Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-13
the sROoTIsG AT xODESA.
Capture Of Mitch PIckens-Ais
Victim Btill Alive.

The condition Of Edgar A. Carleton,
shot several nights ago at Nodena, on the
riysr above here, is reported very critical,
and the impression prevails among his
friends that he cannot survive his injuries.
He was shot in the left breast, and the
surgeons believe that two Of the shots
perforated his lungs, While one grazed
the upper part of his heart. The bloody
assassin, Mitch Pickens, was captured
at daylight Monday, at Cedar Point
Tenn, by Sheriff w. B. Haskins,
and is now in the Mississippi county,
Jail. Pickens is described as a
valuable and industrious field hand
and a successful farmer, but quarrelsome
and bad when drinking, to which he is
addicted. The evening of the shooting he
bought half a gallon of liquor and i'm
eibed freely, boasting that he intended to
tortify his system so as to get even with
three or four persons in the
plantation during the night. But little
attention was paid to his remarks, rs he
was noted for boasting. Later, at a dance,
in viii b the farm hands were partici-
pating, Pickens made himself troublesome
by offensive remarks TO a house boy and a
yellow girl. Pickens, not liking the at
t%entions of the girl to be, as he claimed
monopolized by the boy, ho complained
severalt times to Carleton during The even
ing and threatened to make trouble. Tho
girl refused to have anything to do with
Pickens because Of his bad language, and
Carleton told Pickens to 60 home and let
the frolickcrs alone. This incensed Pick
ems and resulted in a fight between the
latter and Carleton during which the latter
was thrown. To free himself from the
attack Carleton struck Pickens several
times On the head with his
pistol. Nj. Ferguson separated the COM
batants while Carleton was getting the
beet of the fight through the clubbing
effects Of the pistol, and he had Pickens
sent home under an escort.of several
men. Pickens, however, drove the
men away with an ak, then followed
them with a gun, firing twice and wound
ing one in the leg; also sending several
shot through another's clothes. Return
ing to his cabin, he reloaded his gun. A
colored constable attempted to arrest
him, but he ran away into a cornield
Later the constable hold = parley with
Pickens, and the latter made threats
which caused the constable to warn Garlic
ton, who at the time was with Mr.. Fergu-
son in the latters room. Ferguson told
the constable to return and advise Pick.
ems to 60 to his quarters, The officer, not
being able to find Pickens in
the darkness, supposed he had
gone home so went himself to participate
in the dance. Pickens evidently prowled
about in the darkness with his Weapon. as
at a later hour he ran the gun through a
window ofthc room where Mr.. Ferguson
and Mr.. Carleton were sitting, and turned
it loose. The first shot lodged in the wall
a few inches above Ferguson's head. Mr..
Carleton sprang to his feet, drew II pistol
and frel at the window, the negro at the
same time emptying his second barrel
into Carleton's breast. Carleton fred a
second shot, then threw his hand 10 his
breast and said, Major, he has got me.''
Mr.. Ferguson caught the wounded man
and prevented him from falling, thenled
him to a couch. The foregoing partlcu-
lars are derived from Messrs. d. L. Fcrgu-
son and B. S. Carleton, who both assert
them to be the true facts Of the case.