The Rock Island Argus., 1883-06-09
A BRUTAL CRIME.
Attempt to Roast a Man on a Slab
Of Red-Hot Iron.
How Friendly Scuffle Was Turned
Into Tragedy--Two Duels--
An Arkansas Crime.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, June 8-Man's in-
humanity to man was exemplihed to-day at
the Leith-Tredgar Iron Works in this city,
where a difficulty occurred between two en-
ployes, Lafayette Browder and William
Thomas, in which Browder tried to murder
his antagonist by burning him to death on
red-hot iron slab that was being prepared for
converting into nails The slab was four
feet long and twelve inches wide, and
was OF solid bar iron, welded to-
gether The trouble grew out of friendly
scuflle, in which the two parties engaged
Thomas, though a smaller man, was getting
the best of Browder in the scuffie, which,
together with the taunts of the bystanders
and the evident satisfaction of Thomas, SO
enraged Browder that he lost all control of
himself, and, seeing the red-hot slab, imme-
diately with strength of an infuriated mad
man, threw his antagonist on the seething
iron, holding him there till pulled away by
friends.
When taken from the slab Thomas pre-
sented sickening sight From his head to
his heels he was a mass of blisters, his back
and legs being almost roasted to a crisp. The
witnesses on the trial testified that the ap-
VI tub uu1Ol Aiflh was
most horrible, and that a number of per-
sons were compelled to leave the presence
of the body to escape fainting. 1t was
with difficulty that Browder could be dragged
off the poor fellow, and he seemed deter
mined to roast him alive. The muscles of the
shoulders and tendons of the legs are fright
fully burned, and should the wretched man
recover, which is doubted he viii hardly re-
cover himself enough to be able to work at
his trade. Browder was promptly arrested
by the police authorities on a charge of fe-
lonious assault; and was put upon his prelimi-
nary trial before justice of the peace
The evidence so far goes to show that it
was most inhuman and uncalled-for attempt
TO take the life of a fellow in a most cruel
manner. Browder is about six feet high
powerfully built, and weighs 180 pounds
Thomas is much smaller, but wiry and mus
clllar Thomas cries were heartrending, and
his efforts to escape the clutches of his tor
mentor wen told the agony he was suffer
ing When finally he was taken from his
hot griddle bed he was as limp as rag and
completely exhausted The affair caused
great excitement and aroused much indig-
natien AMONG the workmen. Every one
characterizes it as a cowardly and dastardly
deed The latest account from Thomas is
that he was resting easy, his wounds having
been carefully dressed by his attending physi-
clans
THE KNIFE AND PISTOL.
BURNsvILLE, Ala, June S.-A fearful en-
counter took place on an East Tennessee pas
senger train while passing through this
place. A passenger named Lawrence, from
Randolph, was in an intoxicated condition
He was approached by the conductor, E. L.
Nelson, Who asked for Lawrence's ticket or
fare Without further provocation the mad
dened man laid one hand on the conductors
shoulder, and as he laughed, said: "You
don't want any fare from me, do your He
then drew a knife across the aStonished
train-oficials neck Conductor Nelson was
terribly wounded, but had strength and
courage to draw his pistol Lawrence with
drew along the aisle, and did the same thing.
Both began firing at each other, and kept it
up until their weapons we're emptied Ten
shots were fred. The train was riIpning rap
idly, and the jostlipg was such that the aim
of neither availed anything. Not one of the
passengers was hit by one of the many ran
dom balls Engineer Sutton was ap-
praised by the ringing of his bell that
something was wrong. Stopping his train
he came back to the passenger car. Con
ductOr Nelson was then such a sight to be-
hold reeking with his own blood, that Sutton
tainted. Fortunately for the wounded man,
down freight train was met at Burnsville,
and he was brought back. DR.. Clark did all
in his power for the injured man. It is not
thought that he is dangerously hurt.
MULE ON HORSEBACK.
RICHMOND, Va, June S.-Sherif Donckley
and T. W Waller fought a duel on horse
back yesterday, near Patrick court house.
Waller was fatally wounded. He was the
opponent to Donckley in the last election.
PLowED UP THE BODY.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, June S.-Near Monti-
cello, Drew county, Wednesday the body of a
man was plowed up in field Investigation
showed that it was the body of a negro
named Carl Williams, who disappeared three
years ago, and whose wife negro named
johnson soon after married. 1t turns out
that johnson killed Williams, cut off his
head, and buried the remains, the murderad
mans wife being present at the time. The
raTfiaS haVe heen Jailed