The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-09-01
THROUGH THE HEART.
Another Unprovoked Murder in
Giles County.

/
Marion P. (Hoose) Ezell wa,
shot through the heart and killed
last Saturday night two mile:
south of Pulaski on the pike about
10 O'clock by Fletcher Hargroves
son of Jno. r. Hargroves, OF near
the mouth Of Richland. The muir
der was totally unprovoked and
was brought about in the following
way: DIR. Walter Mcknight, whom
our readers will remember as the
young physician who testified in
the Farley case at the last term of
court, upon last Saturday ran away
with Hargroves' sister ald came
to Pulaski and was married to her
by Rev. w. 5. Harwell about 10
O'Clock that night. The parties
came by Mr.. Ezell's and he brought
them up in a spring wagon, saw the
ceremony performed and then start
ted back with the couple for his
home ten miles south of Pulaski.
When they had gotten to the point
just below the toll gate where the
road turns of TO the Rodes planta-
ton, q man rode up behind and
asked if Mcknight was In the wag-
on. Mcknight looked around and
saw Fletcher Hargroyes, whom he
at once recognized, drawing pls-
tol, and he jumped cut of the wag
on and ran, being unarmed, while
Hargrove shot twice at him. He
then turned and shot at Ezell, or
else one of the shots intended for
Mcknight struck Ezell in the left
side going through his heart and
lodging near the skin on the right
side. Ezell also fell from the wagon,
dead, and lay there until next morn
ing and until found by negro
living near. At the shooting the
mules became frightened and ran
away, overturniDg the wagon near
Mr.. Whitield's, breaking it to
pieces, and throwing ont l3rs.
Mcknight and bruising her badly.
She was already frightened almost
to death and had hardly recovered
her its Sunday afternoon. Har-
groves followed his sister and
placed bar hehiad him aud vent
down the pike, but his horse gave
out about three miles further on
and he left her and the horse and
went on afoot. She wandered half
dazed to the toll gate and was
cared far and on next day her nus
band went for and took her to his
home near GibsonYille. When
Mcknight jumped from the wagon
he realized that his life was in dan
ger and he bid out In the woods,
making his way toward Leather
wood, and came to town next
morning.
Mcknight and Hsrgroves were
brothers In law before, Hargroves
having married his sister, and we
learn that he had to steal her and
that Mcknight assisted him in do
ing so. But when Mcknight st
tempts to marry Hargroves' sister
he is met With an attempt upon his
life. Marion P. Ezell, the unfortu-
nate and innocent victim of this
tragedy, was a man who
stood very high as a clever, good !
citizen. He was perhaps forty |
years old and leayes a wife and six
children. His extreme good ma
lure and Willingness to oblige got
him into the escapsde that cost him
his life He was an Odd Fellow,
4 member of the Rulaski Lodge, |
and was buried with It's honors at
,he new cemetery on Monday morn
ng.
Hargroyes has not been appre
lended. 1t is said that his father
vent to Prospect ct daylight Sun
lay morning and borrowed $50,
md that he said that Fletcher had
,een at home and said he had
killed Mcknight or Eel one.
left home that day
With the avowed purpose OF killing
and his wife came with
lin, riding behind him, entreating
lin to renounce his purpose. She
rot off at EzelPs and remained IN
il after the tragedy. He came on
o town and was seen by Mr.. Neil
Allison, whom he halted upon the
idewalk and after scrutinizing him
loosely passed on. He learned
Which way the married party had
zone and then followed, overtaking
hem at the point named. The
acts are here given without color
ng and they are nevertheless start
ing. That man should thirst
or his neighbours blood is inexpli-
able, but that he should pursue
lis brother in law so relentlessly |
'Ver the protestations of his wife
nd his intended victims sister, is
errible to think of; and then, being
oiled in his attempt. deliberately to
murder an innocent man that his
.evilish thirst for blood may be
ated, is Inhuman and hellish. We
annot penetrate the motive that
rompted such a deed. There may
e matters that would change the
spect of the affairs as between him
nd Mcknight that have not come
o light, blt nothing now can bring
ack the dead man to his weeping
rife and children and nothing can
often the great crime that has been
Human life is getting
0 he the mere sport of men, and in
ndervaluing another's the murder
r damns his own. Is it the fault
{ modern teachers of morals? We
gain demand, in the name of law
nd order, and of our women and
hildren, and for the good of the
ountry, that crime shall De more
urely, speedily and terribly pun
she'd.
Odd Fellows Hall.