The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-12-15
SHOT IN THE BAG Is.
Senator Smith Shot by Lawyer
Vertrees in the Maxwell

ted for it. Afterwards, in the chancery
court at Nashville, he had been ac-
cused of having accepted brloe' ne
then went on in torrent OF invectlVe
and denounced the charge as SANDER
GUS and malicious and the author as
liar and a son of the devil, and demand
ed a full investigation by the senate
He was followed by Senator Smith OF
Fentress, the man who changed his vote
and carried the 1908 bill. He gave
history of his politics, showing that he
was elected as a state credit man, in
district that voted Is, 900 and gave only
2,7CO to Wilson, and his vote was in
keeping with his pledges, with the
views of his constituents and was right.
Notwithstanding this, he had been
charged with bribery. He understood
that the man who made the charges was
in the house, and he was not going to
dodge his name as Morgan had done.
Morgan interjected the remark that he
had omitted the name only out Of self
respect.) John j. Yertrees had come
before the court and uttered lies against
him as foul as the devil himself. Turn
ing and pointing long, bony finger dI-
rectly into Vertrees' face, as he sat
about ten feet behind him, he denounced
him as liar and a scoundrel in going
outside o. the record to accuse man OF
an Infamous act when the bill upon
which he was speaking had not dared to
do so. He wanted a thorough inyesti-
CATION and he wanted to say as hard
things against Vertrees as had been said
against him. Vertrees knew he was
safe from challenge, as he could not
do it, and if he did not like what he said
he corld not help it.
Senator Barrett then arose and Joined
in the request for a committee of inYes-
tigatIon, giving ? history of himself
that proved HIM (if correct) to be state
credit man, and denouncing the charges
against him as baseless and malicious.
He called no names, and although he de-
nounced the charges as slanderous and
malicious, he fell so far below smith in
invectiye that it seemed tame. He said
he had been pursued as no other man in
the history OF Tennessee had been
twice in jeopardy-yet if the senate
thought it necessary to go further into
the matter, he was willing to be tried
again.
II soO,, booo,,a L-,o1.,y, ~ tIa housn
that a scene that promised to wind up
in a tragedy was being enacted in the
senate, and the members crowded into
the senate lobby. The writer was i'm
mediately in front Of Smith "a young
mountaineer, without collar or gram
MARI and near Mr.. Vertrees as he sat
unmOYed under the scathing
abuse heaped upon him and stolidly
gazing into Smiths face, undaunted by
the threatening finger that lashed the
air to himward. The calmness OF the
man showed that his feelings were stir
red to0 deep to be seen and it was evil
dent that the matter had gotten into a
shape where blood alone could avail as
a sacrifice. Smith, when he got through, |
retired to the very furthest part of the |
where walls shielded him from |
behind, and he appeared restless and
watchful. Vertrees sauntered around |
near him but seemed calm and only in
terested in the discussion going on over
the resolution to investigate, but we i'm
agine he went around to measure the |
man he intended to lay out. Trouble
was apprehended and policemen were
and placed around the lobby, |
but the senate adjourned and no diff |
Guilty occurred. Smith left the capitol
with Speaker Morgan and it is said he |
seemed i'll at ease and looked carefully |
about him as if fearing an attack. He
went to the Maxwell and sat down up |
on the furthest single divan from the
entrance on the LETT and was reading a |
Only a few people were in
the rotunda. Directly Vertrees and a
brother entered at the front
and passed through towards the closets
and had passed the chair where Smith
was sitting, when the younger one said,
There he is now" Vertrees at once
turned and went up to Smith, snatched
he paper down and spit in his face
Smith jumped up and Vertrees says ran
MS hand behind him, when Vertrees
lrew long and glittering Smith &
w esson revolver and opened fire. Smith
IAN around by the baggage elevator,
lodging by the columns and into the
barber shop and thence into the cellar,
drawing his pistol after he got into the
barber shop. Vertrees' first shot evil
lently missed Smith and knocked hole
II the plastering, but two more shots
ollowed in rapid Succession, one of
which entered the barber shop door fac
ng and the other striking Smith near
he left shoulder blade and penetrating
mOng the bones, lodging near the
pine. Smith was carried to a doctors
flee and cared for and Vertrees at once
to policeman, went to po- |
ice headquarters and was fined, and |
hen drove TO a Justices office aud gave
$4,000 bond for his appearance before :
riminal court. Smith was severely q
urt and the ball was extracted later in {
he day. The affair created enormous
xcitement for some time. a turbulent :
,iend of Vertrees flourished his pistol d
nd kept the crowd beck in a dramatic I
nd threatening way for some time
re heard the deed universally con- r
emned. It makes no difference whether v
NTH is guilty or not, so far as the I
looting is concerned. 1t is said Yer I
ees made the charges on his own re- o
outside of the record, in t
ace and at a time when the accused {
'uld not reply, and when the tables :,
ere reversed and he got no worse than \
= sent, he should have been content to I
t the investigation establish the truth a
lness OF his charges. -