The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-10-26
Three Prominent Men Killed.

Intense excitement was created at Knox
vile, Tenn, by the killing in u shooting
alfray of three of the city's most prominent
citizens-General Joseph A. Mabry, Major
Thomas OConnor and Joseph A. Mabry,
Jr. The difficulty began i'll the afternoon at
the fair grounds, by General Mabry attack
ing Major O'Connor and threatening to kill
him. O'Conuor replied that it was not the
place TO settle their differences, whereupon
Mabry told him he shouldnot live. II seems
that Mabry was armed and O'Connor was
not The cause of the difficulty was an old
feud about the transfer of some property
from Mabry to O'Connor. Later in the
afternoon Mabry sent word to O'Connor that
he would kill him on sight. The he xt morn
ing Major OConnor was standing in the
door of the Mechanics National bank, of
which he was president. General Mabry and
another gentleman walked down Gay street,
on the opposite side from the bank. O'Con-
nor stepped into the bank, procured q
eral Mabry and fired. Mabry fell
dead, being shot i'll tho left side.
As he fell O'Connor fired again, the shot TAX
ing effect i'll Mabry's thigh. O'Connor then
reached into the bank and got another shot
gun. About this time Joseph A. Mabry, Jr.,
son of General Mabry, came rushing down
the street He was not seen by O'Connor
until he was within forty feet of him, when
hs fired shot from pistol, the ball taking
elect i'll O'Connor's breast, passing through
Mabry fired O'Connor, turned and dis
charged the shotgun at him, the load TAX
ing effect in young Mabry's right
breast and side, and he fell pierced with
twenty buckshot, and almost instantly
O'Connor fell dead without struggle.
Young Mabry tried to rise, but fell back dead.
The whole tragedy occurred within two min
utes, and not one OF the three spoke after he
was shot. General -Mabry had about thirty
buckshot i'll his body. a. bystander was
painfully wounded in the thigh with buck
shot and another was wounded in the arm.
-Four other men had their clothes pierced by
buckshot. The affair caused great excite
ment and Gay street was tbronged with
thousands of people. General Mabry and
his son Joseph were acquitted only a
Moses Lusby and Don Lusby, father
and son, whom they killed few
weeks since. William Mabry, another son
Of General Mabry, was killed by Don Lusby
last Christmas.
Major Thomas O'Connor was a native of
| Virginia, forty-eight years old, and was
president of the Mechanics National bank Of
| Knoxville, Il director and stockhoder of the
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis rail-
way, and also of the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Land company; was a
member OF the firm of Cherry, O'Connor
& CO.. who lease the penitentiary, and he
| owned the largest wagon manufactory i'll the
| South. He had large mining interests and
was interested in several large railroad con-
| tracts in the Southern States. He was one
of the richest mon in the South, being worth
nearly $2,O0000O. In politics he was promi-
nent, being q member Of the National Demo-
cratic executive committee from Tennessee.
General Mabry was about sixty years old and
was vice-presdont of the Knoxville and
! Kentucky railroad. His son Joseph was
twenty-five years old, had recently been
elected justice Of the peace and was trying
a case when the shooting began.