The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-05-19
A FATAL DIFFICULTY.
Dave Newsom white and Ben NeWsom
(cOiored) have ar Alteration, in
which the Former Is Prob
nly Killed.
Brownsvnle States

Brovrsvile States
Tuesday afternoon Constable Z. c.
IIosee5 Of District No. / reached
town, having in custody Ben Newsom
Ccol) charged with killing Dave
Eewsom, well-to-do-farmer near
Watkins Mil, on the previous day.
lie vas lodged in Jail TO await the
June term Of tie Circuit Court.
The facts are about as follows, as
cleaned from vnrious trustworthy
sources: Ben Newsom lived upon the
farm of Dave Ncwsom, working on
halves. They planted a large crop
together, and this done, Ben desired
that each crop be laid off and divided,
but his landlord insisted that the crop
remain as a whole until it was made
and gathered, and then the proceeds
divided equally between them. On
this method IF division they could not
agree, and hot words en8ucd when
Ben was ordered to leave the farm.
This occurred last Saturday. Monday
Ben returned with a wagon to remove
his household goods to another place
where he had engaged work for the
year. While loading Dave Newsom
came up and ordered him 10 cease
loading the wagon. This Ben refused
to do, whereupon Dave struck him
with an oak slat. After contest for
few minutes Dave struck him with
an oak slat. After a contest for a few
minutes Dave Newsom picked up a
wooden msul and struck at Ben, who
seeing the danger, seized an axe and
as each en5eayored to strike the other
Dave was hit IN the face with the axe
and fell PROSTATE to tie ground. Ben
was taken before ESQ. w. +. Short,
who ordered him sent to our jail,
where he now remains.
BEN NEWso1I's STATEMENT.
~ lived on Dave Newsem's farm.
Worked half and half with him.
asked him to divide our crop after we
had planted through and through, and
he said he would not 10 so until the
crop was made and sold. l said l
would not work until the crop was di-
vided. He swore he would not divide
it and would make me work it. Last
Monday he told me tc leave. His
wife begged him to divide the crop
with me but he wouldn't. I knew he
would kill me, and I left there-went
of and got Il wagon and came back
and began to move my plumber, when
he told me to take out my things-at
least he told Henry letter to take
them out. | told him to put the
things in the wagon. He then struck
me with a slat and [ hit him with nv
hand. He tore my shirt nearly off.
He grabbed 4 maui and began to hit
me, and I took an axe and We were
hitting at each other when the axe
struck the maui and slipped and hit
him. He fell down and was bleeding.
l went to Dancyville and give myself
to Esquire McMahon. This is all
know"
Ben Newsom is said to be a very
troublesome negro, often becoming in
volved in difficulties, and last fall cut
another negro very badly and ran off,
but few months ago returned.
The latest intelligence from the
home Of Mr. Newson does not bring
favorable news of his condition. He
is in a most critical condition, with
barely hope Of recovery. His death
Will be q source Of very painful regret
III his noighborhood, where he is re-
garded as man Of excellent qualities.
He is a member Of large and most
respectable family, who reside in the
Watkins mill vicinage