The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1883-03-17
q IOKySON KILLED IN MILLER
COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT ROOM,
ny SHERIFF Q. Il. DIXON.
1exarkana Interstate News.l

Yesterday at LILO p. M, hherl1 Y. T.
D;xon. OF Miller county, shot and in.
stantly killed Mr.A S. Johnson, of Grays,
"ort V Miss, in the Circuit Court room
ffh ffohnson was standing in the aisle be.
tween the bar railing and the outer door
and fell at the first shot, which struck
;ust above the inner corner of the left
soyabrow. and was shot twice after he
fsllMonce through the left eye and again
IN in; the right neck the ball breaking the
eft law and coming out at the lower cor.
nov @ # the Jaw. Judge Mitchell took in
tbe M situation at a glance, and appointed
y d, Branble, sheriff, and ordered MIR
NJ n;xon under arrest. Mr.. D. handed his
nistoI over to Mr.. Bramble who ordered
tha corpse to be taken to Justice Shaw's
ofice, 1t was generally supposed that
the shooting was the legitimate culmina
t;on m Of the feud that has existed between
the deceased and sheriff Dixon for the
last several months, and which has been
nredicted and expected from the mo-
ment Mr.. Johnson publicly posted the
Sheriff as a coward, liar, sneak, thief etc
The latter's record in every community
in which he has lived has been proverb-
ially lust the reverse OF the charges
broI1eht against him, and the general
mhlic was astounded that he did not
Immediately shoot johnson. On anoth-
er occasion whilst Dixon WAS on the
Arkansas corner OF Broad street and
Johnson was on the Texas corner, the
latter publicly denounced Dixon as a
coward and invited him into the street
to fight. Dixon has never been Known
as a patient man, even under slight and
ordinary yexation, but he restrained
himself and for several months has sutf-
cred and endured taunts, slurs and in
suits until those who We're but slightly
acquainted with him, really thought he
must be craven, and that his reputation
forcourage was no more deserved than
that of PAROLES. He met MIR. Johnson
on the same side walk times without
number, but quietly irgnored him and
went about his duties as though he did
not know the man. His friends, and
enemies even, began to pity him as it be-
came finally known that his sense OF du-
ty to the people OF Miller county had de-
termined him to endure all the abuse
which might be heaped upon him during
his term OF Office, as Sheriff. In this res
oution of patience, he also followed the
advice Of judicious friends. During the
present session OF the Court, Dixon and
Johnson have met frequently, but on
Yesterday morning Johnson passed the
boundery where patience on Dixon's
part ceased to be virtue and where for
bearance would have merited the con-
tempt OF every man who has drop of
warm blood in his veins, He denounced
the wife of the Sheriff with opprobrious,
ioul and filthy epithets. This was the
last drop which overflowed the bowl,
the straw which finally broke the cam
els back. There was but one course to
be pursued, and without moments hes
tation, Dixon followed that course and
killed the traducer OF his wife just whe II
and where he met him; ne shot to kill,
and shot until he killed. He did precise
Iy what his Honor on the bench, ,ne at.
torney who prosec utes the priso rs OF
the state,and every member OF i,e grand
and petit jures would have done under
similar circumstances and the same prov
ocation. Dixon had fully made up his
mind to endure all taunts, slurs, insults
and vlliiications of himself whilst II
peace officer of Miller county, but when
the man who had been assailing him for
months began to traduce the wife he
had sworn to cherish and defend, as q
matter OF course he killed him, and no
jury this side OF Masonand Dixon's Line
will harm the husband who protects his
wife. Mr.. Johnson has been in our
city some nine or ten months, was Il
gentleman OF fine appearance, excellent
manners and, as u man among men, quite
popular. His business here was not
known until, shortly after Sheriff Dix
on's election, the latter raided the gam
bling room of Jesse CoGer and burned
the tools and outfit. johnson denounc
ed the act bitterly, and it developed that
he was the person who furnished the
money with which the games were run.
tie was outspoken in his denunclatlon
OF the Sheriff's act. When the Fall |
term Of the Circuit Court convened the |
grand jury found great many indict-
inents against the gamblers, including
johnson. The latter thinking he was
beng opprrsatl, and having come over to
NE Texas side OF town to avoid the ju.is-
dcllon of the Millar court, posted a card |
On the State Line, denouncing Sheriff
Dixon as coward, liar, sneak, Thief etc.
Inc affair created intense excitement
ana W. collision was daily expected, but
plxon followed the advice Of friends and
ignored the insult. From that day until
Yesterday, Mr.. J. has been imprudent in
MS ianguage. We regard him AS the
victim of bad advice and that he WAS
pushed on in this unfortunate affair by |
ine " encouragement OF unjudicious friends. |
we have always found him courteous
ana gentlemanly, though he knew we |
were were opposed to him in his quarrel with
Dixon His father WAS killd In an alter
cation in 1874 or 5; another brother was
Killed in a private difficulty q few years !
,aler. and still another, last fall. He !
pas but one more left. His remains
nave been taken to q room in the Gold !
eserg block, on Broad street, and his
friends have been notified Of his death.
\ The grand jury is investigating the |
and will probably bring
!, y = bill against tile Sheriff today. He
w lntrasted his attorneys to secure the
earliest possible trial He has had man !
I n, Oilers OF assistance and sympathy.
Ihe court fixed his bond at 5000 which
WHICH was immediately given. We SIM
ceeiy regret this unfortunate affair both
f,t Il III