Blount County democrat. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 1879-1883, 1882-10-26
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Three Men Killed at Knoxville,
Major Thos. 0'Conner, Gen.. los. A.
sabry and los. A. Mabry, IT.,
Killed.

'f'N' cNfS - II ''AN'i nv - III W ilob
guided men call "honor" and "cour-
age" The following report of the
affair we condense from the Tribunc's
statement, which is in substance the
same as that in the Chronicle:
Major Thomas O'Conner was stand
ing in the door of the Mechanics Ma
tional Bank on Gay street, of which
bank he was President and one of the
principal stockholders. Gen. Jos. A.
Mabry and Robert Steele, ESQ.,, came
walking down Gay street on the OPP
positc side and going in the direction
Of Church street. AS they reached
point opposite the Mechanics Bank,
Maj. OConner reached inside the door
and got donblc barrelled shotgun.
stepped ont OH the pavement, cooked
the gun, raised ii 10 his shoulder, took
deliberate aim at Gen. Mabry who
was about one step. behind Steele,
fired and Mabry fell. Gen. Mabry
fell on his face and as he fell O'Con-
ner emptied the other barrel into Ma
bry's body. Mabry fell almost in
the door of Bfr.y's confectionery store.
Robert Steele ran into the Peoples
Bank, which is next door. Major
O'Comer returned his empty gun TO
the bank, and received another double
barrclled shot gun from inside the
door, or from hands Of some one with
in.
In The mean tiTe Joseph A. Mabry,
jr., who was at Justice Allson's office
on Clinch street, counsel in case,
hearing the firing rushed out and
came running in the direction of the
Mechanics National Bank. Major
O'Conncr did not see him, but was
evidently watching for Steele. When
young Mabry reached a point near
the middle Of Gay street, nearly OPP
posite the tailoring establishment of
Douglass Moore and about forty feet
from The door Of the Mechanics Bank,
he raised his pistol, took deliberate
aim, and fired at Mai. OConncr.
Almost at the same instant, Major
O'COnner turned half to the right and
fred at young Joe Mabry. Witness
cS think there was scarcely seconl
between the two reports. Young
Mabry sank to.the ground and before
a sccord had elapsed Major O'Connor
sank to the pavement failing on his
back, threw his arms wide open and
died without a trcmOr. Young Joe
Mabry attempted TO rise but only got
about half way up, then fell on his
back and died in few seconds with
out uttcring q word and no struggle
was percepiible except the tWitching
of the muscles and the death gnrgle in
his throat. Some of tho witnesses
say that Young Mabry fired second
shot when he attempted to rise, but If
so, it was without aim or effect.
About the time Major O'Conner fell
a pistol shot was fred from the door
of the bank. behind him, but Ibis was
also without effect
The ball that killed Major O'Con-
ner entered the right breast two or
three inches in front of the right
shoulder, the ball passing almost
through the body and passing near
the heart.
The shot which killed young Joe
Mabry carried about twenty buck
shot into various parts of his body,
most of them entering his ri ght breast
and right arm, one entering his neck
and another gashing his face.
There was about thirty buckshot in
the body of General Mabry. lie fell
on his face and died without moving.
A number of the shot entered his left
side and breast and others pierced his
hip and thigh.
From the time the first shot was
fired by Major O'Conner until the
three breathed their last, two minutes
time had not elapsed.
! 1t was acceriained that several 9TH
er persons were accidentally wounded
by stray shot. Half a dozen shot
tore through the window on the right
hand side Of Barpy's store. Doc
Stewart, who was on the inside was
shot in the wrist. Sam Shepard was
shot in the leg. Herman Schenck,
who was standing in front of Peter
hliief S, received a ShOt III each leg.
j. NJ. Hutchinson was shot in one Of
his toes. A man named Pew was al
SO shot in one Of his toes. Another
countryman, whose name we could
not learn, received painful wound in
the thigh. Several other gentlemen
had holes in their clothing. Doc
Stewart had six holes shot through
his coat. Dick Childress also had
holes through his clothing. A pistol
ball lodged in the pocket of Jno. Mof-
EFT at the Express office. Several
shot also entered the body of a horse
standing in front of the express office.
Major O'Conner's body was carried
into the Mechanics National Bank,
and the bodies Of the Mabrys were
carried into Akers' store. The coro-
ner's inquests were held at these two
places.
ORIGIN OF THE DIFFICULTY.
The difficulty which led to ihe
death of the three men is feud of
long standing and came near reachinU