Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-01-30
A Mountain Tragedy.

\ serions afray occurred near Clinch
River, in Granger county, Tennessee,
recently, between two desperadoes of
that section, James and William Leger,
and two peaceable citizens, Pierce and
Gabriel Lee, father and son. The diff
Guilty occurred ut the residence ef the
elder Lee, and was wantonly provoked
by the Leger brothers. Gabriel Lee
resides in Hamblen county, and had
been visiting his father, accompanied
by his wife. They were about to start
home. their horses being saddled, when
the young rufiians came up, and one Of
them mounted Lees horse, but after
some persuasion, got down. The Legers
then drew their pistols and commenced
firing on the Lees, who retreated into
the house, though not until the younger
Lee had received a wound in the neck
Fastening the door, Gabriel Lee armed
himself with an old squirrel rifle, and
returned the fire wOunding one of the
assailants. After emptying their re-
when they again opened fire, inflicting
a second wound on Gabriel Lee, the
ball entering his side. Lee then began
to get mad. and shot William Leger
through the breast, killing him in
stantly. Seeing his brother fall the
other scOundTel-who had also been
shot in the skirmish-turned and fled
During the firing Lees mother was
slightly hurt in the head with pistol
shot, and his father received knife
wound in the leg as he was entering
narrow escapes, seven balls passing
through his hat, two of which grazed
his head, and was slightly wounded in
his hands, besides the wound in his
side, which is severe, but not considered
mortal.
The day after, James Leger, who had
escaped, loaded gun and two pistols,
avowing his purpose to have revenge on
the Lees, declaring his intention to
clean out the whole of them not except
ing the women. His relatives implored
him to relinguiSh his bloodthirsty in
tent. and either surrender or flee the
country, but he obstinately refused.
Desiring to prevent the wholesale mur-
der contemplated, Leger's own brother
informed an officer of the facts, and
asked him to arrest his relative before
The could carry out his wicked and in
human purpose. Mr.. Jackson, the
officer i'm question, thereupon obtained
warrant for his arrest, and with a
strong posse proceeded to effect it.
Upon their approach Leger fled and Sc
creted himself in cliff, but finding
himself in danger of being surrounded,
retreated to a depression in the rocks
known as ''sink hole, where he was
shortly followed by the officers, who
called on him to surrender, at the same
time assuring him that he would not be
hurt.
To this he replied, with volley OF
oaths, that he would die first, and
drawing his pistol attempted to shoot
Jackson, but, fortunately tor the con-
stable, the cap failed to explode, when
to save his own life, the officer fired al
Leger, striking him in the breast and
killing him instantly. The weapon
used was an old army musket, loaded
with quantity of shot.
Thus terminated the lives of two Of
the most desperate characters in the
country. They had become terror in
the neighborhood, and good citizens
feel sense of relief at their death
(which they brought on themselves.