The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-05-29
Fatal AffraY in Kingston.

Last Friday, an Acworth Sunday School
excursion went to Kingston. Arriving al
that place, they went out TO a little island
near town to enjoy the day. Several young
men remained in Kingston with disposi-
tionto have good time and whisky was
| the incentive 10 arouse their enthusiasm.
| Thompson Morris (who was the Marshal
of Acworth,) fired off his pistol in the
street, whereupon Mr. Burroughs, the mar
shall Of Kingston, arrested him and asked
for the usual fine of one dollar or be carried
before the Mayor Morris paid the one dol
| lar, but subsequently accosted Burroughs
| and told him he had no right to collect the
fine. Burroughs replied There is the
] Mayor over there, go ask him if it wasn't
my duty +" Morris asked him to call him.
| Burroughs said it was none of his business
to call him. At this, Thompson Morris
slapped the marshal in the face, and the
marshal raised his stick in seh-defense-
Joseph Morris, and another beother, came
Eup, when Joseph snapped his pistol al Bur
ronghs, who retreated across the railroad
track, followed by the Morriees. Joe and
Thompson Morris began TO fire rapidly
upon the marshal, who returned the fire,
hitting Thompson Morris near the heart
and Joseph Morris in the abdomen. which
caused the death of both oftllem. The 9th
or Morris received hole through his cloth
ing Burroughs was not touched, although
ten shotsrwer fired at him. He gave hinls
| self up, and said he regretted the necessity
| ofhating to kill his assEfiaHt4 Tffaalotises6
of the dead young men were carried 10 Ac
worth that night by their aged and sorrow
ing father. Thompson Morris leaves . lam
lily. tits a sad affair and one tosbe regret
ted.
THE OTHER sIDE,
An Acworth correspondent TO tlle A tlan-
Ia Constitution, gives another version Of the
affair, in which he says neither of the other
brothers were in Kingston at the time
Thompson Morris shot off the pistol for
which he was fined That Thompson Nor
ris was only inquiring Of Burroughs as to
the whereabouts of the Mayor as he thought
he would remit the fine That the marshal
gave an insulting reply. This caused an
CRY words and both advanced on each 9th
er Bnrroughs raised his stick and Morris
pul his hand on Burroughs shoulder and
| told him that Ellis stick wasn't worth q
cent that twelve men couldn't put him in
prison Burroughs said "He could get
SIX men ;lat coald do it. " and Immediately
| drew il six shooter and fired on Morris,
being only two or three feet from him, hit
ting him in the breast. Morris being NOR
tally wounded fired at random. Joe Nor
ris having returned from the picnic and see
ing his brother in danger, said, "Don't
shoot my brother, if you do you will have
me to shoot too. Burroughs after firing
| two Shots at Thompson Morris, turned and
shot Joe Morris and then retreated, pur-
sued by the dying men until they fell in
their tracks The correspondent asserts
that Joe Morris was not drunk, had no pis-
toll, pocket knife was al he had, and lie
threw rocks only. Joes dying words TO
his father were Father, ! did nothing be-
fore | was shot, but asked the man not 70
shoot my brother
We have given both sides and leave 9th
ers to reconcile their yarian e.