Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-21
NED BUNTLINE.
A BlOCd and Thuder Romance Out
of HIS Own I.IIA
e. WHITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor

VI LAb ONn LiISs
Correspondence Selma (Ala.) Times.l
Your brief alIusion a few days
past to "Ned Buntline (E. g:
Judson) has freshened my recollec-
ton Of some startling incidents in
his career that appear to have
dropped through the sieve of the
public memory. In early life "Ned
Buntline" was an officer in the
United States navy, but was dis
missed by President Polk, as well
as l remember, for drunkenness.
In 1916 "Ned Buntline" turned
up in Nashville, which was, at that
time, mere inland city, hanging
loosely on the circumference Of
civilization, and was without rail
road OF telegraph. How and why
he came there is an enigma he only
can solve. After getting there he
was employed by Mr.. Tannahill to
assist him in editing the 0rthopoli-
tan, a literary paper recently started
on the usual starvation principle.
There was nothing particularly
spicy or brilliant in the 0rthopoli-
tan, which gave up the ghost after
languishing existence of some
eighteen months, without leaving
any "aching void," or being fol-
lowed by a firSt-class funeral. "Ned
Buntline," while acting as assistant
editor Of the Orthopalitan, was re-
ceived socially at the house of Mr..
Porterfeld, a respectable merchant
Of Nashville, but abused the hospi-
tality of Mr.. Porterfeld by seduc-
ing his wife-a handsome, but vain
and snowy woman, whose ailment
was admiration. When the inf
deity Of his wife came to Mr.. Por-
terfeld's knowledge, he armed him
self and set out to hunt up the
Iseducer, and, seeing him on the
street, fired at him twice without
effect. Judson drew his pistol,
rested it on his left wrist, and
killed Porterfeld at the first fire.
He surrendered himself at once and
was placed on preliminary trial al
most instantaneously in the court
house.
The news of the seduction of
Mrs. Porterfeld and the killing of
her husband by the seducer was
soon known all over the city, and
aroused very great indignation.
Nashville was in a ferment, and
poured into the courthouse to
watch the progress of the trial. So
indignant, incensed and excited
were the people that they required
but a spark to fan them into a
blaze, and this spark fell unexpect-
edly among the combustible mate
rials ready collected. A brother of
the deceased, armed with two old
fashioned revolvers, suddenly en-
tered while the trial was in progress,
and proceeded to open fire on Jud-
aon, who was defenseless and in the
custody of the law. Everybody
! looked upon this attack of Porter
field as just and proper, and left
Judson to his fate. Finding every
body was against him, Judson at
length darted through the crowd
and ran for his life, with the mob
close at his heels, some shooting at
him with pistols and Others pelting
him with stones. In this plight he
reached the city hall and fled up
stairs, with the mob in full cry after
him. He finally reached a room in
The third story, and hid himself
from his pursIeFs by standing up in
the window and dropping the cur
tain in front of him; but as he was
in plain view Of the crowd In the
street below his pursuers pretty
soon were apprised Of his hiding
place. The window was raised, and
looked out upon the public square,
crammed and jammed with the
mob that was thirsting for his blood.
yet as soon as his pursuers drew
the curtain out and thrust a pistol
at him, Judson leaped from the
third story window, intending tc
grasp in his descent the iron bal.
! nstrade belonging to the SECOND