Blount County democrat. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 1879-1883, 1882-10-26

not live, Later in the evening or
Thursday morning, as we learn,
General Mabry sent word to Major
O'Conner that he would kill him on
sight.
The dispute between the men was
in reference TO the transfer of a farm
which Major O'Conner had purchased
of General Mabry. General Mabry
claimed that Major O'Conner (who
promptly denied the report at the
time) had promised to give the farm to
his sou young Will Mabry, who was
murdered by Don Lusby last Christ
mas. After the murder of his son
General Mabry's mind seemed TO be
affected and he insanely charged that
Major O'Conner had hired Lusby to
kill Will Mabry in order TO release
himself from his promise to give the
farm to Will. AT the time Of the
Lusby trial, it is said that General
Mabry made threats against Major
O'Conner's life, repeating the charge
that he had procured the death Of his
son..
Ofcoursc no person who knew Ma
jOr O'Conner ever believed that he
had aught TO do with the sad death of
viii Mabry. The charge was not
regarded seriously by those who knew
how General Mabry's mind had been
affected by the terrible mental anguish
he suffered when his son was muir
dered.
Since the killing of Moses Lusby
and his son Don Lusby by General
Mabry and Young Joe a few weeks
ago, the General has seemed to be
further than ever off mental balance.
The jury returned a verdict that Gen.
Joseph A. Mabry came to his death
from a shotgun, fred in the hands OF
Maj. Thomas O'Conner. And that
Joseph A. Mabry, Jr., came 10 his
death from shotgun, fired in the
hands of Maj. Thomas O'Conner,
Aud that Maj. Thomas O'Conner
came TO his death from n pistol shot
fired in the hands Of Joseph A. Ma
bry, Jr.
The funerals took place Saturday
Major Thomas O'Conner was born
in Halifax county, Virginia, and was
between fOrty-siX and forty-sevcn
years old. He came to Knoxville
thiriy-odd years ago a pcnniless youth
and began life in Knoxville as har.
ness maker. At the breaking ont OF
the late unpleasantness he was among
the first to don the gray and as a first
Lieutenant he enlisted in Capt. Hu.
wald's artillery organized in Knox
vile. He made a gallant soldier
fought with distinction, served term
as prisoner at Johmson's Island, Lake
Erie. and was discharged at The sur
render Of Lee with due honor. lie
returned to Knoxville, but found il
an uneasy abiding place, and sought
his fortunes in Atlanta Ga. lie then
embarked in the harness trade, and
began to make money, since which
time he has rapidly risen among the
monicd men the day. He was look
ed upon as being the shrewdest poll
tician in the State, yet politics was
not his profession. lie was a mem.
Der Of the National Democratic Com
mittce, which Office lie has held since
the Hancock convention, TO which he
went as chairman Of the delegation
from Tennessee. Al that Convention
he was spoken Of as Vice President.
Gen. Jos. A. Mabry was born Janu-
airy 26th, 1896, fourteen miles west of
Knoxville, on farm known as the
Old Mabry place. lie was a man at
one time Of the finest energy and bust
ness tact. His influence in Tennessee
politics was almost supreme at one
time, when he had control of half The
press in the State. Complications
overlook his business by which his
fortune was broken, since which time
he never has been the same man, OF
late years he has been drinking deep
~. When in fortune he was the most
generous and liberal Of open-handed
gentlemen. During his whole life he
has given way to a highly excitable
and rash temperament, which, coup
led with q dauntless courage, has
made him a dangerous man to his
foes, yet to his friends he was true,
tender and self sacrificing.
Joseph A. Mabry, Jr., was born
May 23d, 1856, in Knoxville, W here
he was raised and chiefly educated.
Having arrived at the years ofman-
hood he became an exemplary citi-
zen, and as a boy, he was popular and
esteemed by all of his associates. His
temperament was nearly the reverse
Of his fathers, being cool under trials
and deliberate in his actions. He was
peaceable, open-heartcd, frank and
social in his disposition, and possess
ed Of all the polish and culture of a
thorough gentleman. Recontre and
alteration were distasteful to him
and it was only by unavoidable cir
cumstanccs and natural ties that led
Ia 10 fn1-a nc