The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-07
SLAIN WITH A MALLET.
KILLED ABOUT A CHEW OF PLUG
TOBACCO.
The Murderer Arrested and Jailed
by the POllce-He Makes q
Statement.


south OF Poplar street, on Front, was
the scene, at q little after o'clock yes.
terdsy afternoon, OF a crime brutal
and bloody in the last degree. The
place is usually haunted by laborers,
rough dirty and unwashed, a man
with a coat on his back being rarity.
They sit about on old barrels aud
boxes in front of the numerous saloons
in the earlier hours Of the day, retreat
ing within when the sun begins to
pour its warm, horlz ontal beams full
into the low doorways. Mean whisky,
stale beer, greasy cards and profanity
all do their share toward making that
portion OF the street breeding place
for lawlessness, aud 1t has given birth
to more than one
VILE MURDER.
At the hour mentioned there were
few persons to be seen on the street.
At the boarding house on Poplar street
two or three n en-, who happened to
be standing in the doorway, attracted
by a loud groan Of agony, eaw a man
standing in front OF q. Dondero's
saloon, half a block south, strike an
other over the head several times with
heavy mallet and as he fell TO the
ground kick him savagely two or three
timer. The alarm was immediately
given, crowd rapidly collected and
the man with the mallet, who seemed
to have no desire to escape, was easily
captured by the police. His victim
lay motionless in a pool OF blood, a
gaping wound in the back Of his head,
a little to one side. He died almost
without struggle. Both men were
identified without difficulty. The
prisoner, William Bath, is about 80
years of age, medium height, with q
hard
MALRvoLRNT CAST
of countenance, and has been en-
ployed ia various positions on the
river. He has no family. His victim,
John Kelly, was a railroad hand, and
was also unmarried. He was about
35 years of age and we'll built.
The most Important witness for the
State is man named John Kelley, q
laborer, and a stranger in the city.
He says he was sitting ir the saloon
when Bath came in. Kelly, who had
entered shortly before, asked him for
a chew of tobacco, and they had some
words about it, Kelly finally walking
out. Bath seiz,d heavy mallet
used 10 knock the bunRs from beer
kegs, and followed him, holding the
mallet behind him. As he reached
Kelly he
RAISED THE MALLET
and knocked him down without a
word. A negro, whose name was not
learned, stated that he was standing
| in the doorway OF the saloon and saw
Kelly walk out and stand upon the
pavement, with his back to the door.
Bath followed, and, before he could
| turn, hit him with a msl.et In the
back of the head several times in
rapid succession, afterwards kicking
him. Bath was seen by an APPEAL
| reporter at the Station House i'm
| mediately after the arrest. The pers-
piration stood out in beads upon his
forehead and he was visibly excited,
but did not seen to fully realize
the deeperateness Of his situation. He
talked freely about the affair, declar-
ing that he had no concealments ia
make, and
SEEMINGLY CARRLBes
about making out q case OF sell do
tense. an tell you how it was" he
said, going rapidly back to the corner
OF his cell and taking up his coat from
the floor. ~ went down to the river
this morning and asked one OF the bar
keepers for Q chew OF tobacco. de
threw me q whole plug" lifting.
quarter-pound piece from one OF the
pockets, "remarking that 1t wst
enough to do me q week. l cut OIL
pocket piece about as big as the palm
Of nv hand and took bite off OF 1t.
went in Dondero's saloon this even
ing and q man nevel
saH before Mked me fol
a chew. handed him the poke
piece, and he turned and started u
walk off with II. ] called to him Il
| give 1t back TO me, and he didn't an
swer me ut first, but when he got v
the door turned around and called mi
A. OF Q b.. he was too big To-
me TO
HANDLE WITH NY FISTS,
and l picked up q mallet and starte'
for him. As got to the door he wa
about to come back In, and when h
cav me started for me. raised tn
mallet aud let him have it once. ant
when he fell kicked him two or thre'
times. was afraid he might get OF
his feet and get away with me. di'
not intend to kill him, but II did, q
they said, / cannot help it, and will
have to take the consequences.
didn't think I hit him 30 hard.
never saw the man before and don
know anything about him."
ibid you hold the mallet benin
you as you went outP
II don't know about that. 1t wa
all done so quick"
"Didn't you get into trouble ono
beforef" Chief Davis asked.
eyes," he replied. ~ got into
row with negro barber in 1873. II
struck me and 1 shot at him. In
bullet took away the tip OF his ear.
am sorry 1t wasn't him ] killed instea
Of this fellow" II,
Justice Rourke held an inquest, th
jury returning verdict in accordanc
with the above facts. Bath is charge
with murder and will have his pr
liminary hearing this morning.