Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-25
SHERIFF MANNING MURDERED
The Tunica Miss County Ven
delta eliminates In the
Slaughter Of Sheriff n.
J.. Manning on Tues
day Last, Etc.
The ASsassins Lying in Wait for
Their Victim.

Last Tuesday night Sheriff Martin J
Manning, Of Tunica county, Deputy
Sheriff J. N. Neblett. T. J. Woodson,
mayor Of Austin, and Mr.. Alexander, a
merchant, agreed to come to Memphis
that night on board the steamer Goa.
homa, Manning and Neblett we're sleep.
ing that night in the rear of DR.. Phillips
drug store. They informed the WAGNER
to wake them up in time to get on board
the boat. About L. o'clock that night
Deputy Sheriff Neblstt got up. aud, tax.
ing his %Valise, went out to the wagon
which was to carry item to the land
ing. Hearing the boat wbistling down
the river he ran back To Phillips drug
store to wake ur Manning. The latter
got up and came to the door. As be
looked out he said, Jap Mr.. Neblstt),
who ia that standing over there near
the courthouse fence. Go and see.'
Mr.. Neblett went over and found JOIN
Fretwell standing there armed with g
double-barreled shotgun. Neblett walked
up and put his hand on him, when Fret
well leveled the gun and said, Jap
don't 60 back to Manning. II you do ]
will kill you" Ns5lett seizsd the muz
zla of the gun aud tried to take it, bul
Fretwell kept it cooked aud pointed al
bin, threatening all the time. Nebleti
let go and ran in an opposite direction
from where Manning was, and going r.
bis brothers house obtained a needle
gun. Coming back to hunt Fretwell
the latter saw him ard escaped into Mrs
Manning's back yard aud disappeared
1t will be remembered that Sheriff and
Mrs. Manning had not bsen living to
gether since the murder of Harvey b.
Manning a few weeks ago.
SKIS HIS DANGER.
Nebleit went to Phillips drug store
and informed Sheriff Manning that John
Fretwell was lying in wait outside to xii
him. Manning gave bis fine shotgun tC
Neblett and ordered him to gU and ar
rest him. Mr.. Neblett, with A. J. Neb
lett and Sam Cannon, patrolled the towr
but failed to find F%retwell. Neblett ther
returned to Phillips drug store and re
turned Manning his shotgun, informing
him that they could not fad Fretwell
Manning refused TO 20 TO the boat, fear
ing the assassins, whom he knew we're or
bis track, and were lying in wait outside
he said, Jap, you go; | am afraid to e
to the boat to night" Eeblett offered t.
accompany him there with several others
and to protect him, but Manning refused
not deeming it safe to do 30. d,
cried as be said all this, and thsr
going to the Darkroom Of the drug stort
sat down, with shotgun in hand, as i
awaiting his enemies. Neblett, who wal
on bis way to see his wife in Middle
Tennessee, and hearing the boat whist,
started for the landing on foot. Wher
he got some two hundred and fifty yard
out Of town a man suddenly appeared il
the bushes, aud, leveling a gun, fred
Neblett, as be saw the apparition, threw
himself on the ground aud the load o
shot passed ovsr him harmlessly. Hit
would.bs assassin walked cut and ap
peared in the shape of
JONI FRETwELL
He ran up to Neblett and recognizing
him. said, Jap, | did not know it was
you | thought it was Manning" and
they separated. Neblett got to the land.
ing and on the Coahoma. When the
boat arrived at Frederick landing, some
two miles above, Neblett had the boat
landed and detained, thinking that Man
ming would probably com aboard, Neb.
lett then took a skif and returned to
Austin, and vas Immediately informed
that Sheriff Manning had been shot.
II TRAGEDY
Mr.. Neblett, who is our informa AMI, on
arriving found Sheriff Manning lying on
the counter at Dr.. Phillips drug store
with six pistol balls 10 bis body. He
was conscious and spoke freely. Among
other things he said to Deputy SaeriG
Ne5lett Jap, get Brady aud my wife
and look in my private drawer take what
papers are there aud give everything to
my wife. While he way lying there Mrs.
Manning came in, but he raised his hand
and waved her of. saying, Mrs. Man
ming go away from here"
Mr.. Neblett was informed as to the
particulars Of the killing ss follows.
During the evening Mr.. Gibson was at
Phillips drug store with Manning, and
when Rehlatt and others went out to
hunt for Fretwell be (Gibson) also went
out on the sane errand. Re aud Man.
ming we're friends, and they we're all
there as friends of Manning that night
During Neblett's absence Mr.. Gibson re
turned to Phillips drug store, and going
10 the back rooA whore Manning va
sitting, with gun in hand, he said
Manning, Cd d-n you, l understand
you say that tried to assassinate you
} He at once drew a snail pistol and Gree
at Manning, the ball entering the lef
elbov and passing into the left shoulder
Manning got up and ran out the bacl
door, but into the arms Of tho ayenger