Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-07
N'KINNEY', HADES ON EARTH.
a Nan and Wife who Tried to Settle
their Ars with Pistols at Five PAGES

Sherman Tex correspondent OF the New
York San, November 25th: James ii.
II Kinney, the proprietor Of the Continental
hotel in this place, shot and dangerously, Il
not fatally, wounded his wife, on Monday
evening, at about eight o'clock. From the
direction which the ball took it would seem
that the wounded woman must have been
sitting down and her husband standing at
the time the shot was fired. M'Kinney was
attending to his ordinary duties about the
house, did not seem to be laborlDg under any
particular excitement, and only short time
before the shooting wrote an order TO be sent
up town fer some needed groceries. The
shooting was done IN the room occupied ty
himself and wife as Il family room. No one
was present exceptlMr. and Mrs. NJ kinney.
When Mrs. Doss, the mother of Mrs NJ Kim
ney, entered the room, a few moments alter
hearing the report of the pistol, no one was
found there except the wounded woman, who
was seated 10 a chair, seemed to have tajuted,
and was breathing with difficulty. Immedl-
ately after the shooting, 81 Kinney fed, GO
ing out through the back yard of the hotel.
He took the freight train on the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas railroad, going north,
and on reaching Fort Scott, Kansas,
tele9raphed back to an acquaintance to take
charge of his books and settle up his bust
ness. The Fort Scott authorities were at
once asked to arrest and hold the fugitive.
He was returned to this place on Friday.
NJ Kinney lived fer many years in Livings-
ton county, Missouri, largely engaged IN
farming and stock dealing, his note of hand
being good for twenty thousand to
! forty thousand dollars in commercial
circles. He reared a family of two
sons and two daughters, and was esteemed q
| worthy citizen. His trst wife died years
ago, and he married a divorced woman. AT
her solicitation, In February last he came
| here Tn his arrival he had in his possession
Exyaf nd al HIE fa mi lU
| sisted of two daughters, sixteen and seven
| teen years of age, a son about fourteen, his
wife's son of about the same age, her mother
| Mrs Doss), and her two sons, twenty-eIght
to thirty years of age. He rented the Con-
tinental hotel, refurnished is, and put 1t 10
excellent condition. His business was fairly
prosperous. Mrs. Mckinney was a large
woman, weighing probably one hundred and
eighty pounds, and, to many persons, was
rather attractive. Her mother was installed
housekeeper, an unmarried sister taken in as
pensioner, and the two brothers provided
with everything needful, including free
whisky and spending money. M KInney's
two daughters were introduced as dining
room girls and dish washers. and his
son as lad of all work. Mckinney soon
ascertalned that he had little to say concern
ing the conduct of affairs, except to pay the
bills. The Doss boys as Mrs. NJ Kinney's
brothers are known about town, loafed IN the
uOlel udyf anu CdIOuo-
ing, and almost daily were arrested for
drunkenness. M'Kinney paid their fines,
and they we're released, only to repeat their
experience. The records show that NJ Kinney
has paid fines to the amount of more than
twenty dollars week for his brothers in law
during the whole period of their residence in
Sherman. In all the nine months OF the oc
cupancy of the hotel, NJ Kinney was not only
feeding and clothing these relatives, but the
women Jared sumptuously every day, and
dressed in the hight of fashion, while his
daughters were made to perform the hard
work, and were virtually debarred from soc-
ETY.. Mckinney was frequently heard to say,
These women are raising " with me.
In addition to these trials, the conduct Of
Mrs. M Kinney was said not to have been
above reproach, and frequent family brawls
have been the result. At least every other
DAY for the past three months the couple
have had a battle of words or fists. A neigh
Dor says he saw Mrs. Mckinney grasp her
husband by the coat-collar with one hand,
the other gripping his trousers, and, with one
effort, fling him to the floor like stone drop
ping from wall, at the same time swearing
she would 'smash his head if he didn't look
sharp" On several occasions, when they
were quarreling, Mrs. NJ Kinney proposed
that they should settle the quarrel with pis
tolls 1T FIVE PAGES. A few weeks ago they
went into the back yard for the purpose and
took their positions but some one interfered.
Since his arrest NJ Kinney AYERS that the
shooting of his wife was an accident. His
story is that he went into the room and found
a man there. He fred at him, but missed,
the hall striking his wife instead.