Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-04-21

Yell ECkRe Causes the AbeAth Oh
| his own Mother
by q Blow ON the Head with q
Bed Stat. 81
While I'm n Crazy Fit Of Drunk
enness.
OF all the. tragedies which ever
blackened the page Of history In our
city, which is of late getting up some'
thing OF reputation in the tragedy
line, ths most startling and heartrend-
ing was enacted about five o'clock yes
terday evening, and resulted in the In
slant death of Mrs. Rebecce G. EckIe,
wife OF VIM. x. Eckle, Esq, from a
blow inflicted by her son, Yell. Eckle,
he being at the time 10 crazy fit of
intoxication.
The particulars of the lamentable ocs
currence, as We gathered them are
about as follows: Yell had gone
home very drunk. His residence is
adjoining that Of his father. He was
raising considerable disturbance, and
his mother went DOWN to interfere, and
quiet him II possible, and In her re-
monstrance, 1t seems, slapped him a
time or two. The only other persons
there at the time were Yell's wife and
two email children. His wife at the
time Of the elimination Of the tragedy
had stepped out OF the gate to call
some one from her mothers across. the
street to take the baby, fearing some
injury to II.
As far as is known there was only
one witness to the striking Of the fatal
blow, and that was Mary Thompson, q
colored girl who cooks for Sheriff
Reeder. She WAS standing on the
sheriff's porch, some 40 or so yards
distant, perhaps, and says she was
watching the occurrence. She says
while Yell and his mother were talk
ing to each other, he inflicted blow
on the back of her head with
what afterwards proved to be 3
slst from the child's Glib. Mrs.
Eckle was standing on the
porch steps, snd fell back wards imme.
diately on receiving the blow, her
head striking the porch floor. Miss
Nancy Rseder, who was also en- The
sheriff's porch, had her attention at
tracted, IS did some others. She ran
at once and was first to arrive on the
scene. She tried to arouse Mrs. Eckle,
but found her lifeiess. death having
been instantaneous. Yell was sitting
on q step near by, apparently crying.
Miss Reeder remarked 10 him that be
had killed his mother, but does not
remember what reply he made. Mary
Thompson says Yell replied, Eyes,
and I'll kill every one OF
you," or something to that
effect. Messra. Jim Kidd and Sam
Walker were among the frat to arrive,
as was also policeman Nose Smith,
who took Yell in custody, and he was
Immediately taken to Jail.
The news spread rapidly, aud the
whole vicinity was terribly shocked
over Its recital. Crowds of people
gathered around. The lifeless remains
were removed to her residence, and
Coroner A. s. Hudiburg being notified,
summonedMthe. following jury of In
quest: A. L. Cottrell, L. g. Shepard
NJ. A. Walker, A. II. Brown, W. F
Haines, Alex. Reeder and w. A
Galbraith. The evidence of the wit.
nesses above mentioned was taken
as was also that OF the physicians VIII
made an examination. 1t was foun,
that the blow was inflicted just at til
joint OF the neck and head, produces
, appoplexy, and that resulted in in
y. slant death. There was livery llttl
outward appearance of wound, bu
} it was bruised badly under tn
skin. The jury returned q verdict g
follows:
ave, the undersigned, summone
o as Jurors to hold an inquisition on th
body of Rebecca G. Eckle, after beiD
sworn by A. s. Hudiburg, coroner Il
Ie Knox county, and sfter examinin
witnesses, do find that Rebecca {
Eckle came to her death from ii
!. effects of blow on the back of Il
. head, inflicted by Y. w. Eckle wit
q crib elat.n
The unfortunate man was visited
IL the window of his cell by number
e persons. He was still under the Ii
fluence of liquor, and seemed 10
g, either insensib!e or Indifferent to b
j. situation. He talked and cried alte
nately, affirming that he hadn't dol
o anything out Of the way, etc. Whe
reminded OF the fearful crime he hs
committed, he said he couldn't r
a. alize 1t was 80; said he loved b
d mother better than anybody, al
called for her TO be brought to hir
o He also called for his father and
-, wife and babies Afterwards he call,
Sheriff Reeder aside aud pleaded Wi
him TO take him to u
IN house and guard him.
& was afraid of mob. He
man perhaps 20 or q years of ag
: has handsome and intelligent your
wife and two interesting children, OF
a a small babe. Hell timer by trad
but seems TO be confirmed slave