The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-09-27

Gerry and go to a vacant house about a
half mile away. The men and little boy
stop at the house, but the woman passes
on to the woods alone Dick Hoard
gives the little boy some more whisky
and then takes him out and talks to him.
He gives him loaded navy pistol and
tells him to go up in the woods where
Marth West is and ''shut off her BREATH"
The boy takes the pistol and goes, but
finding the girl alone, crying, his heart
fails him and he cannot fire. He and
the girl returns to the house together.
He stopping with the men and she pass
ing on to the branch to wash her face.
Dick Hoard again takes the boy out and
gives him another dram. The girl in
| the meantime comes from the branch,
passes by the men and goes 90 or go
yards up the road and takes a seat on
| the grass. In short time she lies down
on the grass, but whether she was asleep
or not will never be known. Dick gives
the boy another dram, hands him the
pistol and tells him the second time to
go and ''shut off her breath" az ding
significantly, "you know wha l mean"
Again the boy starts on his errand of
death, and this time his heart does not
fail him. He finds the young woman
lying quietly on the ground, presents |
the pistol and fires. The ball enters her I
ear, she Strengthens herself out and |
grOans, as he says, and then he run off
and cried. When the boy started up to |
where Marth was lying on the roadside
the men walked off somewhere in the
other direction. After the shooting,
the boy runs as fast as he can back to
the grocery. In an hour or so the men
pass back up the road and walk within
two feet of the dead woman. They go /
to the grocery, where they remain until
dark, when they go back and pretend to
find her dead, and tell the neigh bors
about the matter. These are about the
facts in the case as they have been relat-
ed to US by persons who were at the
coroner's inquest.
The boy who was used by these men
in this fatal days work is named Cap.
johnson. He came into this county
from Greene, with his mother a short
time ago, and has not borne a good name
in the neighborhood since he has been
in it. That he did the shooting there is
no question whatever. He admits it,
and his statements are all corroborated
by other evidence. 1t is also upon his
testimony that Dick Hoard has been ar
rested and committed to Jail His state
ments also implicate Houston King AMI
a brother of Dick Hoard. King has been
arrested and is in Jail, and probably the
other Hoard will be.
Dick Hoard who was the keeper and
probably The owner of the grocery was
born and raised in this county He is
perhaps 30 years of age, was soldier in
the late war, belonging to Capt. Spearss
Company, in the 61st regiment of Ten
nessee Volunteers in Vaughan's Brigade
Houston King was also born and raised
in this county. He looks to be about
80 years of age.
What could have been the motive of
these men or either one of them for tax
ing the life of the young woman, is now
the question? 1t so happens that barn
in that neighborhoOd was recently burn
ed and building which had been used
for the sale of whisky at Persia, had al
so been burned. Both buildings fred
by an incendiary. 1t is supposed that
Marth West knew too much about these
fires for the safety of certain parties,
and hence it was determined to "shut
off her breath" and silence her tongue
forever. Cap. johnson, the ignorant,
bad boy was chosen as the instrument,
who after being drugged with whisky
seemed to have no will of his own, but
obeyed his master, Dick Hoard, with
perfect obedience. As long as he was
in the presence of Hoard, after being ar
rested, he would tell nothing, but as
soon as he was taken out of his sight he
told straightforward tale and related
everything that transpired that fatal day
The opening of the doggery at Persia
was the groundwork of the whole series
of crimes. The burning of the building
which had been used for the whisky
shop, the burning of the barn a few
weeks ago, and now the murder of this
young woman with all it's attendant
troubles, are all traceable to the dOggery
and the sale of vile liquor to make men
drunk and crazy. There are several
other places in Hawkins county, of lit
tie better character than the Persia dog
gerry bore one month ago. Let the own
ers of these places of ill-fame take warn
irg.