper. As the pistol must be
substituted for the pen. the shorter and
sharper will be the Argument When cur
visitors Of yesterday return TO "clean out
the whole Office" no questions need BE-
asked, 10 explanations made. If they
mean business Of that sort, We will be with
them TO tire end of the canvass.
In the universal execratiOn which has
been hcaped upon these rUfians for their
brutality we gratefully recognize the pop
ular Endorsement of our course in the cOUn-
ty canvass. Threats Of violence, actual Vi
olence itself, shall not turn us from that
course.
The arrest of Patterson and Steele was
moi ii Tho instance of Mr. Rel or OF her