The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-03
A PERIL0US POSITION.
SPECIMEN OF WHAT POLICEMEN
MUST EXPECT.
Sergeant lHedrick and Patrolmon Sui
Ivan and Meskel 90 After IA Bad
Negro-A Warm Reception and IF
fective Reiolnder.

Reckless defiance OF law officers en-
gagged in righteous pursuit by stolid
man has brought distress upon another
family.
Before day yesterday morning Ben Me
Gaughy, n middle-agcd negro, received
three bullets in his body and the fourth
in his right wrist, the former three in
fllcting mortal wounds.
Sergt. Iledrick, Of the police force, CAV,
him three Of the wounds and Patrolmar
Frank Sullivan the other.
Several versions OF the difficulty were
heard by an APPEAL reporter, with not 4
conflicting detail. The story in full Is ~
follows
On the Dist OF November Chief Davis ~
ceiyed letter from Mr.. T. II. McGaughy,
a white planter residing at Planicnvilc,
Lee County. Miss, that mule had been
stolen from him; that Andy Mctiaughy,
whom lac suspected, would probably make
for Memphis, and 20 keep lookout for
him. The police were instructed accord.
ingly. The mule aud man were traced ~
far MS Hickory Flat, and the description oi
the former gained from those who saw
him IN tha; vicinity, tailed with that fur.
nished by the mules owner.
Friday night last latrolmcn Sullivan
aud Thompson Oycrhuulcd Andy Me
Gaughy, and he was locked up. Chief
DAVIS and o,hcs officers Of the force inter-
romicd the suspect, Who at first denied
that he had q mule, OF had been In Missis-
sippi, or could Ia any sense be- the man dc.
sind. Finally he was trapped, however,
and made a clean breast OF the theft.
In the meantime the mule had been
sent out by the lhici TO his brother, ben
SAcGesghy. or Whitfield, who resides
three miles FROM the city. ON the now Raj
oigh road. This much the prisoner all
miitcd to the police. Saturday morning,
early, the wife Of Andy went out To ihc
place aud gave the alarm, aud licn's spn
was placed on the mule aud took him "a
the home Of raron Ross, at Richardson
landing, Upton County. Capt. O'llayci
drove out TO Bcn's homo. but found hin
absent, and left n note with his wife io
Ben. insiruc,ing him that Andy was undo
arrest, and 10 bring the mule In. Ia,
Captain waited NJ the station until II
O'Clock Saturday night for his man and th,
mule, but In vain, aud a warrant wes thei
sworn out against him, charging him will
receiving stolen property. A note wa
also addressed 20 Sorgt. Ilodrick, tclinl
him 20 serve the paper early ycslcrda.
morning.
The Sergeant. accompanied by Patrol
men Sullivan and Mcskcll, started ont bc
tween 3 and o'clock. Reaching th
home OF ben, Officer Mcskcl was placc'
at the rear door. while the other two too
position at tho front. A series Of rap
aroused the man, Who inquired what wa
wanted.
81 am a Sergeant Of Police and have
warrant Tor your arrcst Come out an
surrender" said Sorgt llcdrick.
There was no reply iofaminutc or more
during which time Hen or some one ON th
inside was heard walking around the ilooi
Another demand for his surrender WI
made 10y the officers, which hc declined
Nhcrup0n Sullivan, who WIS against ~
door, gave u a push, and open u wen
Hardly had the door swung upou i,
wooden hinges when the officers vcrc COT
fronicd by Ben, with n shotgun lcyclc
upon them. The trigger was pulled, thcl
WIS a harmless snap. aud Sullivan, VII
was In front, dropped 10 the floor, TO ~
out Ol range. A. be did ~, bot
he and Scrgt llcdrick pulled the
rcvolycn, hut before they could lrc Ic
had omptcd tie other barrel OF his gui
Fortunately the charge went over the
heads. the rcsul, q protecting darknc