Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-22
MORRISTOWN'S SANGUINART
CHAPTER. a
Farther Details of the Bloody
Tragedy Enacted Friday.
Two Men Killed, Four Wounded
---Sherif Loop will Recover.
Whisky at the BOttOm---NO
Blame Attached to the Circus
Men. rv#@s

Il Il
With the exception Of the great
railroad smash up at Armstrong;
creek, near here, Wednesday morning,
nothing has occurred for many days
to create more excitement and
a greater demand for details,
and particulars, than the terri>
rible bloody tragedy which was
enacted at Morristown, Friday, the
day of the performances OF John Rob
inson's circus. Tn facts in brief were
given in q special to yesterdays
CHRONICLE, which stated that Ben.
F. Richardson and town Marshal Jas
T. Morris were killed outright,
aad Sheriff Loop was dangerously
wounded.
The details of the deplorable affair,
which has cast a blight on Morris
towns fair name and fame that 1t will
take long time to erase, we gathered
from Mr.. Ed. E. Thompson. young
gentlemen residing in Morris'own
who came down on yesterdays train,
and who was an eye witness
to a portion of the affair. 1t
seems that the origin of the affair
was early in the day. Richardson,
who was drinking, met up with negro
man who, il is said. insulted his Rich
ardson's) wife some year or so since,
and this was the first time they had
met since. Richardson drew his pistol
and fired at the negro, but missed his
aim, except, perhaps, grazing his
shoulder. The ball passed, however,
through the wrist of white man,
standing near. The tragedy came to
culmination about $50 O'Clock in the
afternoon, at the saloon Of ]. j..
Dykes, near the railroad.
R chardson and crowd was gath
cred there and promiscuous shoot
ing was commenced. Town Marshal
Morris and Sheriff Loop went down
to quell the riot, and soon after they
reached they reached the saloon Rich
ardson appeared with large navy
pistol in hand, and as they attempted
! to take him, he fred first at Morris.
The ball entered his forehead, crushing
through the brain, carrying some Of
them through and out the back of his
head. Death ensued instantaneously,
almost. Richardson then leveled at
the sheriff a3d shot him. The bal
struck the front button on his clips
and glanced around under the skin to
his back, where it was taken out. By
this time Richardson had mounted
his horse and started to leave town.
Sam Hufmaster, young man, son of
Joseph Huffmaster, and Tom White,
were deputized by Sheriff Loop to
take Richardson, he being unable.
They pursued and Huffmaster fired,
the shot taking effect below Richards
sons left shoulder and penetrating the
heart. He fell from his horse and
only lived about five minutes. .r-ota!
There were about ten shots fired in
all at this branch Of the fracas. Rich
ardson received two shots in the flank
before he came ont of the saloon either
Of which would have been dangerous,
but it is not known who fired them,
our informant states. Oue other man,
whose name we did not learn, was
slightly wounded here, thus making
two deaths and four wounded the re-
suit of the tragedy.
The excitement grew to a white hea,
by this time. Consideration and con-
fusion reigned supreme and serious
apprehensions were entertained, as
stated in our special, but, fortunately,
further outbreak was prevented and
quiet restored. 'A- - JfI @le ISL
Jas. T. Morris was son OF, Drury
Norris, deceased. single man. He
shall for long time and was uni
versaliy regarded az the best mar
shall the place ever had. He
was as cool and brave an officer
as ever welded mace or shooting iron
and feared nothing. His tragic fate
cast gloom over the entire commn-
nity. He was warned of the danger he
was about to encounter, but replied
that duty called him and he must keep
the peace. Yesterday morning the
city council issued funeral notice
gotten up in appropriate design, and
worded as follows:
You are earnestly requested to at
tend the funeral servlce of town
marshal JAS. Il. MORRIS, deceased
who yesterday evening baptiz I'd oul
town with his own blood whilst in tn,
faithful discharge of his duty for th,
peace and protection OF the cinzen
of the town. All business
houses are requested to close durin,
: service.u -
The funeral occurred in the forenoon
yesterday. There was general sus
pension of business and turnout o
citizens. 4iit Gt
Ben r. Richardson, who also los
Ills life, was a resident of Springvale,
few miles out of town. He was a ply
sician, a son-in law Of VIM. McFarlar,d
Esq. He was generally regarded as
desperate man, especially when drink
ng, and was q perfect terror to tn,
citizens at such times. He had kille,
man in fracas in South Carolin,
some years ago. He, too, wa
q man of grit who feared nothing