Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-15

" III w. AeA liz AAC ia NC LAhEIla
as both Mrs. Gatlin and Haslam had
threatened to put an end to him. He did
not want a fuss, and intended 10
90 to the country aud stay with his mother,
but he hated very much to leave his little
children. He then said ssgoOd bye" got
over the fence and went along Crawford
street until he came to High. Turning up
the latter street be disappeared, and 1 have
not seen him since.
Last Sunday morning, shortly before 4
o'clock, L thought / heard a strange noise
like some one was stirring about on the
premises. l called my husband, and told
him | believed somebody was in the yard.
He said he thought / was mistaken, and
that l only heard some one Oh the pave
ment.
/ got up went TO the door and saw a man
dressed in a dark suit of clothes, going
west along Crawford street and about
thirty yards from my house, walking in a
moderate gate. / went back TO bed but
had been there but a few moments when l
heard the clock stIike four. AT this tiIneI
heard somebody walking in a hurry along
the pavement. Ii appeared TO me that two
or more persons composed the party, for l
heard a rather indistinc conversation car
ried on.
l know nothing about the trouble in the
Gatlin family. have occupied this house
some time but have never visited them.
THE PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION.
About IL O'Clock Yesterday Gatlin was
taken before Justice Everett for trial, but
on account Of the impOssibility Of securing
the attendance of witnesses on so short no
tice, the trial was postponed until 4 p. NJ.
At the hour set for the hearing Of the
case, the Office Of Justice Everett was
crowded almost TO sufiocation with a mot
ley assemblage of persons DESTROYS Of see
ing the man who was to be tried for the
highest crime in the calendar.
THE PRISONER
was brought in by Officer John Massey,
and provided with a seat near the railing.
where he sat with his back to the crowd
and somewhat sheltered from their gaze.
He seemed to be perfectly cool and collect
ed, paying due attention to the testimony
adduced during the investigation, but man
ifesting no greater degree Of interest than
was exhibited by the others present.
He Is a man about IS years Of age, Of
medium size, weighing about 80 pounds,
and was dressed in light striped pants,
Leavy, dark coat and plain white shirt. He
wore no vest or collar. His hair is dark,
and he wears heavy, rather closely trimmed
chin whiskers and mOustache.
The examination was conducted by
Justices Everett and Paul, the prisoner be-
ing represented by Messrs. Dodd and
Guild. Mr.. William Haslam, formerly
Street Overseer, a brother Of the deceased,
appeared as prosecutor.
The following witnesses were sworn and
put under the rule:
Pink Lawrence, James Brantley, Week
ley Cheek, w. A. Hamilton, L.. Freesland,
D. o. CullOugh, VIM. Beech, VIM Talli-
son, Mrs. Ingles, Mrs. Reed, Officer John
Massey, p. ChipchaSe, VIM. Rear.
MRS. INGLEs CALLED.
Direct Examination. l know nothing
about this murder, nor Of any previous diff
Guilty between Mr.. Gatlin and Mr.. Haslam;
have heard Mr.. and Mrs. Gatlin quarrel
about sam Haslam; Mr.. Gatlin used to
throw it up TO her that she humored him.
MRS. REED CALLED.
Direct EIGmiRatiOR.-The evening be
fore the murder Mr.. Gatlin had q little
talk with me; he came into my house;
said Is not that HaSiam, sitting down at
Mr.. Wards Office, / said yes; he said amt
it hard for a man to be run away from his
nome. I SAlN VS. liz AlEAA Sal III AAAAAAA !
had a moments peace for six weeks,
they've threatened to take my life and i
am not going 10 have any fuss with
then, Lut Ga going TO by t'l0thar-i
he then lefl INV house and went down
Crawford street towards High street, going
towards his mOths:'s; he said be was going
TO his mothers.
CyOSS-erOHfReL-When Mr.. Gatlin spoke
/ l. I'LL I'LL a 40 HhnH N=nE IN Inau
Trouble; b. spOkt sUrlOwmi like.
1 LAWRENCE CALLED.
Direct ErGmiaGtiOR.-Saw Mr.. Gatlin
about one o'clock Saturday; seemed to be
in a heap of trouble; said Il could tell you
a heap, but | won't as / see you are busy
he then asked lie to get him Sl5.uO from
Mr.. Allen, for whom he had been working;
few minutes afterwards Imet Sam Haslam
who asked me if l had seen Mr.. Gatlin,
and When ! sGld him l Lad, lie called hin,
a cowardly s-n of a b-h, and said
he had just been beating his wife,
and that it wouldn't be good for him
if he met him; saw Gatlin in the evening
and told him what Haslam had said; he rev
piled, THAT scOundrel has ruined my hap
piness foTeFeT"
CT0sS-erdhfcmiOn.-Mr. Gatlin seemed
very sad when L told him whit Haslam
had said; have known Gailin about Is
years, VIXEN Hlslam talked to me about
Gatiin he seemed very aagy,
JAMES BRANTLY CALLED.
Direct ErGHiHd6Oh.-I held an inquest
over Mr.. Haslam's body; he was certainly
murdered, his body being badly mangied;
his head was crushed, but there was a cut
across the chin which waS GGIe VIII 2 sh2rp
instrument; think lie was laying Onthg bed
when first struck, but had got out on the
floor and there died; the boys in the next
loom heared some n gaSping for breath
and opened the door and found him there;
l am . carpenter b. sraAe; have made brick
maSOns' plumb rulss;th6 wound on the fore
head, MASKING in the skull, could have been
done with a plumb rule; there were three
licks inflicted on the face and several on
the back of the head.
WFAKLEY E CALLED.
Direct ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ar. Satin
Saturday evening carrying a carpet-sack;
told me he was going TO his mothers; next
morning heard that Mr.. Haslam had
been cut to pieces; visited the house and
saw Haslam lying on the floor in a
pool Of blood; there were two
kinds of tools used, l think; nave kn0Sn
| sam HaSlam since lcOU, ne has DccA DodLu-
ing at Gailin's for a hong time; have seen
him and Gatlin together heard they had
had a little row some time ago, but they
made it up.
=" Z. CHIPcHAsE CALLED,
Direct Examination Early Sunday
morning a negro woman told me 4 man
had been killed at the corner house; went
TO Gatlin's; asked Mrs. Gatlin what was the
matter; she says, ''GoOd God, Just 90 up
s~tairs;'' went up stairs and found Sam lust
breathing his last; think he was asleep on
his bed when first attacked.
WIN. REAR ALLIED
Direct ErdmindtiOR-Gatlin told me last
Tuesday that he had had some difficulty
with his wife, and hid ordered Haslam
away from his house.
CrOSs-ermHinGtiOR.-Haye known Mr..
Gatlin about p years; he is a quiet, law
abiding man.
W. A. HAMILTON CALLED.
Direct EJUHindtiOR.-FoUnd that ma
sons plumb drought into the ROOM; it
was in an clubhouse belonging to Gatlins
house; the rule had marks of blood omit.
CrOSS-ermHiRed.I would not swear that
the marss on the plumb were made by
blood.
tom FOrbiss and VIM. Beech corrOh-
grated what Hamilton had SID zbOut the