Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-06-20
An Ingrate's Crime.

UniustIy Lynched-The Tell
Tale observation-disclosures Bill.
A furious gale was sweeping
along the southeastern shore OF
Florida on the 18th of November,
1853. AS the afternoon pro-
gressed, the violence Of the storm
increased. The sea was roaring
angrily, aud the bilnws beating
against the low coast rose to an
extraordinary height.
1t was getting dark, when a
middle-aged man, dressed in the
usual costume of a poor Florida
farmer, rapidly wake along the
beach between St. Clairville and
Middle Borough about one han
dred miles north Of Key West.
Every now and then, as the
cold, heavy rain drops were beat
ing his bronzed face, the man
burst into lond imprecations.
at is a shame that 10 get the
miserable fifty dollars from
Wright, | have to walk about in
this internal weather. What a
nice fix | would be in if Wright
should not meet me at the cross
roads. / could murder him IN
that event. II / don's get the
money the Sheriff will levy o.
my poor little farm tomorrow,
and l and my old woman would
NOT have any thing to eat.
He hurried on with redoubleo
speed. At last be stood still
looked about in the uncertain
Hight of dusk, and uttered three
times 10 rapid succession the shrll
cry of the woodcOck. 49,
A minute later a man of abou
the came age, but dressed mucl
{ more fashionably, joined him.
Good evening, Coe," said tn
: newcomer to bin.
; Coed evening, W ri gh t
Brought the money along?3
, 81 did. Here are $50 in gold,
i; Coe took them, and thanke'
him Tor it. Wright said:
y "Coe, can you go home with m
T to my pIantation?"
: "Why?"
: 81 have Sl,65O in my pocket
i, | am going to buy me some mic
a horses morrow. 1t is dart
r, and l am afraid to walk alon
Y through the dark forest. Yo
/ have heard that some desperai
cattle-thieves and other outlaw
r. have recently been prowling abor
, this neighborhood. They woul
not hesitate
IS TO MURDER AND ROB NE.
t. He did not notice that when L
Is uttered these words Cee bent vel
h strange, menacing glances upc
n him.
e. "Have drink before we start
e, said Wright. He handed Coe
h. h. large wicker flask. "Prime O.
brandy"
B. "And am chilled through an
" through aall
So saying, Coe took an undsdA
ly large drink of the strong liquo
sv Tue latter caused him to shut
"a der. Then he suddenly dre
" from his pocket small dirl
n knife. For q moment he hesit
b. ted, but theTeupOn he buried Il
lie sharp pointed blade again and
Nj Nj gain in Wrigbt's neck.
v. He inflicted several mort
wounds upen his victim, who sal
hl IN to the ndy ground with lc
groan.
b. p The murderer Immediately
fled Wright's pockets.
n He found the money, pocket'
hc :, it. and then, throwing the bloc
tor stained knife upon the mamma
remains, he disappeared in I
darkness.
Next morning Wright's corr
was found by some negroes a
les les conveyed 10 his house, alarge fral
Mt building, on a nice plantati'
l's Wright had accumulated cons
ed erable money. lie was a chi
me less widower, and well liked
lie lie all who knew him on account
and his honest, straightforward ch
ano ,rIo acter.
He was especially popular
and mong the poor white farmers
oeT, aIu the nelghborhood, whom be oil
lille. assisted with loans when IL
y;a J at were in strailened circumstan'
and Jonathan Coe, who had SO bs
ly murdered him, had been OF
Spn :. relieved by Wright's munifcer
che. The dirk knife was found "
tur- the remains Of the assassina
s A planter.
plies The report Of the murder
. a. ated a most profound sensation
Z u that part of Florida, and Wrig
@ticos @ neighbors determined to leave
$: stone unturned in order to te
'ents out the perpetrators OF
90 90 THE DAsTARDLY CRIME.
do One thing was taken for gr
NJ ed. and that was that Wright
:. been slain by arobber.
1t was found among his
pers that he must have ba
considerable sum of money IN
pocket at the time of his un
and. ural death.