Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-22
SHOT DEAD.
Col. James w. Burton Killed at SomeI-
vile by His BrOther-in.Law, Prof.
W. III. Tharp, With Shotgun.
The Act Pronounced JustiRabIe by the
People Of SOmerVille-Tharp's Life
Said to Have Been Threatened.

Yesterday morning the city was startled by
the news that Col. james W. Burton ha
been killed at SomerviIle. Shortly after6 ard
the following dispatch was received:
SPECIAL to the Appeal
soAEKvILLE November 2l.-James W. Burton
formerly OF your city. killed here last night
by W. II. Tharp. Tharp. is held in very nigh
esteem here, aud the community deem the act
justihable.
1t took but very short time for this news
to spread all over the city. Col. Burton was
we'll known in Memphis, and OF course there
was a general desire TO learn more of the
detail of the killing.
Am APPEAL reporter, by some inquiry,
learned that Burton had
DENOUNCED THARP AS SOUNDED,
and had threatened to kill him on sight.
When Thsrp he ard of this be went home, got
his shotgun and set out in search of Burton,
whom he is said 10 have discovered in q bill
liard-saloon. There he perforated him with
buckshot, blowing off nearly the whole top
of his head and killing him almost inst antly.
Tharp and Burton were brothers-in-law, haV-
ing married daughters of Justice Thoma as
Cooke, chairman OF the County Court of Fay
elite. 1barp is quiet and cultivated gen
tleman, OF some thirty years, and is a pro-
fessor in the male academy at SomervIlle.
He was never known 10 have had a difficulty
before, and it is presumed that only the ex-
tremest circumstances could have forced him
into 80 desperate an undertaking as the kill
ing OF his brother-in-iaw. Col. Burton WIS
what may he considered
AN USLUcKY MAN.
Tlose who enjoyed his friendship say there
never was truer friend, nor one who would
stand by his friends longer in an extremity.
This generous side of his nature wss one OF
the things that made him the desperate man
I IL L.
family that is famous for It's courage and its
daring, and he is not the first who has bitten
the dust. He was a man OF splendid ply
sique, and one whose character was made up
equally OF tenderness and passion. About
the year 1867 he
GOT INTO A QUARREL
with Frank Erickson, formerly coroner of
Shelby county. Erickson had only left
Memphis a short time, and gone TO Somer-
vile, when the fatal sffray took place in
which he lost his life. 1t seems thai during
the war Erickson had led q squad of Federal
cavalry TO a place where Burton's brother
was sick, and had him arrested. Burton at
the time had a furlough. Eriekson's action
incensed Burton, who, after the surrender,
threatened TO whip Erickson on sight. The
two men met at Somerville, both armed, and
Burton attempted TO carry out his threat.
lie is said that Erickson drew a pistol first,
and that Burton then killed him, shooting
him twice. He was arrested for this, tried
and discharged.
THE TAYLOR CASE.
A lew months ago Col. Burton had dis
pute with Mr.. T.. S. Taylor, in which he cut
that gentleman very severely. He was tried
in the Criminal Court and found guilty, and
was sentenced 10 pay a fine. This humili-
ated him greatly, and he threatened TO
kill several newspaper men, and also al
tempted to intimidate the court on account
OF it. Out of respect 10 his family he es-
capped his just punishment He WAS sim
gularly quarrelsome man, and at the ssme
lime one not devoid of nobler impulses He
always carried his lie in his hand, and it is
not 10 be wondered that he met the fate
he did. II may be recorded, en- PEASANT, that
Col. Bur;on's brother Lewis killed another
brother in 1878, and that the whole family
conducted vendetta against the Reeves
family, which resulted in their extermina-
ton. There lie, we believe, but one of the
Burton family left, a nephew of the man who
was yesterday murdered by his brother-in-
law,