Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-12
MURDER.
Dsputy sheriff u. W.. Fus..u
MAoIson County, n BruIalIy MIR
Serea while IA the Discharge or
MS Daty.

-
DSPssy sheriff !. W. Fusssn, Of
deFed while Ia the Dischnr@e ar
his Daty. %
The Jackson (Tenu.) Sur, of the 9Th.
contains the following account of a mur.
Ger committed ia Madison county. The
Sun says;
Near the county line dividing Madison
and Carroll counties, and not far from
the village Of Spring Creek, is The boms
OF Andy Potete, the father, and OF VIII
liam, John and Levi Potete, his three
Gons-all stalwart young men. The three
sons were presented by the grand jury
OF this county for carrying concealed
weapons; and a warrant issued for their
arrest was placed in the hands Of DEPUTY
Sheriff Jason W. RUSSELL. On Saturday
last this officer, having summoned his
nephews, William and John Anderson
j., sons of John J. Anderson, as a posse
proceeded to the house of the Potetes for
the purpose Of arresting the offenders Of
the law. The Potetes refused to be az.
rested, but at last they agreed to 20 with
the officers, but wished to 90 into the
house after clothing. Captain RUSSELL
vent in with them, when suddenly ina
door was shut and pistol shots succeeded.
When the FIRST shot was fred from the
inside the Anderson boys rushed to the
rescue OF their uncle, impeded but a few
moments by the closed door (which was
kicked open by VIM. Anderson). The
hight for life now began in earnest.
When the door flew open John Potete.
on the instant, fred ct VIM. Anderson
the ball p~loughing through his oyercoa
under the right arm. Andersen re.
turned the fire, the load from his gun
grazing lis adyersary's side. The
wounded man reeled from the shock. but
catching hold of the bed-post steadied
himself and continued to fire. A second
shot from Anderson, his last load, lodged
10 the stomach and bowels of John Pc.
tete, fatally Wounding him, and placing
this most daring of the three brothers
out of the combat.
TIE situation Of the Andersons was
nov critical in the extreme. William
bad spent his last round. His brother
John, in attempting TO ERE his gun, had
discharged one barrel by accident, and
to no effect. Finding that they had but
one load lett they retreated under a hot
hSe from the house. When a short dis.
lance from the house William turned.
snatched his brother Johns gun and
bred the last load at one of the Potetes.
who was standing in the door firing his
revolver. Whether Anderson's last shot
took effect or or not is not known. Sew.
eral shot lodged in the door-sill.
The Andersons were pursued about a
quarter of a mile by the Potetes, who at
this distance abandoned the pursuit,
Proceeding on foot to Spring Creek, the
Andersons soon aroused the people A
force was speedily organized and at once
set out for the scene ST conflict. On
reaching the spot they found CAPTAIN
Russell lying dead on the floor. three
shots having penetrated his head and
one his body. John Potete was found
mortally wounded, shot in the bowels.
Old man Potete was with his wounded
son, and unframed. The remainin q
brothers, William and Levi, had ged'
having first rihed the dead officers pock.
cts of about forty dollars in money. and
carrying of with them his pistol and
saddle.bags. They also took with them
Fusselrs horse. The Anderson bays
we're mounted on mules, which took
fright during the m,lee and ran off, but
have since been captured.
Old man Potete was arrested, and after
a preliminary examination before Els.
quire John 7. Roam, at Spring Creek,
was loigedin the county jail in this city
on Sunday morning. We learn that
John Potete, in his dying confession,
said that he shot RUSSELL one time through
the head. That his father first caucb
RUSSELL around the body with both arm.
aud shouted out, Kill the damned sop
Of a bitch" John says then it was that
he shot Captain RUSSELL through the