The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-04-18
THE BRTGaS-USSERY MURDER.
A Preliminary Trial Last Tuesday
The Prisoner demanded with
out Bail.

On the Sth of.April, inst. in the
store of Mr.. j. l.. KINNEY, in the
town Of Campbellsville, in the pres
ence of Messrs. j. L. Kenney, Rob
ert Reed and r. A. Alexander, Mr.
Jno. @. Ussery was shot and killed
by Mr.. VIM. w. Briggs, the former
farmer of the vicinity and the lat
ter a grocery keeper in Campbells-
vile. On the day mentioned, about
3 O'Clock, Briggs walked into the
store where Ussery was making
some purchases, approached him in
friendly and familiar manner, and
asked il he had corn to sell and
what he asked for it. Ussery re-
piled that he had corn to sell at 50
per barrel. Briggs said the price
was too high, and Ussery said he
had sold two loads that day at that
price. Briggs said one was a very
small load, and much of the corn
was rotten-he had seen it. Ussery
said, "Well, it is ours and we can
keep il" He and his brother-in
law farm together). Briggs said,
"Do you mean to insult me2 Cd
d-n you, I'll slap your jaws" and
followed the words with a slap in
the face. Ussery resented, and
struck Briggs, who commenced to
draw his pistol. Here Mr.. Camp
bell sprang across the counter. sep
arated the two men and asked Mr..
Briggs not to shoot, but seeing that
it was the determination of Briggs
to do so, he sought place of safety
for himself. Briggs presented his
pistol and pulled trigger, but it
failed to fire. Here Mr.. Campbell
again asked Briggs not to shoot,
but without effect. He fired, but
missed his aim, and then fired again,
the fatal bullet entering the left
breast of the unfortunate victim
just below the nipple, producing al
most instant death. Briggs then
walked to the door, then turned and
went back to his victim, looked at
him a moment, went across to his
grocery, thence to his residence and
in twenty or thirty minutes rode off
on the Hams creek road. The de
tense only proved that Briggs was
drinking that day. These are sub
stantially the facts as detailed last
Tuesday by the eye witnesses before
n magistrates court composed OF
w. II. Alternately, G. H. Tidwell and
McLin Marks, EsQ'rs. The State
was represented by Messrs. Rose d
Tinnon, and the defense by Messrs.
Jones, Son d Ewing. The question
of bail was the only one argued,
which was done ably and at length
on Wednesday morning. resulting
in the remanding of the prisoner
without bail for trial at the next
term of the Criminal Court.
After the murder Briggs made his
way to Campbell Station and there
took the accommodation to Nash
vile on the morning of the 9th. In |
the meantime n reward of 5000 had |
been offered for his apprehension
and his track had been traced. A
telegram secured his arrest on the
arrival of the train at Nashville, and
Mr.. j. s. Galbreath and eX-Sherif |
Mitchell went after and brought |
him to Pulaski.
There is great Indignation felt
and expressed at Campbellsville and |
throughout the entire county at this |
murder. 1t was entirely unpro
voked, and the victim was a
young man greatly esteemed for
his sobriety, industry and many So
cial virtues. He was the son of 10
seph Ussery Of Weakly's creek and
a grandson of VIM. Ussery, decd,
of Big creek, upon whose old farm
he lived. Briggs, we learn, was
originally from North Carolina, but
came from Texas to Giles county
few years ago. He boosted that he
had killed a man in Texas and had
to flee the country. subsequently
he brought his family to Cambells
vile. His wife and three little chill
drcn, one an infant, were present at
the trial, and elected great sym
patty.