The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-10-15
KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY.
Robt. j. Morris Shot and Killed by His
Nephew, Bud Morris.

I
ris' mill on Big creek about min
miles from Pulaski. Several differ
ent reports of the killing have bee
received here. The facts, as nearl
as we have been able to gathe
them, are as follows: Robt. j. MOI
ris drove by the mill where Bu
Morris was sitting on the fence
The latter called and asked, 81
that Bob Merris?" Whereupon tn
man in the buggy, without answer
ing, drew his hat somewhat over hi
face and hurried past. Bud Nor
ris then jumped on a horse tina
was standing hitched near by ant
pursued his uncle, overtaking hin
on the island in the road, about 20t
yards from the mill, formed by thu
division of Big creek. There wa.
no witnesses to the difficulty tina
followed, though several parties
were near enough to hear the firing
of the pistols. Robt. j. Morris sale
before he died that when he was
overtaken he said to his assallant
Don't shoot, Bud; my wife dieC
recently and have four motherless
children to raise" Bud replied
"We're about even then; I've got
five children with no mother, and
this matter must be settled right
here, damn you" While this col
loquy was going on Robert was get
ting out of the buggy and in the act
of getting out he received the first
shot which went through his bowels
from side to side. A sharp battle
ensued, Bud taking a tree for shell
ter. He emptied his revolver, only
two shots taking effect-the one
through the abdomen and the
other through the thigh. The pis
tol was q navy six, we presume
from the size of the ball we saw
III at passed through the thigh and
fell from the dead mans clothes
when they were dressing him. 1t
was as large as the end of a mans
little finger. Roberts pistol was a
silver mounted Bulldog-small--
and three barrels were emptied but
did no damage. The account of
the af'ray is necessarily meagre as
it had no witnesses. After it was
over the wounded man found his
mule and buggy some hundred
yards off and managed to get to it
and drive on down the road near a
mile to Esq. Jno. G. Abernathy's.
He knew he was badly hurt and he
noaned to attract attention, he said,
Is he wanted to see some one be-
ore he died. After he was brought
20 the house he did not murmur,
although he said he suffered great
y, and when told by the doctors
hat he must die, he set about min
lite directions concerning his bust
less, ETC., and died that night at l
''clock, attended by Drs. B. p.
Clark and VIM. Bramlett.
Robert j. Morris once lived in
Giles and had a store at Morris
mill, and was an uncle OF the man
Who slew him. For several years
lie has been q resident of McNairy
county, West Tennessee, and owned
considerable property there. The
grew out of an old grudge.
n 1880 w. j. Morris was arrested
It Van Buren,, Ark, on charge of
murder and robbery committed sew
n years before. He stoutly assert
d his innocence but the lapse of
ime made it hard to clear himself
nd during the trial he left the court
.ouse and escaped west. He accus-
d his Uncle Robert of being in
trumental in causing his arrest and
Or this be killed him. Robert did
ot deny this specifically on his
eathbed, but said he had never
armed Bud. The jury at Van
1uren brought in a verdict of gull
y but Bud Morris has been easily
ound at all times and we believe
here was no attempt to arrest him.
thursday night Robert Morris came
D Pulaski and the next morning
ired a mule and buggy from Rea
: Meals stable and went out to
ave a settlement with Crockett
Iorris and was on his way back to
own when slain. An inquest was
ED by Esq. D. H. Parsons and the
erdict was that deceased came to
is death by a gun shot wound in
icted by w. j. Morris.
After the affray Bud rode back
o the mill and told persons there if |
hey did believe that Bob Morris |
,ould fight to go down the road |
nd try him, and he said he had |
ever done as bad shooting in his |
tie. He made no attempt to con-
cal himself after the shooting,
to think he had done right,
ntil after the man died, since
,hich time he has not been seen,
hough it is thought he is about |
ONE, some even saying that he
ill surrender and stand trial.
Robt. j. Morris owned consider
BILE property in McNairy county.
After he found that he must die he
lade his will and appointed his ex-
cutor. He talked freely about his
usiness matters. He said he owned
wo farms and owed only $500 on
hem, which the rents of this year
Tould pay; that he loaned a certain
Dung man $40 recently to enable
i'm to have himself treated for sore
yes and that he had nothing to
how for this money. He directed
hat note which he had in his
ocket against another party for
400 be destroyed, saying that it
ad been paid and not taken up.
The remains were brought to
'ulaski and expressed to Bethel
tation, McNairy CO., Tenn, accom-
anied by his kinsman, Mr.. Crock
tt Morris.
The unnatural affair has created
he greatest excitement in that
We have attempt
d to give all the facts as we learned
hem without prejudice. 1t was an
unfortunate affair. The
Iorris family in that neighbour God |
re highly respected and well to