Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-20
SHOT DEAD.
Albert q. Thomas Murdered Last
Night
While Going 10 His Home IN the
Suburbs Of the city.

11VOue haAA past II u OiOOA AAoe
night persons in the vicinity of the
junction Of Brinkleyavenue and the old
Raleigh road, were startled by hearing
four pistol shots in rapid succession,
and few moments afteTward the body
Of A. II. Thomas, jr. was found pierced
with bullet. Life must have fled
simultaneously with the shot. he lay
face downward on the porch of Mr..
Hymns grocery, on the southwest cor
nef, with his feet projecting over the
edge of the porch. The bullet struck
him near the waist line about three
inches left of the navel. He fell 50 as
to strike the point OF his right
cheek bone on the floor of the
porch. A thirty-two calibre, FIVE
shooting revolver, ivory handled, was
found clasped loosely in his right hand.
-Four chambers were empty and the
barrel blackened, as if the weapon had
been recently fred.
From the course taken by the ball,
it seems evident that the person firing
must have stood in the direction Of
the we'll, perhaps behind it. Esquire
Spelman went out at 3 O'Clock this
morning with Captain Hackett and
Sergeant Scott, to hold an inquest.
The evidence developed little that will
throw any light upon the murderer.
About dozen persons testified that
they heard four or FIVE shots, and
Dir. Flynn, at the grocery, heard
some one call his name Immediately
after the last shot was fired. No one
testified to hearing any noise at all
before the shooting. The body was
given to the family for interment and
conveyed to their residence, half a
mile further out on Brcedlovc Avenue.
Various theories arc entertained
as to the real murderer, but they
amount to nothing more so lar.
Mr.. Thomas, who was also a
Deputy Sheriff has been endeavoring
for some time to break upa crap game
in his neighborhood, and has made a
great many enemies. 1t is also said
that Clint billiard, cousin of a darby
whom Thomas had killed a couple
of years ago, on his farm, near the
eastern border of the county, has been
frequently heard to swear ven
geance, and that recently the
feeling of hostility has been
renewed on account of the William
Young affair. billiard was arrested
on suspicion Of having waylaid, robbed
and shot Young, out on the Louisville
railroad near Springdale, but was re,
leased for want of evidence.
Thomas published an article severe
ly censuring the officials for disoharg-
ing him when he thought him guilty
beyond a doubt. Afterward the court
Investigated the matter and issued
capias for Hilliard, which was given
to Thomas to execute, and many think
he was attempting to do this when
shot, as the tragedy occurred in
billiards old stamping ground.
A church in the neighborhood
lis Clint's favorite place of
resort, and he was present at the
services last night shortly before the
murder.
Albert Il. Thomas, the victim. was
about twenty-four years of age, and
son Of Rev. H. Thomas, now absent at
Horn Lake, Miss, but who has been
telegraphed for, and will return this
afternoon. He was Deputy:Sheriff,
and was also engaged in reading law
with William Nj. Randolph, with the
expectation Of receiving his, diploma
next fall. He leaves young lady
sister and brother.
The ball which killed Thomas was
a very large one, and severed the abb
dominal artery. Persons who heard
the shots say the FIRST report was much
louder than any of the others, and that
there was an interval of halt minute
between it and those which followed.
Sheriff Athy, who went out with Cap.
tain Pryde to the scene Of the tragedy,
found a ball Of the same calibre as
Thomas pistol in sapling about
thirty feet from the spot where he
was shot.