Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-03-12
Brutal and Premeditated Murder Of
United States Marshal Wheat by
His Father-in-Law, Spence,
In Nashville NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to
Andrew JOhnsOn's Daughter, Mrs.
Patterson, by New York City.
Important Railroad Decision by the
Tennessee Supreme COurt-HistOry
of the Defaulter's Case.
Proceedings of the Mississippi LegisIa.
ture-A Big Railroad Suit in the
L. $. Court, Helena, Ark.


special 10 the Appeal
NASHVILLE, March 11-Col. William
Spence shot and killed Col. Ed S. Wheat,
his son-in-law, in front of the Merchants
Exchange at $50 o'clock to-day. The
verdict OF the coroner's jury was that
Wheat came to his death by pistol fired
by Spence; the jury further found that it
was malicious and unprovoked murder.
Both Spence and Wheat were very prom
inent members of the Republican party
of this State. Both were appointed United
States marshal for Middle Tennessee by
Gen. Grant-Spence in 1875, serving for
eighteen months, then superseded by
Wheat. Wheat was superseded by A. NJ.
Hughes, jr., and several months ago be-
came a member of the Wholesale dry
goods firm of Buford, Thomas & Co., of
this city. He was regarded as one OF the
most popular men in the State of Tennes-
see. Spence was very unpopular. He
failed as banker in Murfreesboro in 1857,
owing every friend. He had never paid
cent since. He was investigated while
marshal and left under a cloud. Wheat
had been supporting his family ever since,
and according to one OF his partners
| Spence owes him about $4,000. Spence
claimed the contrary, however; told Capt.
John Sperry yesterday that Wheat got
$780, 900 that he (Spence) received from the
government for damages done his farm in
Rutherford county, Tenn, during the war,
which Sperry gave him because he was a
bankrupt and could not keep it: says
Wheat never accounted to him for this
money. Wheat stated to his partner, r
B. Bdford, that Spence owed him $3,
every dollar he owed; for the last week
! Spence had been talking to friends about
| forcing a settlement with him. Spence
instead of going home last night
| stopped at Scott's Hotel, and walked
the floor all night. He stood at the
door this morning and saw Col
Wheat pass; followed him block and 9
! half and shot him in the back. When his
victim fell to the ground he then went
around in front of him, put the pistol ovei
his breast and fred again. The first shot
entered beween the seventh and eighth
ribs, passed through The heart and cut the
breast bone. The second shot entered
three inches below the left nipple, but was
not found in the body. Either shot would
have proved fatal. There were fifteen eye
| witnesses, all of whom corroborate' the
testimony of Capt. John :. Dassiel, as fol-
lows: Was on the Spruce street car; / saw
Wheat crossing College street in the di
rection of the Exchange; Mr.. Spence was
few yards behind him, going in the
same direction; when Wheat got within s
few feet of the sidewalk or crossing
Spence drew pistol and fired it at his
back Spence then walked around in front
of Wheat, and placing his pistol close
| to Wheat's left breast and fred the second
time; think the first shot killed him;
was the first man to get to Wheat; Whea
was going down Church street TOWARD
Market; Spence was right behind him
Wheat fell; / heard Spence say, "D-I
him, he would not settle with me fairly
and choked me-" l said, Don't shoot
any more. he is dead now" Spence said
"If he amt dead I'll finish him; l hop,
he is dead"
l.. K. Hare says that after the seconC
shot was fired he heard Spence say: :"
have killed my son-in-law. He would no
settle with me; he choSe me; he is the
Cd d-n meanest son OF b-h thai
ever lived don't get excited ;I'il give my
self up."
In an interview with your correspond
ent Spence said he did not know that h
had Killed Wheat He thought when h
fred the second shot that he had no
killed him, and was about to fire the thirt
shot. Another witness testified that afte
the second shot he saw Spence standing
over the PROSTATE body OF Wheat, in
manner dancing over his vicim. He wa
saying: "Oh yes, you choked me, di
you? ! will show you how to choke me
Choke me now" Witness then walke
up to Spence and asked who tn
dead man was. Spence replied: 'Tha
is Ed Wheat, the d-nest scoundrel tina
ever lived, and have killed him." Spenc
was committed to Jail on bench warran
issued by Judge Allen, of the Crimina
Court. He stated shortly after the mui
der he had written statement and wa
already prepared, expecting everything
Wheat was native OF Coldwater, Micf
He became lieutenant in Lewis's battery
First Michigan Artillery, in 1861, serve
with distinction during the war, and wa
a member of the largest wholesale DIR
goods firm in the South-Eqford, Thoma
| K Co