The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-22
The Examining Physicians Make {
Singular Discovery.
Interviews with Gentlemen Who Saw
the Shooting, the Prisoner and His
Father, s. p. G. A. Lane-His
Mind Unbalanced for
Five Years.

An appalling crime, an indescribably
pathetic tragedy, was enacted last night in
what is known MS the rotunda Of the Pea
body hotel John NJ. Brown, stranger
in Memphis, en- route TO Hot Springs,
for which place he intended to leave
by the next train, was shot and
killed without a moments warning by
Lewis Lane, the demented son OF Turner
ii. Lane, we'll known us an officer Of the
Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty TO
Animals. Brown and Lane were unknown
to each other and had never met before.
There was clearly no motive for the deed.
II was the act OF a lunatic who should
have been in the asylum years ago, rs
will be afterwards shown.
There il no conflict OF facts in the case;
all witnesses agree us TO the salient points.
MIR. Brown arrived in Memphis Yesterday
afternoon 10y the Chesapeake * Ohio
railroad from Fulton KY, where he is
employed as q clerk in the store Of J. A.
Wyatt. lie was on his way TO Hot
Springs Ark, accompanied by his friend,
Mr.. I. NJ. Usher, also a citizen OF Fulton.
At the moment when he received the fatal
pistol wounds he was seated on the
scttco TO the right of the water
cooler engaged in friendly conversation
with his companion, Mr.. Usher On the
other side OF him sat Mr. Warner, an en-
ploye OF tho Louisville, New Orleans q
Texas. Lane walked deliberately up from
the direction OF the billiard-room, placed
a pistol within few inches OF Mr.. Browns
breast and without uttering word fired
two shots into his body. With cry OF
pain that froze the blood in the veins OF all
who heard 1t the unfortunate man rose,
staggered into the bar-room of the hotel
and fell. lie lived fully half hour. but
never breathod word.
In the meantime the shooting had
created stampede. and u rush was made
Tor all the avenues OF exit Officer Dillon,
who heard tho shots, Immediately hur-
ried TO the scene and assisted by
Ben Marsh arrested the murderer, pis-
tol In hand. He made no resistance
and walked tothc station-houso apparently
dazcG by tho awful crime he had COM
United. When asked why lac had done
IL, he replied: Tho spirits moved me 20
kill the first man | met, and | went to the
Peabody because that Is tho best place 10
find people"
AT the station the prisoner was searched
aud the discovery made that he had n
derringcr and dirk knife in addition 10
the scli.acting Smith 4 Wcsson 3S.calibcr
with which the decd was done.
Tho ewsof the killing spread like Wild
fire, aud soon n dense crowd surged into
the rotunda OF the Peabody, all endcav-
oring with crancd necks 10 get glimpse
OF the madmans victim. Officer Cullen
was promptly on hand, however, and
kept the crowd back, allowing no one near
the corpse except the reporters, Justice
Fleming aud Drs. Miles Willct and 5. A.
Rogers, who were promptly on tho scene.
The following gentlemen Nerc sum.
moncd from the by-standcB by Squire
Fleming To serve on the jury OF inquest:
J. Gubly, \. q. James, Nat. Edwards,
Ed Dale, smith Davis, q. h. Tate and 4.
A. Wright, foreman. After the examine
ton OF all the eye witnesses TO the deed
the Jury rendered n verdict 10 the effect
that the deceased had come TO his death
from pisiOl-shoi wounds inflicted by Lewis
Lane.
Dr. Willctt, who examined the body,
discovered the following described
wounds
|. 4 wound Immediately beneath the
clayclo on tho right side.
2. A wound between the third aud
fourth ribs on the right side.
3. \ wound between the fifth and sixth
rib, ON the right side.
ruE BODY PRESENTED HORRIBLE SIGHT
~ II lay extended nj full length on the
floor. Tho bosom was exposed, and on
the surface of It's white skin two large
round holes as big IN diameter ~ a nickel
marked whore the bullets entered. The
third wound must have been caused
by one of tho balls penetrating the body
through aud through aud emerging lower
down ON the same side. In no other way
can II Dc accounted Tor, as tho witnesses
agree that thorp were but two shots fired
AMI the pistol found in Lanes hand con.
tanned but two empty chambers.
An autopsy will doubles, be held today
to locate the range Of the balls
.. The jury were deeply moved ~ they
gascd upon the rigid features Of the dead
man, AMI the shuddcr Of horror that went
through them NJ they heard the story ~
his killing communicated itself 10 all who
were made acquainted with the pitcous
details. The crowd was ripe for lynching
the slayer, but Capt llackctt got wind OF
W anu itluNNtN llN lFlNpnNf tillNUgu
back door into hack and hurried him of
to the county Jail, where he was afterwards
interviewed 10y an ArrEAL reporter.
THE STORY on ruE KILLING
rs told by the eye witnesses l. substantially
as given above. Mr.. Warner Wis still
pale with excitement and horror when
questioned upon the subject by an APPEAL
reporter. lilo said: There Is very little
TO tell. II occurred ~ suddenly | was
hall paralyzcd with surprise. | was sit
ting on the settee talking 10 Mr.. Brown.
On the other side OF him sat his friend.
gentleman with rcd whiskcn, with
whom lac wis talking mover dream.
ing Of tho awful fate that awaited
him. Suddenly q man walked up,
placed his pistol against Mr.. Browns
brast and quicker than can tell Il TO
You hrcd twice. Tho poor fellow criod
''Oh, oh! ~ rose 70 his feet, staggered tothe
barroom door and disappeared through II,
When next saw him he lay on the bar
room il1or breathing his last."
Mt I. VI. Usher, tall, plcasant-man-
ncrcd gentleman, with an Intelligent face,
covered with a rcd beard, was next seen
10y the reporter. lie was deeply Affected
by his friends horrible death, but
10 control his emotion aud
gave the following account OF the tragedy;
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