Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-03-28
AFFRAY BETWEEN NEGROES.
old Tony DfekersOn and Charles Brad. .
ley shot Through the Head by
YeuBE Negro Named VIII
liam HOekeII.
An Excite ed Crowd of Negroes. Rxasper-
ated bg the Crime, ShOOs HOckett
Twice while Trying ta Arrest
Hfm-Ete

Early yesterday morning number Oi
negroes engaged in an Rffrsy, on Thomas
avenue, Chelsea, which resulted in the
serious, and probably fatal wounding OF
William Hockett, Tony DickersOn and
Charles Bradley, The facts of the case
are as follows: Old Tony DickersOn, q
well-tO-do darkey, who enjoys a good
reputation for honesty and industry,
some time ago hired a young negro
lAborer named William Hockett. OW-
ing to Hockett's Incidence he deter
mined to discharge him, and thought OF
employing an old negro named William
Clowers. Yesterday morning Clowers
and Hockett ate breakfast together at
DickersOn's house, but during the meal
no unpleasant words ensued. Tony,
upon leaving the table, walked into his
room, and was followed by Hockett, who
drew pistol from his pocket, and with
the remark, Damn you, pll kill you"
fired the weapon. Simultaneous with
the report of the pistol, Old Tony fell
upon the floor, the bullet having pene-
trated his right ear. Clowers rushed
into the room where he saw the
old man lying on the floor,
with the blood OoziBg from the wound.
With the assistance of ClOwers the
wounded man regained his feet, and
leaving the house gained the street and
managed to stagger off and in
form his neighbors of the difficulty.
In about half an hour fifteen or twenty
negroes reached the house, where they
found Hockett, who, having reloaded
his pistol, seemed Indifferent, and said
that he had shot the old fellow, and
would kill him outright if need be. AS
be was leaning upon the fence one Of
the negroes, named Charles Bradley, ap.
preached and asked Hockett why he had
shot the old man. "God damn you, pll
shoot you," replied Hockett, who then
drew his pistol and fired. Bradley fell
to the ground, and from his left eye the
blood spouted in q dark stream, the
sight of which only seemed to incense
the excited crowd of negroes which had
gathered around the place. Bradley
was removed to his home near by, and
upon examination it was ascertained
that the bullet had penetrated his left
eye and lodged in the back of his neck,
producing, it is thought, a fatal wound
HOckett commenced relOading his
pistol, and was beset by the
crowd, which he successfully resisted
until one of them, Virginius Green,
secured pistol, with which
he discharged four times upon the
desperate, two shots taking effect;
one in the back of the shoulder, and the
other in the right arm. The negroes
then rushed upon Hockett, and over
him with main force, procured
a rope and bound his arms and legs
firmly together. Thus tied he was
placed in an express WAGON and hauled
to the Adams street statiOnhOuse, where
a warrant for murder was sworn out be-
fore Justice SpelmAn, who, upon hear
ing the evidence in the case, committed
the prisoner TO Jail. 1t is not probable
that either Tony Dickerson or Charles
Bradley will survive their wounds.
ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR.
Hockett's wounds may not prove ia
tai, although they are dangerous and
painful. He says that during the break
last old Tony used harsh language to- |
ward him. When they had reached the |
ball, Tony opened his room, and putting
his hand In his pocket, as il to draw q
pistol, said: "D-n you, am going to
kill your Thereupon he fired upon the
old man, and some time afterward,
while he was leaning against the fence,
q number OF neglOes, among them
Charles Bradley, came toward him.
Bradley tried to shoot him through the
fence, but diviniDg his intention, he fired
and bis sssailant fell wounded. After
that the negroes marched upon him,
and Virginius Green, with bull's-eye
pistol, fired four or five times at him
rom behind. He was then overpowered,
and carried in wagon to the station
house.