The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-01
A RIpENING BITTER FEUD.
sULPHURoUs ATMOSPHERE ABOUT
POPLAR AND DUNLAP STREET.
Long Line of Assaults and Counter AS
saults Between Corner Grocery
Man and His Next Door Neighoors-
An Official In Imminent Peril.

Obstinacy Is very strongly marked trait
in some people, and they cling TO griev-
ance with wonderful tenacity until venge-
ance has softened their memory. Even
then it is sometimes referred to with a
feeling OF pride, as affording the heart So
lace from newly encountered troubles.
When two such individuals come in con-
aict there is wool gathering, SO TO speak.
Friendly offices are thrown away in the
endeavor TO restore the harmonies which
create state OF brotherly love between all
mankind. A case in point now exists in
this city, and stubbornly resists friendly,
official and every other kind OF inter-
ference.
There is at the corner OF Dunlap and
Poplar streets small grocery store, kept
by an Italian named J. j. Latura, and
commonly known rs corner grocery"
whatever that may imply. Ills next door
neighbor is Andrew Watkins, q carpenter.
'14aiua is medium in hight, with a little
surplus flesh, inclined toward jollity, but
knows not the trait forgiveness. Watkins
is tall, slender, sallow-complected, and a
perfect counterpart OF his neighborin stub
DOfuutHS. int WV
which their bumps OF rescntfulness have
fed and grown abnormally large, occurred
about four years ago. The two squabbled
over piece OF ground covering an area OF
eight inches, went TO the chanccry court,
and Watkins won. Since then each has
been in bad repute with the other, and
Watkins purchased all his family groceries
from rival. II one said or desired u GER
tain thing, his enemy just as certainly
went contrary. II Watkins said the moon
was made OF green cheese, Latura stood
ready to prove that II was skinned milk,
or, perhaps, shoe leather. Thus matters
stood between them, when the garbage
carts drew up in front OF Watkins house
one morning for the accumulation OF ref
use matter
In one respect Latura had the advantage
at the time in question, and still has.
There Is but one entrance TO the premises
Of Watkins and that through the front
door, and the house covers nearly all the
lot aud is consequently short in the shape
of drainage. OF course the carts could not
10 through the front door. In the rear Of
this house is an alley, but this belongs to
the Italian, and he positively forbade the
cart drivers TO use il TO reach his neghbor.
Watkins saw n way 10 get even, and mp
piled II to practice. You won't let me
have INV premises relieved OF oflal in one
way" argued he, "thcn II adopt another.
III have il carried TO the front, pass close
TO your dininq-room, and select only meal
hours for the service" This course he
pursued a few days. Latura got sick OF il
and sent for President MADDEN. telling
him Of the practice OF Watkins, and added:
at max ee us all sick, and We yomit "
The umpire suggested that latura sell his
alley TO the city, ~ that the carts might
pass through and reach the premises OF
Watkins, but the spitoiul Italian was moi
thus 10 be shorn Of his power. "Of course
you can condemn the alley, pay me for i
and make il public, but will never sell II
otherwise" That settled il.
Iatura then conceived another method
10 demolsh his hated enemy. Tho house
In which Watkins lives II q dumpy, one
story structure, so situated that sunlight i
nm almost indispensable requisite 10 render
Il habilabc. iatura's plan was TO cut of
this supply Of sun. To do 10, he built {
fence between the two houses high enough
% overshadow that Of his ncighbor. Wat
kias felt that he had at last big point
but saw no remedy, and mutcly submitted
lie had ocy4ision 10 need the fence TO ham
up something, drove two nails through
the plnnks, pressed them into service, an'
went ON his way rejoicing. When he ~
turned the articles thus suspended wer'
LAYING on the ground, and the nails ha,
vanished. latura had discovered them
More nrcenily, when the order 10 white
wash was promulgated, Watkins, suppos
ing Il dcvolved upon him Ia attend 10 ia
fence on the side next 10 his house, wen
% work with the brush. lie had hardl
begun when latum got wind OF II AM
threatened 10 make mincc meat Of him
unless he discontinued work ''Thos
blanks are mine, lac said, 'and you sha
not touch them" Watkins didn't pun
sue the whiiewashing business any ful
tier, at least In that direction.
The "ro0kus" that brought 20 light thi
yulphurous state OF affairs between thcf
occurred about two weeks ago. Watkins
under permit from the engineer, laid
sewer pipe from his back premises out
POPLAR, thence along twcnty-eight feet !
front OF Iatura's premises, thence acro'
Poplar street through tho public drain, q
underground. When the work had o
been done, lAtura dug up the section
front Of his house aud smashed II int
smithcrccns. This was carrying thosqual
Bile too iar, and Il came up before the lcI
islatiye Council. II was referred 10 ii
engineer and chief Of police. These OIL
cials made tour Of inspection after darl
were warned TO make themselves seldom
but were assured that both sides would ]
on hand for an airing at the next counC
meeting. They came, Latura being the
In the shape OF "a petition and Watkins
person. The former complains OF slS
passing through the drain, the latter ~
nothing goes but distilled water, The ID
ter related his dircful fate AT length, mu'
10 the amusement OF his auditors. II "
referred TO the tender mcrcies Of Preside
hidden, and he Is now wondering "
can discharge The duty without leaving J
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