Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-05-09
SHOT DEAD.
Editor S. n. Thompson Killed at
Oxford, Miss, Yesterday.
The Scandal which Led 60 the
TrOuble.

This mornings papers announce the
death, by shooting, of 5. NJ Thompson,
editor OF the Oxford, Miss, Eagle,
and prominently known throughout
North Mississil pi as we'll as in this
city, at the hands of Town Marshal
c. E. Butler. The tragedy occurred
last evening when Butler attempted
to arrest Thomson, and was resisted
by the latter, The officer at once sur
rendered himself.
The Circuit Court, with the Grand
Jury, are in session at Oxford, and it
is expected an immediate trial of the
case will take place. The circums
stances which led to the tragedy are
reported to be various, and they doubt
less had their origin more than year
ago, in connection with a scandal in
which Mr.. Thompson figured promi
nently.
The first information given here
about the affair was on the 18th of last
May, when Town Marshal @ E. Butler,
OF Oxford, the same who did the killing,
arrived in this city with a Miss
Eudora Watkins, of Oxford. He
placed the lady at the Mission Home,
on Alabama street, where quarters
had previously been procured for her
by friends, Butler quietly returned
home, and the authorities here were
apprised of the object Of his visit by
a letter to the Chief of Police, as
follows:
DEAR SIR-Some months since, through
the influence of my personal enemies, a
Miss Eudora Watkins was induced to
prefer charge of abduction against me,
and was kept here until our May court to
testify and her expenses were paid by
these parties. The case was continued and
on last Tuesday our Town Marshal, 9. E..
Butler, carried her to Memphis and
placed her in some house of refuge or
asylum. Butler registered at CASTOR S,
but the name of Eudora does not appear
on the register. Will you find out where
she is stoppingP I will foot the bill.
Write me as soon as you ascertain her
whereabouts. am not guilty of the
charge, and if can have an interview
with Eudora the prosecution will be dis
missed
A postscript said: II only want to
see her ten minutes, and am willing to
see her in your presence.
The letter was written on an Oxford
Eagle letter head, in which the name
of the writer of the letter, s. M.
Thompson, appears as proprietor.
The Chief answered the letter, saying
the young lady was in charge of the
ladies of the Mission Home, who had
promised to let no one interview her,
friend or foe.
From other sources it was learned
that the charge was not abduction, as
Thompson stated, but seduction. The
case was set for last September, and
became a matter of record in the
courts at Oxford. The facts we're
pretty well known in and around that
place, though they were kept out Of
the newspapers.
The young lady 10 question resided
at Oxford with her parents for some
years, aud up to within few months
of the time she came here bore high
character for chastity and all the
accompanying attributes which 20 to
make woman lovely. At last it got to
be whispered about the village that
she was no longer pure, and her fami
ly at once deserted her and left the
place. She became desperate, and
arming herself with a pistol declared
her resolve to kill the author of her
ruin. Meeting Thompson on the
public square she openly accused him
of having circulated stories calculated
to ruin her forever, and attempted to
shoot him, but was prevented by by
ISLANDERS who snatched the weapon
from her grasp. Proceedings were
begun in the courts, and the matter
became public, the girl lapsed into a
state Of nervous femininity and no
longer fourished the tomahawk. She
seemed to fear some evil, and had just
cause for the apprehension if there is
any truth in her story that Thompson
attempted her life upon two or three
occasions. 1t is alleged that the case
was continued over to the September
term Of the court at Thompson s
instance in order to give him opportu-
nifty to stop proceedings entirely by
exercising his influence over her. His
letter spoke for him on this point.
Miss Watkins was at the Mission
Home for long time and is perhaps
there yet. She was about seventeen
years of age when she was admitted;
attractive, and with as much knowl.
edge Of books as the average young
lady Of her age. She was we'll cared
for at the Home and closely guarded
to prevent attempts By interested par.
ties To sbduct her. A woman called
and asked to see her soon after she
was admitted. She was informed that
her desire could not be grati6ed, but
that if she would leave Q message fol
the young lady it would be conveyed
to her. The caller replied thai
she wished to see her In person
and departed, Thompson hai
visited this city on several occasions
since the lady came here, last MAY
but whether or not DO ever managed
10 interview the lady is unknown. II
was this trouble doubtless which
led to his death, as the charge O
seduction, under which be rested wa
not tried at the September terra anS
it would probably have coiae up at th'
present terra Of the court. The lat,
Patton b. Murray, of Oxford, haC
also figured prominently in the case
having as Mayor Of Oxford attempted
to befriend the young lady in her dis
tress.
Mayor Murray took q great interes
10 the young woman from the FIRST
and had az least one personal difficult
with Thompson on her account
Thompson wrote several letters to tn,
Chief of Police here. which ara nov n,