Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-03-31
A SPRING FIGHT.
AHswIng Neutrality-suspicious. for In
sultinE the wife Of q Merchant.


ARswIng naehiBeAeentshot for In
sailing a wife Of q Merchant.
Last evening about . o'clock NJ. NJ.
Beach, 4 sewing machine agent, doing
business on North Court street, heal
Second, VIXEN about to leave his store
vas attacked by a gentleman who struck
him with a stick and sfterward shot
him with a pistol during the ARRAY
which followed. The wounded man
was carried to his room. aud the ball
was extracted by DR.. Mitchell from
under the LETT arm, it having entered Mr..
Beaeb's breast near the nipple, and
passed through the lung. The man who
fred the shot was Mr.. Levin H. Coe, of
the firm of Clarke, johnson & Co, and
for the reason, as Mr.. Coe and his friends
allsge, that Mr.. Beach had insulted Mr..
Goes wife some days ago with reference
to the repairing of a sewing machine.
THE FACTS OF a CASE.
From all that our reporter could dis
cover it appears that Mrs. Coe some days
since visited the establishment Of NJ. NJ.
beach and desired to have a sewing ma
chine repaired. Me-. Beach treated her
in an impolite and rude manner, most
offensive TO q lady Of refinement, ad-
dressing her as he would a negro woman
or som person whom he knew he could
speak to in such a manner with IMMUNITY.
All this she kept from Mr.. Coe, not wish
ing to get him into a difficulty. Ia q
day or two afterward, in company with
another lady, she again visited the sewing
machine house and requested that the
machine be sent home. NJ. Beach again
talked to her in a rude and insulting
manner, and both ladies retired. When
the machine was returned it was accom-
panied by an offensive note, which Mr..
Coe found and read He then inquired
into the matter, and discovered all that
had been said to her. he on Thursday
last repaired to Bsach's store and de-
manded an apology, which vas not made,
and be then proceeded toinflct ehastise.
ment upon him. The row was stopped
in q few minutes, owing to the presence
Of a number Of ladies' at the store. Last
evening Mr.. Coe, armed with q cane, met
Mr.. Beach on North Court street as the
latter was leaving his store, and be at
once attacked MIN. During the scune
several blows we're interchaDged and Mr..
Coe was knocked down. at this time a pis'
toll was discharged by some one, the ball
taking effect upon the person Of Mr..
Beach as above stated. Several gentle.
men who we're present agree as to the
above statement Of facts connected with
2 the unfortunate and lamentable difficulty
THE WOUNDED MEN.
To-day Mr.. Beach's condition is ex
tremely critical, and but little hope il
+ entertained for his recovery by his at
2 tending physician, DR.. Mitchell. The
ball struck the nipple and passed
through the left lung, lodging in the
n back near the skin, below the left shout
g der blade. Mr.. Cos is sefieusly in
e Jured, be having received a heavy blow
on the eide of the head ant
e face, which inflicted a long and
deep cut. He received also severs
blows on the arm Of a serious character
and which wounds confne him to hi
! bed and placed him under the care of
. physician. Probably this afternoon Mr.
!, Coe will be athletic appear and surrende
himself to the authorities to answer be
fore the law. 1t is the intention of Mr.
Coe and friends to do so as soon as pos
sible, and court a full investigation o
the much to be regretted difficulty,