The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-21
A Graphic Account of the Luster-
JOhnsOn-FInley Tragedy.

| NlChbOuIR kmlSS'I HGbuJ EUGD !.
| From gentleman who was well &C.
quainted W tn and friendly to all the
the parties connected with the recent
terrible tragedy at Cayuga, and who
came in from that pace yesterday, a
Oh reporter CLEANS the following
particulars of the difficulty at Csyuea
a few days since, which resulted in
the killing of Mr.. Ben johnson, whose
wife Keeps the postoflice at that place
and Mr. W. G. Finley, q sewing
machine agent, by DR.. Luster. A
me citing of the Democratic club of
Cayuga was called to meet ut 3 o'clock
Saturday evening for the purpose of
selecting delegates to the county con-
vention called 10 elect dele gates TO
the district Congressional Convention.
At the appointed hour a number of
citizens who vera present, entered
the house or hall and organized
the club by elec'ing DR., Walter
Luster, Hooker man, as chair
man. The majority of those present
were Hooker men and they selected
Hooker delega e3. There was perfect
harmony in the meeting, and the bus
iness was coon tinished and adjourned,
just es Mr., Ben johnson and number
OF other Barksdale men came up and
iDsiLted that the meeting had been
held ahead of time, and Mr.. johnson
claimed that he was the president OF
the cub and was alone authorized to
call the club TO order The II oker
men held to their position. The
Barksdale men held another meeting,
appointed Barksdsle delega' e5 and ad
jonrned. An alteration took place
between two OF the rival delegates
shortly after the Bsfksdale meeting
adjourned. Othels attempted to stop
the row, aud in turn they themselves
were drawn into it, aud our informant
thinks there were some eight or ten
m5n mixed up in the row before
it could be stopped, Mr. Ben John
aon was prominent on one
eide aud DR.. Luster on the
other This was between 8
and 4 o'clock. About 6 o'clock DR..
Luster bad a call TO see q patient
which required him to hide by john
son'd residence, which WAS near the
street or road. Johnson WAC sitting
on his porch, in company with James
Cook, George Parks, w. O. Finley,
Mrs, Johnson and othels. As soon rs
johnson saw DR., Lustcr coming he
be started toward the road and re-
marked: II have got an account to
settle with you" or words to that eff.
feet. He WIS accompanied as far as
the gate by FlUley, who, after coming
out Of the gate, walked around 10 tho
head OF LISTERS horse, When John
on came out Of the ga Q she pulled an
old fashioned 80 CALDER pistol from
his pocket and continued walking
towards Luster, who wasjust then OPP
posite the gate. When Luster cav
the pistol he jumped Off his horse on
the opposite side from johnson and
drew bis piet)l, As he did so he was
confronted by Finley, who run his
hand in his bosom and drew knife,
and at the same time with an oath,
commanded Luster to drop his pistol
or he would kill him, at the same time
pushing forward on him. Lnster re-
treated some ten feet from his horse
with Finley following him 10. Chang
ing his pistol to his left hand with the
intention, it is thought, OF warding off
Finley's blow and trying to disarm
him in which he failed, receiving the
thrust in the left arm just above the
wrist, the knife going clear through,
and a second thrust in the same arm
near the shoulder. At this juncture
Luster placed the muZzle Of his pistol
close to Fnley's body ard pulled the
trigger four times with his lett hand,
When Finley fell to the ground and ex-
pred without struggle. turning
towards johnson Luster saw that that
gent tman had him covered with his
pistol, when he immedia' ely fred at
Johnson, 10th firing togeth r. Luster
then turned 10 his brother Miles Lus-
ter and his brother.in.law George
Anderson, who came p,and said "my
pistol is empty, some OF YOU give me
another" George Anderson pulled
his pistol. DIR, Luser stepped across
the road ten feet and got it and re-
Gro. sed the road to his old position
when he fred four times in rapid
succession at johnson, when he held
up his hands and said to Mr.. George
Parks, who had come out to try TO
stop the row, HE has & t me-" and
fell. Dr. Luster mou lied his horse
and rode away, giving h mself up for
trial. George Anderson was also ar
rested and charged with firing at
jon son, but wa discharged for want
Of evider ce sgainst him DIR LusteT
was ried Monday, and scouit ted. il
being a clear ca g of self defense For
4 ma Re ason Mr.. Charles johnson, a
brother Of the deceased, and Mrs,
Johnson, his wife, withheld all evi.
dence in their power from the prellm.
mary heati g, which fact, our in.
70 mant saws, gives 8 to he impress.
siou that hey viii either reserve & Tor
tie grand jury or decline To
4.tle 1t through he clUJis
Tie later impression Ia a's1 GIVEN
| q .lnr NV I q AInLnmnnL LE.- NJ ----L- ~