Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-07-10
DRAINED WITH AN AXE.
George Alfred Proctor Splits
Susan Hays Head open
And Then Makes Desperate At
tempts at Suicide.


in this city last Monday morning that
was shocking in its details and caused
great excitement among the colored
people.
A man named ALI Proctor went into
the house OF his mistress, Sue Hays, and
Drained her with an axe, after which he
attempted 10 Commit suicide by dis
charging four chambers OF q revolver
against his forehead and in his open
mouth.
The shocking affair occurred in the
woman's lodgings, which comprise the
first floor OF No. 8, in the row OF
brick buildings on the public square,
south of the Tobacco Exchange. She
was washing at the time on the back
porch. Proctor came in through the
front room and renewed quarrel they
had had the day before, concerning
some poison he had about his person.
The testimony Of witnesses is con-
hicting as to whether the woman ac-
cused him OF intending to use the poi
son or some one else, or whether he
was threatening to take it himself, on
account OF bad treatment from her.
The weight OF evidence is in favor OF
the latter hypothesis.
1t is certain that some where in the
quarrel the woman called Proctor a
lie, when he stepped into the front
room, picked up the axe and returning
to the porch committed the terrible
murder above described.
She was bending over her wash tub
when he struck the first blow, which
split her skull in the centre exposing
the brain and the whole interior of the
head. The second made a terrible cash
on the side of the head and face, and
must have followed in very quick sue
cession to the first.
/ When Proctor had finished this bloody
work, he walked out OF the house on
the pavement, and taking pistol from
his pocket began firing at himself
The first ball was aimed at his forehead
and the second went in near the corner
OF his eye. The other two he discharg-
ed in his open mouth. He never did
fall. A colored man caught hold OIL
him and let him down gradually to the
pavement, where he lay gasping fol
sometime unconcious, and apparently
IN dying condition. The pistol he USED
was small, pop-gun concern and die
very poor execution.
He was afterwards carried home
when he revived considerably, to such
an extent that the authorities though
best to commit him to Jail.
When Proctor recovered his power
OF speech, he informed those about hin
OF the whereabouts OF certain notes h,
had written to be read after the com
mission of the murder, and his intend
ed suicide. They we're as follows:
GAINESVILLE, Tenn, July A.
Relatives and FTiends:-I wish to sa,
that life is of no use to me. I've en-
dured many things since in the cit
; and found no pleasure OF my life, so
will now endeavor to put an end to il
after end my Dear Susans, for. she i
the only woman l ever did love, and
S am now 80 years, months and 10 day
old; was born Nov. 16, 46.
GEORGE ALFRED PROCTOR.
Nebraska, Colorado and Wyomin
papers please copy as A. A. Proctor.
TO MINNIE HAYS.
She, Susan, has proven false to me.
have loved her too well, so will put a
0 end to per and myself. II she won
y respect me as she did at one time sh
, shan't respect others. If could get
: good pistol before hand | would sen
Q old man Charlie ahead. PROCTOR.
e Proctor worked at the Central Ware
house as did also the "old man Charley
referred to in the note. They bot
y boarded with Susan Hays. She an
Proctor had sustained the open relatio
OF man and mistress for some time pa
but about two weeks previous to tt
> tragedy she sent him away frol
:, her house and refused to boar
him any longer. 1t is said tn
the cause of her anger towards him WI
that he had seduced her daughter, Mil
ME Hays, girl about Is years old,
:. whom the second note copied above W
addressed. The main incentive of b
= action was, no doubt, his jealousy
" cold Man Charlie"
1t was a terrible affair, the worst tn
t; ever occurred in GAINESVILLE.
- GAINESVILLE District, Tennessee Conference