American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-01-05
A Tennessee Tragedy.

A letter from Knoxville, Tenn, Dec
10, to the Cincinnati Commercial, says
A serious affray occurred near Clincl
River, in Granger County, a few day:
ago, between two desperadoes of tha
section, James and William Leger, anC
two peaceable citizens, Pierce and Ga
briel Lee, father and son. The Difficult.
ty occurred at the residence of the elder
Lee, and was wantonly provoked by the
two Leger brothers. Gabriel Lee re.
sides 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 ruffians came up, and one OF
them mounted Lees horse, but, after
some persuasion, got down. The Legers
then drew their pistols and began 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
O41C VI IAC elooetlIt1nISs A1ICI CL1Dly
their revolvers the Legers retired to re-
load, when they again opened fire, and
inflicted 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
instantly. Seeing his brother fall, the
other scoundrel-who had also been
shot in the skirmish--turned and fed
During the firing Lees mother was
slightly hurt in the head with a pistol
shot, and his father received a knife
wound in the leg as he was entering the
house. Gabriel Lee made several mar
row escapes, seven balls passing through
his hat, two of which grazed his head,
and was slightly wounded in one of
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,
avowiDg his purpose to have revenge on
the Lees, declaring his intention to clean
out the whole of them, not excepting
the women. His relatives implored him
to relinquish the bloodthirsty intent, and
either surrender or flee the country, but
he obstinately refused. Desiring to pre-
vent the wholesale murder contemplat-
ed, Leger's own brother informed an
officer of the facts, and asked him to ar
rest his relative before he could carry
out his wicked and inhuman purpose.
Mr.. Jackson, the officer in question,
thereupon obtained warrant for his
arrest, and with a strong posse proceed
ed to effect his arrest. Upon their ap-
proach Leger fled and secreted bimself
in cliff, but finding himself in danger
of being surrounded, retreated to de-
preston in the rocks known as ''sink-
hole,' where he was shortley followed
by the officers, who called on him to
surrender, at the same time assuring
him that he should not be hurt.
To this he replied with a volley of
oaths that he would die first, and draw
ing his pistol attempted to shoot Jack
son, but, fortunately for the Constable,
the cap failed to explode, when, to save
his own life, the officer fired at Leger,
him in the breast and killing
him Instantly. The weapon used was
an old army musket, loaded with seven
balls and aquantity of shot.
Thus terminated the lives of two of
the most desperate characters in the
country. They had become a terror in
the neighborhood, and good citizens feel
a sense of relief at their death, which
they brought on themselves.