The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-12-19
SHOOTING AFFRAY IN
GRANGER COUNTY.
One Man Killed and Several
Persons Wounded,

Persons Wounded.
Quite serious ARRAY occurred Friday
| last, the 14th inst, at the residence oil
Pierce Lee, near Clinch river, in Grain
ger county, IN which one man was kill
ed, one dangerously wounded and Others
painfully hurt. From the attending
physician, who had been summoned tc
the relief of the wounded and was pres
ent at the inquest, we learn the follow
ing particulars: Mr.. Gabe Lee, of Ham
been visiting at his fathers home, had
his horses out saddled, ready to return
to his home, when two young men nam
ed James and William Leger came there.
One of the Legers mounted Lees mule
and after some hours persuasion was in
duced to dismouDt when they, the LIE
gers. commenced firing upon Lee. The
Lees retreated into the dwelling; GSbe
Lee being wounded in the neck; getting
an old rifle he fired upon them, wound
ing one of the Legers. Then the Legers,
after emptying their revolvers, retreated
to reload and return to the attack, when
one of them shot Gabe Lee in the side,
the ball supposed to be lodged in his
back. Gabe Lee then, with the rifle,
shot bill Leger a center shot in the
breast, killing him instantly. The
wounded Leger made his escape and up
to this writing has not been captured.
During the engagement, Mrs. Lee, the
mother of Gabe was slightly wounded
on the side of the head with pistol
ball, and Pierce Lee, her husband, was
cut on the leg with knife. Gabe Lee
had seven shots through his hat, two
balls grazing the top of his head, and
slight cut on the hand His condition is
considered quite critical, although the
doctor does not consider his wounds
necessary fatal No cause given for the
sad affair.
LATER.-Since the above is in type,
we learn that James Leger, who was
wounded on Friday, by Gabe Lee, was
killed Saturday evening, by Henry
Jackson, constable. From the evidence
given in before the jury of inquest, we
learn the following particulars. On
Saturday, James Leger loaded his pis-
tolls and gun, saying he was going to
Lees house and make an attack upon
the visitors and family-to make an III
discriminate massacre-nOt caring much
whom he killed. He was begged by his
relatives to surrender or flee the couns
try, but to no purpose. His own broth
er informed the constable of his inten-
tions, advising him of his whereabouts,
and telling him that he had better make
the arrest. In obedience to this request
and with warrant in hand, Jackson,
with a strong guard, proceeded to arrest
Leger; upon their approach, Leger fled,
secreting himself in a cliff near Henry
Lees; being run off the cliff, he secret
ed himself in a sink-hole, and when the
constable and his posse discovered him
they ordered him to surrender, at the
same time assuring him that he should
not be hurt. He replied with horrible
oaths that he would die first; drawing a
pistol on Jackson, he attempted to shoot
him, but providentially, the cap ex-
ploded, without the pistol going off,
when jackson, Immediately, to save his
own life, shot Leger in the breast with
an old army masket, loaded with seeven
rife balls and some shot, which accom-
plished the fatal work-thus terminating
the lives of two of the most desperate
characters of this country. These des-
peradoes had become a terror to the
and but little regret is
felt for their demise. Gabe Lee is doing
as well as could be expected under the
The probabilities are
that he will recover. Whilst the wounds
of Mr.. Pierce Lee and wife are painful
they are doing well. The remains of
the Legers were decently inferred on
Sunday evening, and everything is quiet
on the front once more.