The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-05-17
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Three Men Killed and Another
+ Desperately Wounded
- - go In sleep. .as So.
TIE Full. P4RT10ULARs By TIE

sl0a KNOX COUNTY, TENN, April, 1910
no the Editor of the MOrristown Gazette: 2
+ In order to guard against the wilc
and somewhat exaggerated report
which are likely to agitatc the com
mnnity, in reference to the deplora
BILE tragedy which occurred yester
day morning. and In which it was mJ
misfortune to act part, I beg leave
through your paper to give a ful
and detailed statement Of the facts
of the case, exactly as 4hey occurred
and which statement | pledge my
honor to give as faithfully and true
as if upon oath.
On the eastern border Of my farm
is large brick-yard. now worked by
many hands, (mostly negroesl. and
on the outhgside, Immediately upon
the bank, of the river, is stone
quarry in active operation. Both OF
these properties belong to me, but,
for the present, are leased, and be.
yond my control, The works are
under ono management, and the su-
perintendent is Tor Was) man of ex-
traordinary energy Of character, bold,
daring, presumptuous, and utterly
INSCRIPTIONS in all the relations Of
lie. Both he and his employees
were constantly depredating upon
my timber, stock, or grounds, in
such a manner as to annoy me eX.
ceedingly. and my remonstranees
had become so frequent and earnest
as to excite the deadly hostility of
both the principal and his employees.
They had each and all frequently
threatened my life; but to this !
paid no attantlans
+ On Sunday night a gentle shower
fell upon the earth, and all tn m
dications being sorable T deter.
miru mi.r.eu the next morning to try the
first "fish of the season. I accord
ingly arose at 4 o'clock and started
for the river. My path led me
through an open field, directly to-
wards the stone quarry, and to the
left Of the brick-yard. Midway be-
tween the two last named places
stands rude board shed, or shantie,
ofconsiderable dimensions, and used
as a blacksmith shop. where the
tools of the works are repaired. 1t
is never closed, and is a common re-
sort for all. I reached this place
just at the dawn Of day. and entered
it to repair something about my reel,
which had become a little out of or
der. To my surprise | found Mr..
Bowen, the superintendent, upon
the anvil block, as if waiting to re-
ceive me. / had often been warned
against his boisterous threats, but
treated them with contempt, and, al
though little startled at his unex-
-pected appearance before me at this
unusually early hour in the morning,
I passed him by with my usual air
aud feeling Of utter indifference. He
seemed to anticipate my movement,
and threw himself before me with o
manner and gesture so outrageously
gross and insulting that / involun-
tarily struck him a powerful blow
over the shoulder with the minnow
bucket which / carried in nv hand,
and which was filed with minnows
and water Although q strong and
athletic man, instead of resenting.
he abjeetly quailed before the stroke,
and muttering out something of an
apologetic character, turned, as ]
supposed, to leave the shed. I pass.
ed on to the yise-bench. and whilst
in the act of taking out a screw, ]
happened to turn, and discovered the
COW ardIy miscreant stealthily ap
preaching me from behind, with Q
small ihatchet in his hand, and q
movement and manner which indi
Gated his purpose to bury it in the
back Of my head. With. the quick
ness of thought turned the butt
end of my fishing rod and gave him
terrible punch IN the pill
of the stomach. For a moment
he was paralyzed. and seizing him
by the throat. 1 bore him to the
earth, with the same ease I would
have done an ordinary half-grown
boy. At this moment the doorway
was darkened, and a villainous look
ing negro peered in upon us. IkneV
him to be an accomplice, but called
upon him for aid. He fed, and lef
me alone, struggling with my pow
erful antagonist. In moment more
/ saw the black scoundrel returning
with burly companion, both armed
with huge knives, and yell
ing like unclaimed, demons from an
1sotherl world. Recognizing thei
voices, my fallen foe called them tt
his. aid. with some horrid impreca
tions of vengeance against me, ant
making a sudden movement, caugh
me around the neck with such wise
/ like power as to threaten instan
j strangulation.l Up to this moment
1 jhadlreally felt no desire or purpos
| to inflict any harm upon the misera
bic wretch now SO completely in M
| power; but there was no time t
consult magnanimity now-myl ow
life was in the scales, and al. til
lchauces against me- Mr.. b.
| strength seemed suddenly to retur
l--his grip contracted with renewed
force, and my power of enduranc
4 was at an end. II seized the .hatche
that lay near and struck him a, bio
Iupon the temple with all the energ
4 of desperation. His arms relaxed
| a cohgulsive shedder passed owe
/ his frame. and | knew that the bio
was mortal, It was time. The for,
most negro was within ten feet /
!, lme. with his greatEnife in hand. an
/ deviIish murder In his eye. q Wit
sl the fatal hatchet still in hand,
j sprang to my feet and hurled it /
aim with the precision and force.
a rifie ball. It struck him full in I'll
: forehead, and he fell dead to til
j i earth. His hideous-Io0lxincy Comma,