Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-15
KILLED BY his BRIDE.
The Terrible Tragedy at Rhsa
Springs.
The Full Particulars ofhe Most
Remarkable killing of the
Age.
Chattanooga Tines. "A.

The terrible tragedy at Rhea Springs
tuesday night, as related in yester.
days Times, created considerable ex.
oitement in Huntsville yesterday.
where the facts were not previously
known, and excited a great deal of
interest in this city. A Times repor.
ter was yesterday commissioned to as
certain the facts in the case, and FROM
various sources cleaned them as re
lated below.
Several months ago two of the most
dashing bellies of Huntsville were
Misses Meriwether, daughters of Col
onel Meriwether, a prominent citizen
of Huntsville, and the former Chief
Engineer Of the Memphis and Charles
ton railroad. Their most ardent ad-
mirers were Captain Belts and Lon
Davis, son of Colonel Davis, who was
once one of the most prominent men
Of North Alabama, and nephew of
Zeb Davis, who was Mayor Of Hunts
vile for many years. Young Davis
was considered fast, and Mrs. Meri-
wether objected to his attentions to
her daughter. The girl appeared to
love him, and finally an elopement
was agreed on, aud one night, when
the young couple had engagements to
attend a concert, they instead boarded
a train for this city, where they were
married.
Their honeymoon passed happily,
but soon Davis character began to
assert itself, and his wife discovered
the awful fact that he was addicted to
the Use OF opium, and was an inces-
SAINT gambler. This discovery created
discussions, and he began to make her
life unhappy by his profigate habits.
She endured this as long as possible,
but finally left his roof and sought
protection in the home of her child.
hood. The excitement incident to
this brought on brain fever, and for a
while her life was despaired of, and
when she recovered her mind was par
TALLY deranged. The physician ad-
vised her husband to keep aloof from
her for some months, and on this ad-
vice he agreed that she should be
taken to Rhea Springs, promising not
to annoy her by his presence until he
was sent for. Her mother accompa-
MED her, and they arrived at the
springs about three months ago. She
recuperated rapidly, and her intellect
was soon restored, and her hus-
band visited the springs but
did not see her He visited
the springs a second time, and
saw her but a few moments, she still
refused to return to him until he re-
formed. Last week he again visited
the springs, but was denied seeing her.
Several stormy interviews passed be
tween the mother and him, and for
several days he was seen hanging about
his wife's room, but was denied admit
lance. Sunday he procured a pistol
and demanded admittance, or threat
ened to kill the mother. He was
finally quieted and gave the pistol to
her. Monday he was heard to say
that his wife should return to him, or
a murder would follow. Tuesday
night Mrs. Davis stepped from her
room to 90 to a toilet room. He was
near at hand, and followed. They met
some distance from the hotel and he,
pointing to a pistol he carried in his
hand, demanded that she return to
him. She had the pistol he gave her
mother in her pocket at the time and
quietly slipped it from her pocket,
placed it against his body, and fred,
the ball passing through his bowels.
She then walked deliberately to the
hotel, informed the proprietor of what
she had done as coolly as il she were
relating some trivial incident,
and left for her room. She
exhibited not the least ex-
oitement Tuesday night, although
many ladies were in Mysteries from
excitement. She related the circum .
stances as calmly as if telling an anec-
dote, and at midnight inquired after
the patient, and slept soundly until
morning. Yesterday Mr.. Davis was
found to be rapidly failing. He stated
that his wife shot him in self defense,
and he deserved it; that he had
brought it on himself, and no one bat
himself was to blame. lie begged
that she would not be arrested, adding
that she acted in self. defense only.
At 8 pm. Mr.. Davis was thought tc
be dying.
"A number Of prominent citizens Of
Huntsville passed through the city
yesterday to Rhea SpringA. The
young wife is but a mere girl, Of very
handsome appearance.
LATER-MR. DAVIS DYING.
Special to Chattanooga Times.
RHEA SPRINGS, September 49,
The physicians pronounce Mr.. Davis
case as hopeless, and say he cannot
live until morning. He is having
internal hemorrhage. His wife visited
him to night. She exhibited no emo.
ton whatever on looking at him, anC
seems perfectly cool. Her father
came this morning None Of Davis