Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-18

Senatobla, Tate county, Mississippi
some thirty-6ve miles south Of this city
on the Mississippi and Tennessee rail
road, was the scene Of a bloody and des
perate personal encounter on Saturday
evening between two well known citizens
of that little burg--Mr. J. H. Cooke, ,
well known planter, merchant and poll
%tician, and Bud McHenry. a bricl
maker, who has been suppl. Hng bricl
to the Senatobia courthouse. of which
Mr.. Cooke was contractor. From sew
eral witnesses to the ARRAY we CLEAN the
following particulars, after endeavoring
to reconcile many apparent discrep
ancieS in their respective statements:
There was some kind Of a political
gathering at Senatobia on Saturday
evening. and Cooke and McHeury
met at Salmon's saloon, where sew.
eral parties we've drinking. A Mr..
Brady, a well known politician, was
running for the Office of Prosecuting OF
District Attorney, and in the saloon
above mentioned Niche DRY. who had
been drinking, remarked THAI he would
vote for a negro before he would for
Brady. Jack Cooke, who was also in
the saloon, replied that the a who
would say that was a pup" This was
about seven o'clock, and the parties had
som words. They left the saloon, how
ever, but in an hour afterward met again
at the same place, both parties having
been drinking in the meantime. Nc
Henry approached Cooke and remarked
that he did not like what he had said
and he would fight him a tair fight. Both
were large, powerful men and of deter
mination and pluck. Cooke replied hat
he had two pistols and that he would
give him one oil them, SO that they could
tight it III lie then slapped McHeury's
face and drew bis pistols, but McHenry
said he was not armed. When Cooke
was placing his pistols back in his pocket
MeHenry drew a small cartridge five
shooter and shot Cooke in the stomach,
the ball passing into the body. Cooke
drew a pistol and snapped it twice. Nc
Henry fred another shot and missed and
the parties struggled to the door, Cooke
being struck on the head with a pistol as
he passed out. He leaned against a
post and McHenry fred at him
again. Mr.. Cooke exclaimed: Don't
shoot, you've shot me-" 1t seems that
the combatants separated at that time,
and Mr.. Cooke started homeward to have
his wound attended to, bat at the corner,
in o few minutes afterward, McHenry
met Cooke again and then both parties
commenced firing, the last shot being
fred when they were about ten feet
apart. Strange Rs it may appear, the
only shot that took effect wal the first
one fred by McHenry 10 the saloon.
McHenry now ran into Cooke and a
deadly grapple took place. Mr.. Cooke
dropped his pistol, aud drawing a dirk
knife plunged it into McHenry's breast
near the colIar,bons, cutting a terrible
cash then plunged it again into his
body some six times, inaicting mortal
wounds. McHenry cried out, Jesus,
he's killing me" and fell to the ground.
Several parties ran up and carried Mr..
Cooke TO his home, as he was becoming
sick and faint from his wound. Nc
Henry was gssping, but lied while other
parties we're carrying him IS his ro9p.
Yesterday afternoon tbs news came
from senatobia that Mr, Cooke was NOR.
tally wounded, and that there was but
little hope OF his recovery. Mr.. Cooke
has been residing in and near Senatobia
for many years. He was a LARGE planter
aud slave owner. Since the war he has
been planting and store.keepins. and
dabbled considerably in local politics,
taking the Radical side generally. Nc
Henry had been residing at senatobia
since Christmas, and was manufacturing
brick for the new courthouse. Mr.. Cooke
being the builder and contractor. Ne.
HesFy, prior y that tins resided 10
Ranola county, Miss. lie has relatives
both in this city and in Arkansas. We
aBdeFatapd that IN politics he vas also
inclined Radically Both men we're
known to be game and determined, and
the result Of the ARRAY fully subsianii-
ates these traits Of character. McHenry's
wounds were Of a horrible nature, his
breayt being cut II pipeeo from ,hs pow.
eriul stabs Of She deadly dirk.
No FAMILY should be without The fine
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