The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-27
MOBBED BY MOONSHINERS.
A TERRIBLE AFFAIR IN MIDDLE
TENNESSEE.
A Depaty Marshal Shot in His Bed
and Three OF the Mob Fatal
Iy Wounded.
lsPEcrAL 70 rHE APrEAL.I

VINO arrived mere to-day gives tue i
lowing account OF the terrible affair
Col. J. M. Hughes's revenue force
made successful raid upon the Illicit
distilleries in Hubbard's Cave,
Coffee county, about ten
days sgo. Webb PurdoD, a
member OF the f)rce, who is a citizen
OF Manchester, was aroused from his
slumbers between II and o'clock last
night by moo OF masked man burst
ing through his bedroom door. They
were about twelve in number, and,
without warning, they began t1
fire a deadly volley into the bed
where Purdon, his wife aud
children were sleeping. Purdon,
thoogh moltally wounded, his left
side and arm being filled with buck
sho', rose with revolver in his hand
aud returned the fire, telling two Of
the sssassins 10 the floor. This fright
ened the mob, who picked up one Of
the wounded meu and fad, leaving
the eta wheie' ne fill. Purdo1,
who is noted for his pluck and nerve,
j lmped out of bsd, seized his double
taTeled shot gun, leaped over the
prost a.e form on the floor and fol.
lowed in hot pursuit of the fleeing
mob. When he got to the yard gate
he fired both barrels, which were
heavily loaded with buckshot, st the
ietreatipg desperadoes, tending two
more 10 the ground. They, too,
were assisted by their comrade +,
and all except the wounded man
left in the house made their
escape. The wounded individual
wss captured, and proved TO be Mack
Clark, distiller of the rsided dis.
trict. Sheriff Ashley aud a posse
started at an early hour this morning
in search of the ssssssins. One arrest
las been made. The name Of the
prisoner could not be learned. Purdon
is mortally wounded. Clark's wounds
ore serious, though not necessarily
mortal. Purdon's wife and children
mirscu ously escaped without injury,
though the bed beneath ard the wall
above were perforated with the leaden
missiles. The affair crestsd the most
intense excitement. As the men who
made the assault are desperate, and
the sheriff and his posse are deter
mined to capture them, it is believed
there will be bloodshed when the t@o
parties meet.
ANOTHER 8ccoUET.
Deputy Marshal r @. Corden says
that about midnight several men,
dref sed like kuklux, visited the house
of Purdon, aud after breaking down
the door commenced fling at Purdom,
who was ia bed. The first man who
fred missed his aim, the shot yak.
ing effect in the ceiling. The second
di charge lodged the sh t under the
bed and set fire tn the mattress. The
third maa shot Pardon in the shonl-
der, eight shots taking effect. In this
condition Purdon reached for his pii-~
to- and commenced firirg. He shot
tbree men in the house, two of them
falling in the door. the third retl leaied.
At tins iuncture the lead-r was heart
10 saw: Let's get away ftom here,
boys" At this the gcrg LETT,
dragging with them one of
tae men who was shot
in the house. As soon Os possible
sitter the retreat commenced Purdon
picked uD his shotgun and pursued
them. He was too weak from loss OF
blood to follow far, but gave them
parting shot as they were disappear
ing down The street, bringing another
man to the ground.
cLARK's RECORD.
Toe Only man left in the house was
Mack Clark. He WAS shot by Pur
dou through the stomach. Clark be-
longs to a good family. He is the
of legal dist'llery, but II
is said has been dealing IN crooked
whisky for come time. Clark lives at
dillsboro. Deputy Marshal Garden
aaYs the mcoushiners were mad with
Purdon because he had been in the
employ Of Deputy Collector Hughes
for somsft time past in seeking out wild
cat distilleries. PurdoR accompanied
Deputy Marshal Garden on raid re-
Gently; James Barnes Of Hillsboro
was also along, and Deputy Marsha
Garden saws he has no doubt that the
gang killed Barnes last night before
coming to Manchester. DEPUTY
Marsh al Garden says Manchester is
TEN nersnce town and some time
ago the ladies there offered a reward
Of s25 for the apprehension of parties
engaged in the liquor traffic. Several
were recently detected and
and it is thought these men
and their friends were in the dis
guised party that visited Purdon's
house last night. Hillsboro is
lbout eight miles from Man
chester. Deputy Marshal Car
len fHEnkb tyf'Eh SohApt llNt
through the day. He was asked
y the Sheriff this morning, who ac-
him, but he refused to give
lis pals away. He said he would die
ather than expcse his friends. Clark
las always been considered a man of
rue grit. He was tried and acquitted |
n the civil eou,ts a few years since
or murder. 8
THE EEcITEMEasT ISIENaE.
The reporter saw 3 shop Hargrove
sho passed through Manchester this
corning. lie stated that the excite
nent at Manchester was intense and |
hat it was thought three Of the
naked men had died of the woEEds
by Purdon in his terrific and
nequal fight with them. When Mack
lark was picked up he was clntching I
double -barreled shotgun Eitli one Z
arreI cooked and his finger on the
-igger. Mrs. Purdo took tie gun J
rom him.
Drives out by the strikers.
ArcarsoS. KAs., April Is The I
trikers this afternoon took fagcib'sH
.. II 4ba Hse-o,,.f - fio.isl ~