Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-01
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

LITTLE Rock, ARKANSAS, Oct.
18th, 18S4.-Shortly before IL O'Clock
last night reports of a terrible cutting
affray in Argenta reached here, and
The Gazette man made a tour over
the river to learn the facts. Long
before the further shore was reached
loud cries and terrible shrieks of
agony greeted his ears. At first it
was impossible to realize that they
could come from the lips Of a human
being, but following the direction
whence they came. the reporter soon
found himself before the door of Dick
Caldwell's saloon, but few rods back
from the riyer-bank. In the back
room from the midst arose the cries
which had first attracted his attention.
The scene was lighted by a fiamin g
torch from one of the skiffs, and a
most horrifying one it was. Upon
the floor weltering in his blood, lay
the form Of man, while over him,
with his sleeves rolled up and arms
red, were the doctor and his assistants.
That man could live in such mutt
lated condition surpasses belief. After
succumbing to the effects of dose of
chloroform, the wounds were exam
ined. The intestines were found pro-
truding from a terrible cash in the
left side of the abdomen, extending
nearly foot in length just above the
hip, and severe wounds opened their
gaping mouths about the shoulder
and neck. Everything was done
which could be, but there is little
doubt that the man will die. From
the bystanders the reporter learned
that the victim of the tragedy was
Charles Watson, quiet, intelligent
young white man employed upon j.
d. Townsend's farm, several miles
north of Argenta. He had been in
Argenta during the evening. and just
before the difficulty was talking with
an inmate of Caldwell's saloon, when
Frank Casey, a hurley colored man
approached and assaulted him. They
had some words, and Watson, who
had piece of tobacco in his hand,
showed in his pocket. Upon this Casey
sprang toward him, and with light
ning-like rapidly dealt him blow
after blow with long, keen clasp
knife, then. releasing him, darted
away. Watson had no chance to de-
fend himself, and after receiving his
wounds walked moaning up the street,
until fainting from the loss of blood
he sank upon the ground, where he
was soon after found and carried
back to the saloon. A posse of citizens
was at once organized and started
after the assassin, but at last accounts
had not succeeded in capturing him.
2:3O a. IN. Casey was caught north OF
the depot at Argenta by skiffmen Joe
Lewis and Louis Scott. Watson
is attended by DIR. E. Meek Daily
Arkansas Gazette.
Charles Watson, who was fatally
stabbed in Argenta by Frank Casey,
at the colored dive, died yesterday
evening at the city hospital.
Charles Watson worked a long time
for Mr.. Morgan Morgan, near Gerards-
town, and was always an honest,
truthful and industrious boy. He went
west few years ago, like many an
adventurous youth, but to meet his
sad fate, in the wilds of the west, at
the hands of the assassin, away from
home, from relatives and from friends,
with but an inverted board to mark
the spot of an adventurous and un-
fortunate youth. His friends here in
the county will learn with sorrow of
his tragic death.