The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-03-08
YrLLEp IN SELF pEEENsE.
a Former Pulaskian Kills a Negro
IN Illinois.

MJ. Sterling Paine arrived in Pu
Iaski one day last week and it imme
distely became known that he haC
killed negro man in Illinois or
last Thursday, Feb. 22nd, in self
4 defense. Mr.. Paine was conductor
of construction train and was en-
gagged in repairing a washout near
| Queens Lake. Coming up to where
lie had thirty negro hands at work he
heard one of them bitterly cursing
the section boss. He ordered the
negro to 60 to work and he i'm
mediately turned upon Paine and
struck him a violent blow in the
face with his fist, knocking him
down, and in falling he stumbled
over the rails and fell backwards in
ditch, going under the water.
When he rose he found himself in
water above his waist and he had
hardly got Strengthened up before
the negro hit him terrible blow
over the head with a huge hand
spike about six feet long. Paine
drew his pistol with the left hand
and Shot, but after he shot the ne
gro hit him two stunning blows over
the head and just as Paine was in
the act of cooking the pistol again
he hit him across the wrist, nearly
breaking his arm, sending the pis-
toll hurting out into the deep water.
Paine was in perilous condition
now, with nothing to defend him
self with, in water nearly to his arm
pits, and a burly negro raining
blows upon him with deadly hand
spike. The negro in his eagerness
to kill or drown his victim got near
enough for Paine to grab him in the
collar and he drew him towards him
and hit him in the face with his
fist, cutting his face with a seal
ring. He repeated the blow Two or
three times and had the satisfaction
to see his assailant gasp and weak
en-, and in a moment he was dead. !
Paine then seized him by the col
lar and drew him to the bank dead,
when it was found that the pistol
shot had entered his left eye and he
had done nearly all his deadly work
after he had received a wound that
would have killed an OK. Paine
put the gang of men to work,
his train and went to Mas
coutah where he consulted the road
attorney, who advised him not to
put himself in the power of the 9th
or hands. After satisfying the au-
Paine left for ST. Louis
and thence to Pulaski where he is
now.
We have before us the Mt. Vernon,
ILL.,, News with a short account of
,he homicide. A white man saw
he whole affair and gave testimony
before a coroner's jury, who returned
/ verdict OF. killing in self-defeDse.
j Mr.. Paine was. fearfully bruised
ibout the head and his arm nearly
oqoken and he stopped in Nashville
md had teaches applied to draw out
he coagulated blood. The wonder
S that his skull withstood the terri :
lie blows. His family are yet in
illinois but will return to Tennes- &:
zee. He has thought best not to go {
Jack to Illinois and has been given
he conductorship of freight train '
N our road by Maj. Geddes. He
7ill remain here a few days longer {
ntil his bruises are healed. y
Sterling Paine was born and
aised in Pulaski, is 35 years of age s
nd is a graduate of medicine. His i
mother lives in Pulaski and is a
laughter OF the late Chas. G. Aber +
Iathy, and his father was a brother
# the late eminent Bishop Paine OF /
he NJ. E. Church South. His adj
Ienturous taste led him into rail
several years ago. He was
/ freight conductor on this road and
lfterward car tracer. He was then .,
advanced to the important place he
las just resigned. He is thorough
y versed. in railroading and has
he confidence of the higher officers.
He regrets the necessity that forced
lin to take life but, his conscience
suffers no qualms, as he acted purely
n self-defense.