Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-08-28
Burneti's Crime.

Inc crime or murder Tor winch Henry
Burnett paid the penalty on the gallow-
ra-dsy, was committed in the peaceable
and quiet nelghborhood Of Walters
Chapel. ten m les northwest of Loooke,
N ms fathers farm. The scene of the
tenants, Nelson McNeill. The m N whose
a tenant of William Burnett, the mur
iarer's father. and who lived within
ew hundred yards of McNeills house
Ali OF the parties colored. The causa
which led to the crime may be sum-
married. as follows: On Saturday, the
l4th day of February last, Henry Bur-
nett, Willis Butler and Nelson An
serson went to Carlisle, a distance
# about five miles from Bur
nett's farm, the former two in
wagon together, while the latter walked.
When the greater portion of the day had
been spent in trading, the evening shade,
emipded Anderson that he would have
/, cold and muddy walk unless he availed
himself of some opportunity to ride home.
He sought out his neighbor~ nurnett
i'd Butler, and told d mem he had some
'n!uss 10 axe home, and he wanted to
. rue in their wagon. They con
sented to his going with, them,
,ut Anderson growing impatient, did
lot wait, but drove the wagon home by
himself, leaving Burnett aud Butler in
| Carlisle without any conveyance to get
home. They were forced 20 walk
through the cold aud mud and arrived al
| the Burnett farm at a late hour in the
| night. Sunday morning the three par.
ties met at n lson McNeill's lot, and
4 o4.a1Iol /
sreatment of himself and Butler, IN ieav
ing them at Car!!iissiie TO walk home. Me
] Nell. suppressed the war Of words, tell
ing them that he would not permit an!
quarreling on his premises, at the sam,
time threatening to report them to thu
Justice. Burnett then said he was no
done with it yet" On Friday night, tn
10Th, Burnett visited McNeill's hous
and found Anderson there, seated by tn
fire writing on slate. They did no
! speak. Burnett did not sit dow
| but played wrap. jack" few min
utes with one of the girls
and with her went to the wood pile afte
fuel for the fire. He returned to tn
room, and when the door was ordere
! closed he pertly remarked, he had no
| gone. In moment an ak was seen ia
l upon lllC utltuStl-SS Utdu Vi IGlSOH AL
| derson, which crushed the skull in th
| pack part OF his head and he fell sense
less upon the floor dying Sunday ever
ng. Henry Burnett escaped to th
woods, eluding the officers of the law III
til Sunday evening, when he surrendere
limselt. The coroDer's jury of inque
returned verdict that Anderson can
to his death in accordance With the fac
stated. At a preliminary examinatic
| Monday he was committed to jail to ava
| The action of the Circuit Court, befol
5 | which he was tried aud convicte
Wednesday, July 10, 1885.
, His father, who was present at IL
ri., had failed to employ counsel to d
fend him, and the Court appointt
Messrs. George NJ. Chapline and Joi
Lake Black, two able young a t,rneys,
present his defense to the jury. TIL
e lid their utmost, but no evidence cou
e be introduced that 10 the least jusUf,
the defendant in the crime commit e
t. The jury retired, and within one ho
| returned their verdict, finding Hen
). Burnett guilty of murder in the irst
4 .ree, as char ed in the indictment. L
/. | doomed mans face assumed a pale a
n | detected look, while guilt played upon
counteuance visibly. Friday morning
h was taken to the court room, aud Jud
Is Vaughan in a very solemn manner il
pressed him with the solemuity of
i. occasion and passed sentence of dea
ly setting the 9th day of August for
y execution.
ly Burnett is mulatto, in the eighteen
Of year of his age. Until the difficu
IL which will cause him to yield up his Ii
ID he was regarded as a peaceable, gu
a aud inoffensive lad