American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-04
THE yICASBuRG TRAGEDIES.

From the TicksbMrger of March
Goth aud eth we cOndense the fol-
lowing particulars of the recent
tragedies enacted in that city:
Yesterday evening. just a few
minutes before six O'Clock, Captain
VIM. X. Spears rode down Wash
ingtOn street in Henry Banks car
riage, and when opposite the office
door of Miller s. Birchett, ordered
the driver to stop, and directed him
to tell Mr.. Miller that he was want
ed. AS the driver went up the
stairs, Capt. Spears espied Mr.. Mil
Ter near DOrsey's store, and called
him, saying, "Bob, l want to see
YOU Mr. Miller came up close to
the side of the carriage, when with
out a word, SPEARS raised a Colts
revolver, and fired. Mr.. Miller fell
to the ground, a bullet striking
him near the centre of the fore
head. AS he fell, Mr.. Miller cried,
81 am murdered" Spears cOntin
u-d firing until every chamber of
his pistol was emptied, and five
bullets had been shot into the
body and head of the unfortunate
man. One of these shots is con>
sidered probably fatal, as the right
lung was penetrated by the bullet
On entering DR.. Shannon's room,
our reporter found a number OF med
ical gentlemen doing all in their
power to relieve the violent pains
which afflicted the much wounded
man, who seemed to have made up
his mind thatit was impossible for
him to live. and was, the refOre,
endeavoring to tell his MUD with
regard to the tragedy and his
private affairs He remarked: 81
have been most foulIy muI dered ;
l know that l will he slandered
when l die. l will have no chance
to yindicate myself, and l wan
you to defend me, George Ito Mr..
Birchett). He shot me down like a
dog, without giving me tine for a
word of explanation nor chance for
defence. 1t was the most cruel
murder 1 ever heard of" Later he
said: II know, know-but he was
entirely wrong; he was under a
misrepresentation from beginning to
end" Mr.. Miller then gave some
instructions to his brother in law,
Mr.. Thomas Crutcher, relating to
his private affairs. His wounds
were examined, and he was soon
after removed to his residence.
1t is said that Spears had good
reasons for acting as he did. Per
haps he had; but if X. j. Miller
goes to his grave in consequence of
the wounds Inflicted by VIM. r.
Spears, yesterday evening, there
will be few to believe the charges
against him, and many to condemn
the woman who caused his death.
Our citizens had hardly recovered
from the shock of "Wednesday AT
ternoom before another tragedy was
enacted on our streets, Painful and
dpplOrable. On the Oath inst. the
local editor Of thus paper had Occa-
sion to remind Ed. Culkin that he
was fast moving down the road OF
ruin This incensed his father, Mr..
Thomas Culkin, very much, ami
orally and by note. he threatened
the life of our local. Yesterday
morning, as Mr.. Lawns was con-
versiug with some friends near the
Washington hotel, he was accosted
by the elder Culkin, who requested
an interview. The interview grant
ed, Mr.. LAWNS was Immediately
assaulted by Culkin, who stabbed
him IN the back of the head, when
Mr. LAWNS drew q pistol and fired.
the ball entering the breas. of Cul-
kin and producing almost instant
death. Mr.. LAWNS Immediately
surrendered himself to the authOri
ties and hal All examination before
Justice Mann. who af.er hearing the
testimony and the report of the
cOroner's jury, decided that Mr..
LAWNS, in taking the life of Mr..
Culkin. acted entirely in self de-
fence.