Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-13

Inc ulbpalcn sent 10 GOVerQOr GOSJel
by Judge Hawkins from Hickman, KY,
countermanding the requisition for tbs
Chickasaw Guards reached here before
the IN via steamer and Memphis wa
received. The governor was somewhs.
puzzled on this account to know VIVA
bad taken place, but was soon after re
lieved Of any anxiety On this account b.
the receipt Of the dispatch from Mem
phis, in which Judge Hawkins announced
his inability to enforce the law, anC
called on him to send the Chickasaw.
to his assistance.
Nall, the man whom Darnell and fvt
other r%ufians murdered in cold blood
TWO years ago, was the son of Colone.
R. c. Nall, formerly a representative in
our legislature from Lake county
Young Nall had just attained the age o
twenty-one and was engaged in running
q steam ferry from T~iptonville to PoinI
Pleasant, in Missouri. Darnell also haC
q boat running between those points
and they landed one not far from th'
other. Being au overbearing msn who
could not stomach opposition of any
sort, Darnell deliberately planned
a scheme to get rid of his competitor.
Accompanied by five of his friends, all
heavily armed, Darnell went down to
Nails boat one day, intending to put
both him and his boat out Of the way
They found Nall alone. When they had
approached to within a short distance Of
him, the Darnell crowd pulled out their
revolvers and commenced firing upon
him. Nall, who was q man Of wonderful
pluck, pulled out his pistol and com.
menced to fire upon the rufians. Unlike
them, however, be shot no random balls
he took cool aim, and, while be killed
only one, every bullet was made to tel
its story upon the bodies Of his assassins.
He shot Darnell twice, but the wounds.
unluckily, did rot prove fatal. Nall fell
o corpse when he had discharged the
last load in his revolver.
DARRELL was carried home, and il was
reported that he had been fatally
wounded; but this was all a sham he was
soon up and away. A fugitive from
justice, be roamed up and down the Mis-.
sissippi river, always armed to the teeth.
DE now sought more than ever the con-.
pany of desperate men, and, being worth
nearly half a million OF dollars, he found
them ever ready to do his bidding, as
was proven, under such digrao eiul cir.
cumstanoes, at Tiptonville.
About four years ago Darnells two
sons and nephew killed Robert Lane,
Trent Lane and a nan named Edwards,
all OF whom lived in Weakley county.
Darnell was indicted as on abettor of
these murders before the fact, but was
acquitted. The verdict of the jury had
hardly been announced before the qaes-
ton Of fees came up and he and his at.
torneys had hot words, which finally eul
minated in Dsrnell calling the attorney
q liar and the attorney striking him
a blow when Judge tnow Governcr)
Porter looked up from reading a
legal document and saw what was
passing. BE at once ordered the sheriff
to arrest Darnell, threatening to send
that officer to Jail unless no obeyed
Darnell submitted to the arrest, and was
being taken out of the courtroom when
the lawyer spoke up and admitted that
it was his fault, as he had struck the first
blow. Judge Porter had Daruall brought
back On hearing this and fined the par
ties fifty dollars each. Both of the fines
paid.
Darnell is between sixty Eve and sew
enty years old and got his title in o
with the militia before the war.
He is well known as a desperate charac-
Ter in West Tennessee, Arkansas and
Southern Missouri,