The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1888-05-05
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
GEN. WRIT ADAMS AND JOHN III.
MARTIN THE PRINCIPALS.
Both COmbatants Killed I'm a Street
Duei-One OF the Most DeplOrable
Affairs i'm the History Of
Jackson, Miss.

Special to The Times Democrat.]
JACKSON, May LA most distressing TRACE
dy occurred here to-day at about 2:l5 o'clock
p. m. Gen. Writ Adams, postmaster at this
place, and one of the most distinguished and
beloved citizens of the state, and John Mar
tin, editor Of the New Mississippian, met in
deadly combat on President street, near the
corner of Amite.
Martin had published Gen. Adams in sever
al personal squibs in his paper, for some
weeks past, to which Gen. Adams paid no at
tention. The issue OF the New Mississippian
to-day contained another and severer person.
al article against him, and is supposed to be
the direct cause of to-day's tragedy.
They met at the time and place above sta
ted, Gen. Adams going north and Martin
south. Mr.. Parish, who was walking with
Gen. Adams, says that as they approached
| each other Gen. Adams accosted Martin and
! said in effect: "You ID rascal, have ta-
ken enough from you,' and Martin replied:
"If you don't like it," and simultaneously
with the remark drawing his pistol he fired
and got behind large china tree on the out
er edge Of the pavement, one.half foot in di-
ameter. Gen. Adams also fired about the
same time, but Parish, though not certain
thinks that Martin shot first.
Mr.. Thomas Helm, Jr., who was sitting at
his window just asross the street, Immediate
| ly opposite the scene of conflict, some sixty
feet distant, says that he was looking out of
the window (south) and saw Gen. Adams and
| Parish coming up the street They passed his
line of vision, and on hearing shot he look
ed araund and saw Martin on his knees be-
hind the tree and he heard him cry out, and
saw him fire at Gen. Adams, the General
walking around the tree to get at him, and
firing at the same time.
Martin scrambled to q little south of the
tree, and cotinued firing. Gen. Adams reach
ed the north side of the tree, following Mar
tin, when he fell
Both died in less than one minute. Martin
said to those who first reached the scene: 81
am dead" and died Immediately.
Gen. Adams never spoke Gen. Adams had
but one wound, and that was directly through
the heart. Martin was shot in the right
breast two and three quarter inches left of the
right nipple, and in the upper part of the
right leg, breaking the thigh bone. There
was also bullet hole in his hat Both men
shells in Martins pistol were exploded. Three
shells In Gen. Adams pistol were exploded,
and one gave evidence of having been snap
ped upon, but failed to fire. Two Of the shots
were intact.
The following are the publications, which
are supposed to have led to the difficulty:
The New Mississippian ofMarch q, alluding
to the Hamilton trial, then in progress in
Brandon, said in effect
| "Gen. Writ Adams, q witness for the defense
testified as to Hamilton's character. The
General ought to remember that character,
| like charity should begin at home."
Again on April 8: "Nellie Dlnkin's testimo-
| ny for the State has been impeached, but she
| has this advantage of Gen. Writ Adams,
witness for the defense: she never gave certifi-
Gates and was forced, after they had been
published year, to admit they were utterly
| false.
| And again to-day: "People who do not re-
ceive the New Mississippian regularly will
| please remember that since we exposed the
Obliquity of Gen. Writ Certificate Adams the
| post office is endeavorng to wreak its spite
against this paper in every possible way
| This paper has to be in the postOffice about a
| half or an hour sooner than the Republican
paper here, or it is made to lie over for anoth-
| er mail.
1t is strange how mad some men will get
when the plain truth is told about them in
print, and yet this paper is feeling remarka-
| bly, WELL"
An untold gloom hangs over, and The deep
est sorrow pervades this community in con-
sequence of this terrible tragedy.
We have been informed by reliable
gentleman, who examined the china
tree referred to above, that instead of
being only one-half foot in diameter the
tree was nearer two feet.