The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-04-23
TIE TRLAL OF RANsEy


TIE TRIAL. OF RAMSEY.
The most important trial before
our two weeks term of Circuit Court,
Just closed-in fact the most impor-
tant in this section for many years
was that of the State VS.. William
Ramsey, for the murder of Volney
Clark, near Rankin's Depot, Cooke
county, in December, 1SS2-venue
changed to Hamblen county months
ago. Able counsel represented both
prosecution and defense, James III:
Robinson, of Greeneville, and VIM.
J. McSween, of Newport, appearing
with Attorney General Tate for the
prosecution, and p. w. Pickle, w.
Mcfarland and O. c. King, Esqs.,
for the defense. The case was taken
up Tuesday morning of last week
and given to the jury Saturday eve-
ming, about o'clock. The defense
made strong efforts for continuance,
filing strong affidavits on account of
absent witnesses, which they claim
ed to be material to their cause, but
which they had been unable to get.
But Judge Rose held that the aft
davit was not sufficient, overruled it
and ordered the trial to proceed.
The leading testimony of four eye
witnesses to the tragedy was, in sub
stance, about rs follows. First, how
ever, rs To what took place on the
morning before the killing: VIM.
Ramsey and his victim, Volney
Clark, met ut John Clark (brother
of deceased,) store on Saturday
morning, Dec. I'd, Of we recolleet
Alright and were, apparently, per-
feetly friendly, and no one ever sus-
picioned that there was any ill-feel-
ing or anything wrong between
them, az they were both at Johns
store frequently, being near neigh
bOrs. While Ramsey was talking
and laughing with John, Volney and
his brother Jonas were preparing 10
90 bird hunting. Nolney took an
old rifle gun, which had for some
time been out of fix, took it to his
fathers blacksmith shop, fixed it up
by "tying a string around the stock
and keying il" His brother Jonas
took an old musllet, and they set out
on their hunt. They went through
the fields in the direction Of VIM
Ramssy's, who lived on his brother
Andy Ramsey's place, acting as bis
overseer, etc. VOlnoy seeing birds
along the fence, near Ramsey's hog
lot, went in that direction, bis bro
ther Jonas going in another direc-
ton across a fence. Yolney shot at
some turtle doves at the corner of
said hog lot Ramsey, who was
passing from the house to the hog
lot with a basket of corn cobs on his
arm, hearing the gun fire, went to
the house, armed himself with O
double barrelled shotgun and
Smith and Wesson revolver, both
loaded, and went out toward Volney,
calling upon him to stop, which
Clark did. Upon approaching near
er Ramsey said: 3" Vol. Clark,
your hellfred soul, what are
you doing in here 2" Vol. replied,
/" I'm hunting, Mr. Ramsey" Here
upon controversy ensued, too
lengthy to give in detail, but Ram
scy accused Clark of shooting a dog,
which the latter admitted. Ramsey
ordered Clark to get cut Of the field
at once and leave there. Clark said
he would 90, but asked Ramsey why
he had brought his gun. Clark was
ordered again to leave. He said he
would do so, and at least one eye
witness to the scene Jonas Clark
standing just across the fence within
twenty feet of them, though appa-
rcntly unobserved by either, said
that his brother, with his gun set
ting on the ground by his side, Vas
Just in the act of turning to leave
when Ramsey, standing some thirty
feet of, cooked his gun. His bro
ther, hearing it chick, turned toward
Ramsey again and seeing him pre-
pared to shoot said, at the same time
laying his left hand on his breast,
Mr. Ramsey, if you intend to shoot
me, just pass them in here and i'm
mediately the fatal shot was fired,
decorating the left hand which he
laid upon his breast, and entering
his breast just to the right and be-
low the collar bone. Ramsey then
saw Jonas Clark, who had stepped
up to the fence, and said to him, Oh,
Jonas, I've killed him." and then
drew his pistol, placed it to his own
temple and fired. Jonas Clark and |
three other witnesses (the others be-
ing 300 or 400 yards off all saw
this, but differ a little as TO some Of
the particulars, agreeing, however,
in the main. in q few miutes, John
Clark, having been informed Of the
came to the place, found his
brother lyingon his back, dead, and
after tenderly Strengthening him out
and folding his handsover bis breast,
ooked across the field and saw Ram
sey, who had shot himself cropping
about in his blindness. He went to