The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-10-27
THE FRANKLIN TRAGEDY.
A Knoxville Man Indicted for
Murder.


Murder.
A terrible tragedy was enacted in
the Public Square at FRANKLIN, Tenn,
last Thursday, which resulted in the
instant death or Col. John L. House.
and the serious wounding of his son,
Mansfield House. The particulars
of the rencounter we condense from
the Nashville Americar's report:
Col. House and o. F. Griffin. a
policeman. had a personal alterca-
ton in saloon, which resulted in
Griffin knocking House down. Here
the matter ended until this morning,
when the parties again meeting.
some high words were used, but no
blows passed. They separated,
House going toward the store where
his son was employed, near which
lie met another party, and became
involved in a dispute, using langu-
age which Griffin considered not
suited to the time and place. Griffin
approached House and placed him
under arrest. Mr.. House stepped
to the front of the store, and seeing
Griffin with one hand on his fathers
collar and drawn revolver in the
other, supposing they were involved
in q personal dispute, stepped in the
street with his hand beside him.
Griffin asked him if he bad drawn
pistol on him. He answered mo"
Col House said he would draw one,
and proceeded to do so. wherenpon
Griffin fred at him, and turned and
shot his son, who had drawn his pis-
toll. He had shot Col. House three
times while House continued TO snap
his revolver at Griffin, and at one
time exclaiming. "Oh, pshaw T. as If
provoked at the failure of the caps
to explode. House hail nearly cross.
ed the street in an oblique line from
Griffin, when Recorder Allison, who
stood behind the corner of Cayce's
store shot st him, House imme-
diately falling to his knees. lie
seemed not to have anticipated a
fire from that quarter, because while
in the position described he attempt
ed once more to fire at Griffin. An
other shot from Allison, and Col. |
House fell back corpse. It seemed
to be generally admitted by those
who witnessed the fray that it was
Allison inflicted the fatal wounds. |
He had fired over John De Graffen-
reid who, picking up stone, ran him
into Cayce's store. throwing it so |
hard az to cut piece of cloth out |
of AIlison's coat at the shoulder,
and piece Of brick from the corner
of the building. 1t is further stated |
that Allison on entering the store.
ran under the counter. unloaded the
of his pistol, and placed /
the weapon far up under the counter.
The coroner's jury rendered YER
dict of unjusti6abIe homicide. and
the grand jury returned on indict-
ment against Allison and Griffin for
murder in the first degree. The
prisoners were recognized in bonds
of $4,000 each for their appearance
Saturday. The american Of Satur-
day says that rumors were current
in that city that an attempt would
be made TO lynch Griffin and Allison.
Allison is a native OF Knoxville.
about % years Of age.
The reporter speaks of Griffin as
appearing calm and confdent. while
Allison seems decidedly tloubIed
and anxious to relieve his mind by
full statement. The at
torneys for the prosecution are ]. G.
Wallace. Atha Thomas, I. W. Tur-
ley, B. Bond and Attorney General |
Russell. For the defense. Campbell. |
McEwen & Bullock, H. H. Cook, Fl.
+. FowIkes. j. III. Henderson and w.
E. DeCraffenreid
The funeral Of Col. House took
place Friday. attended By one Of the
argest professions ever Witnessed
ia Franklin. He was buried with
Masonic honors By Herman Lodge
No. 4. Young House at last ac-
counts VAS resting quietly, and bis
chances for recovery are considered
-ather favorable.