Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-16
THE BROWNSVILLE TRAGEDY.
The Shame and Crime Of Sunday
Night.
From the Memphis Appeal. Aurl a.


Night.
From the Memphis Appeal, April a.
Brownsville was thrown into a high de-
gree Of excitement, Sunday night last,
when the news spread over the town that
b. +. johnson, the wellknown telegraph
operator at that place, had been shot and
fatally wounded by a young man named
Samuel Oldham. We have been able to
learn the facts Of the ease, which, as re-
lated, render the affair one Of much scan
dal.' johnson is a young man about
twenty-five years Of age, and although UNI
married. has been for sometime the only
support Of his sister and widowed mother.
de was well known and in a most favora-
bic II to the community of Browns
vile. The other party, Samuel Oldham, is
connected with one of the best families in
Haywood county. For some time past he
has been clerking in a Brownsville store,
and was a elass-leader in the Methodist
Church at the above place. He was quite
popular, and looked upon with much es-
TEEN because Of his apparent piety and de-
vOtion to the church, of which he was sup
posed to be a jealous and faithful member.
His character was above rep7oach, and il be
had any vicious habits he never let such
be known. Last Sunday afternoon, as was
his custom, Oldham delivered a long ad-
dress to his class in the church. Like most
lectures Of the kind, that of Oldham's was
upon morality and rectitude In all things.
Sunday night, about 9 O'Clock, young
johnson went to a house of ill-fame, and
shortly after being admitted into the room
of the proprietor, thought he heard a noise
in the aHiOiniDn nnn Tharouusop ho acEad
the woman what was the cause of the noise
in the next room. She informed him that
another visitor was in there and caused the
noise. "Who's In there? I'd like to see
and I'm going to see" remarked johnson.
The woman opposed this intention, and
said, "You'd better not go in" Despite
her entreaties and warning, johnson seized
the lamp and started to the door. He
opened the door cautiously, and holding
the lamp in front of his face, could not ex-
actly see who the visitor was. The object
of his search now commenced moving
about, and trying to conceal himself from
view in the far corner near the bureau.
johnson having raised the lamp saw the
man crouching In the corner, and at once
recognized him as Sam Oldham, who ap-
peared chagrined and also angered. Not
wishing to intrude on Oldham he turned to
leave the ROOM. As he did so the report of
a pistol was heard, and Johnson whirled
backward into the room where the woman
was, and fell with a groan upon the floor,
the blood flowing from his right
breast. Realizing the fearful act
he had committed, Oldham rushed past his
bleeding victim and the terrified woman to
the outer door. Thence he left the house
and fled through the shadows of the night
from the horrible scene of shame and crime,
and from the clutches Of violated law. The
woman al once sought and obtained assist
ance, and the unfortunate young IA was
removed to a comfortable place. DR.. J. H.
Nuttall and W. L. Rogers, Of this city, were
telegraphed to, and, We understand, left
yesterday for Brownsville, to treat the
wounded man.
The excitement caused by this bloody
act knew no bounds, and it is reported that
Oldham might have suffered speedy
justice at the hands of an outraged com
munity had he been caught. The hue and
cry was raised, and the sheriff, with a large
posse, has been guarding the railroad for
three miles. Other officers and citizens are
hunting up the fugitive in the country, and
no plans calculated to ans his apprehen-
sion have been left undOne.
The bullet, which, from the aperture
made, is supposed to have been fired from a
Smith & Wesson pistol, struck in the breast
and penetrated the right lung. The wound
prObed but the ball was not found, as
it had gone beyond the reach Of an instru-
ment. The wound is believed TO be fatal,
and johnson was said to be in a dying con-
dition Yesterday afternoon.