The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-17

with the murder OF j. W. Dickoy at Pleas.
ant Hill, Miss, on October 3.
Pleasant Hill is an old interior town in
DeSoto county, six miles from Kclly's
Station, which latter is fifteen miles from
Memphis. 1t is quaint looking village
without historic interest or any present
signs Of life. 1t has three stores and
blacksmith and carpenter shop, around
which cluster quite number OF unpre-
tentious but comfortable hoses, the resi-
dences of wcll-todo farmers in that neigh
borhood, but it is not easy OF access by any
manner Of means.
The reporter alghted from the train at
kelly's at about quarter past 10 o. clock.
and set to work at once TO secure some
sort OF conveyance in which 10 make his
way to Pleasant Hill, but to his surprise
there was not even horse TO be had. 1t
was case Of between the devil and the
| deep sea. In fact, il was the devil upon
whichever side OF the picture he gazed-
! the devil to have to remain mt Kelly's all
day, or the devil TO have to walk that six
miles TO Pleasant Hill. But decision
was soon reached and the reporter started
| out with full consciousness OF his ability
to cover the six miles on foot in one hour
and half. Before starting, however, he
was given the names OF several gentlemen
along the route from whom, he was told,
| 1t might be possible TO get horse or con-
yeyancc of some sort. After getting lost,
| and walking about two miles and half,
n farm house was reached and arrange
mcnts made for team. The balance Of
| tho journey was made without accident
or incident by o'clock.
There were about two hundred people
assembled in the little village. and the
trial was in progress under a large wood
| shed that didn't have even a floor The
| justices, MCssrs. Robertson, llansard aud
| Harrison, and the clerk OF the court were
seated behind large dry goods box with
newspaper covering while the audience
WAS making itself rs comfortable rs
possible ON the lumber piles under the big
shed. The lawyers, OF course, had chairs
as did q so the prisoner and the reporter
| who joined the mystic circle around the
| dry goods box. This completed the scene
| in this rural, rustic, iloorcss temple OF
justice.
by decision of tho learned trio all
testimony except that bearing directly
| upon the killing was barred in the OK
| animation Of witnesses, hence the fcnsa-
| tiOnal part OF the story was left untold.
| By that ruling the defendant was not per-
/ mittcd, even II he were able Ia do so, to
| show any provOCation for the crime with
/ which he stood charged. For that reason
| 1t became the duty oil the reporter TO step
/ outside and gather the facts from what
ever source he could.
j. W. Dickcy, the murdered man, was
/ about thirty years oi ace, and
lived just one mile beyond Pleasant
| Hill. lie was a young man ol means and
| prominence in the community in which lac
/ lived. IL is also said that he was a man OF
some culture. and enjoyed the esteem and
/ respect OF all who knew him. Ills wife,
/ the daughter of the present State Senator
OF DcSotO county, G. A. Marshall, died
/ about eight years ago. since which time
| MIR. Dickey lived the lilo OF bachelor u
the day oihis death.
The defendant, y. ]. Tribblc, il about
forty years of age, and was n laborcr on
| Mr.. Dickey's farm when the tragedy oc,
| CURED. lie had been In Mr.. Dickey's
employ for moro than six years, and,
though poor aud illiicmic, he was gem
orally liked by those who knew him.
lie killed Dickcy for scducing his
! daughter In the absence Of any tcsti'
mony on that point before the court, after
| the only three witnesses called had tcsli.
fed. the reporter started out 10 find the
! girl for the purpose OF getting her 20 make
a statement. She had testified before tho
court relative 10 the killing but that was
all. But when the reporter began the
search Tor her lac found 10 his astonish-
mcnt that she had gone home, accom-.
panied boy her little sister and an aunt
The three were ovcrtaken about u mil,
and halt from the village, very near the
scene Of the murder, and there inter
viewed.
Her namc Is Annie Leo Trbbc, and, Z,
an inquiry, she said that she was iiitccr
years old. when asked II Dickcy was he
bctraycr she said hc was, that he had ac
complishcd her ruin little over thIc'
ycars ago In cotton-housc, which III,
pointed out that stood In q field near by
She said further that he accomplished hi
purpose by force, she being at that TIM
between eleven and twelve yclu
Of age. She faid that when sh,
told Dickcy that she was in q dclicat
condition ke tried 10 induce her 10 lay IN
charge at some other mans door, but thi
she refused 10 do. When, by her nd
yanccd state of pregnancy, she was CON
PEELED TO make disclosure, she says tia
She went 10 her father aud told him th
. whole story. This was on Thursday after
noon before the killing on Friday. Tia
night Tibblc loaded his gun. The follow
ing morning early, by q o'clock, Dickc
went 10 Tribblc's house, only 100 yard
distant, 90 see him personally upo
busincsa. little dreaming that be was wall
inc into the Jaws oi death. When ono
, fairly withinthc door Trihhlc raised his ga
, aud said: "God d--n YOU, YOU hay
: ruined my daughter" bckcy rcplicJ
"Thbblc. don't kill me" but the iniur
atcd Thbblc sent the lcadcn messengers
death crashing into the unfortunate man
body, the first shot almost scycTing III
right hand from the arm. Dickoy turnc
| and rtfcatcd through the door, who
, Tnbblo fred again with deadly effect, VI
: whole load entering Dickcy's side ~ back
jusl under the shoulder blade, killing hil
Instantly
y, The testimony before the court subslai
= that Il the girls story 0f the killing In "
= foregoing. After hearing the three vi
nefso,. the court retired for consultation
After deliberating an hour or more, the
U decided a. bind Tribblc over to await II
y action oi the grand jury nj the Dccemb'
/, term of the circuit court His bond vi
n fixed nj ~, 600. which he WIS unable
!, give, and was Therefore committed 70 jai
u The Modern uercaIe.
L VIII appear tonight at the Fall Of Pari'
and every night this wcek-Mr. An,
Sweeney. the cannon ball king, jugglii
cannon balls twenty-five, iity. and y
I HaHH -