Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-24
A SAD TRAGEDY.
ONE NAN DEAD AND ANorarR sArp
TO BE- DYING.
a ncther Dies from shoek-A Pistol Ball
Prevents Lynch
Tspec.al ,olerram % ,hn nl.nalcn.l


ABINGDON, Va, July 2S.-The saddest
tragedy that ever happened In this conl-
munity took place last saturday evening.
\ desperate man named John Grayson. Of
johnson county, Tenn, wsS In town 10 con.
pany with his uncle and others from his
ncighboThood. Gratson bad been drinking
some, and be and smother man had ridden
through town on horseback with the ayOwed
purpose Of going home. Reaching within
two and half or three squares OF the east
end OF Main street GraysOp and his COM
panion came ~ with a wsgon from his
section oi the county and all stopped in
front o! the colorcd Methodist Episcopal
church ana began parleymg. GTsysOn's
companion was seen TO band q flask TO the
driver OF the wagon, aud about ethc same
time Grayson drew pistol from his pocket
and fred n IN The air, and then turned Il to.
wards ais companion. AZ this iuDciure Mr..
Iilhun Trigg, citizen OF the town, who was
passing on his wav home n square and a half
beyond, seeing the dagger OF Grayson's
companion went over 10 him and, having bis
leit hand Kindly on Grayson's shoulder, ex.
poSlulated With him and told him not
20 shoot. Immediately GraysOn turned
on Mir. Trigg with the remark: "What the
HI have you cot 20 do with iti" and
placing his pistol a ibiTty-cight-cslibre built
dogl against 1rigg's left shoulder.blsde
IrCd SIR. TTigg fell down a. once, drag
Fine Gravson OF his horse. Grayson sprsng
O. bis feet end fed. A. be was running,
and amidst the cries Of a large crowd which
had gathered around the scene, In less time
than 10 taxes Tor The telling TO Catch The
murderer" "Stop blm," the report Of au-
other shot was heard In the direction Of
Gray sons flieht. But Crays0n vert
on, and before he passed Mr Trieg's
home the laiier's father. who bai
heard the crles IN catch bim. and
beng a constable, ran from bis porch 10 the
street TO arrest Grsyson, who was still in
flight, carrying bw pistol 10 front OF him at
arms length So announcing manner. Consta-
be Trigg called on Mr.. samuel Mothncr, who
wss standing IN his store door near by. 10
help arrest the man. MIR. hothuer sprang
out, and running up behind Grayson caught
him around the sruIs and tripped him to the
ground iacc-i0rt most a. once taking the pis-
tol from hi. hands. llclB came 10 Mothner,
md Of orcc II was discovered that GraysOn
bad bfen shot in the left side at the back
Mr.. Liburn 1rgs was In the mean time
carried home, aud bis mother when
she saw her son being carried 10
apparently dead was so shocked
that It Wns SUP ed the excitement caused
tIe rupture of some artery. That night
tfNNl A q COCK she area. INNtitldOs D2u
been called, aud were attending The
" ounded. the slayer, and his victim. but
none tlii just before her death bad any idea
that Mrs. Vrigg WIS 20 sorely afflicted. Byj
O'Clock The next morning GraysOn was dead.
tbc ball with which be had been struck
having pl.sed through him and lodged in the
abdominal muscles IN front, whence u was
extracted. Ju.t before dying he made bis
attendant raise him IN, when he a'kcd,
/" What ala that man shoot me iorf" III
nurse, cOlorcd man, asked him If
lIo didn't know he had shot man
uud Killed a woman, 20 which he made
20 reply, INT buying hls face in his pillow
soon d.cJ. His victim siil fingers, hut 3,
deaths coor with hUt Slifht chance for re-
coycry, and not aware OF his mothers death.
Mr.. Tugg was Inferred to-day. She was
esteemed a. one Of tue most ierent Chris
tiars iu the land.
such "a The high state 81 the pulse o. pub
JIG -cutiuCnt that II Grayson mad not died
from bis wound after Mrs. Trieg's death he
would have been lyuChed. 1t IS not GER
tainly known who shot GraysOn. but the
general sentiment is his being shot IN night
pulv saved him from more iauominlous
ending.