The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-08
Y1rH BowrEs AND BULLETS.
How Murder Resulted from That School
Row IN Mississippi.

How Murder Resulted from That School
Row IN Mississippi.
Aberdeen Miss Special
The little town of Rome. in Winston county.
about fifteen miles from here, is all wrought up
over fight which took place there last week,
and in which two of the most respected and In
telligent citizens of the place were killed sid
MANY others wounded. The reports of the at
fray were not out for a day. and now there are
as many different versions or the fatal fight as
there were Witnesses The tnwnspropie are di-
yded in Co two factions over the affair, and it
would not be surprise if serious trouble grows
out of the matter.
The teacher Of the little school house in Rome
is Mr. Davenport well-known in this part of
of the State as a good instructor and rigid dis
ciplnarian Ii TO this last characteristic or
the teacher that the whole trouble and conse-
Quent killing Was due. 1t seems that Der
of the young children of the townspeope who
attended Mr. Davenports school Committed q
trivial odense last week and the teacner to
put stop to the fooling in his school and to
give an idea of his control of the pupils daring
school hours, suspended the children and had
them sent their homes. The parents of the
children inquired into the matter, of course, and
saw the teacher about the suspension of thu pu-
pills IN the hope that the latter might he allowed
toreturn TO school before the affair would reach
the ears of the school trustees The teacher was
1rm, however, and so the case was taken to the
trustees.
The children whose cases were appealed were
named Allison and Rutledge. The suspension
having caused great deal OF comment the
township, the schooi-room was Will filed when
NGQleS0AY.
A. Bailey. one of the trustees, came out very
strong st the meeting in support of the teacher
and disciplne IN the school. Almost every body
else not directly interested, sided with The pm
piIs, and thought that such harsh treatment to
the little folks was unwarranted Bailey in
sisted on making the decision OF the teacher
final. Finally. so one faction says the matter
amicably ARRANGED. and meeting was
about 20 end when some word passed between
Bailey and an opponent of the teacher, and
some very strong language was used by Bailey
Old man Rutledge, related to of the chill
dren, went MP Bailey holding up his hands
and imploring the excited trustee to keep onlet.
Bailey seemed 20 be in frenzy. and instead of
keeping quiet grew more abusive. Rutledge
still pleaded with him, when Baby drew
volver. and leveling it quick as fash at the
old mans breast fired. the ball entering Rat
lodges heart With groan the old man fell on
his :ace on the floor.
Tnen general fusillade began. The friends
of Bailey took side of the room. rafyiuE
about the trustee. and the other men. friends of
the pupils. hastened to defend themselves from
a general attack. Baif%y stood in corner of
the room. revolver in each hand. and the
breath was more than out of Rutedges
body before his slayer hogan popping. away
right and left at the old mans friends. The
suddenness of the gilug of Rutleige hal sur
prsed the others, but thy were really for
Bailey in ten seconds Bull cts flew here aud
there. the men lodging behind desks to escape
them. and not a few tried t. defend themselves
with knives. Old man Rutledges son. E 1. was
mortaliy wounced and died in few hours
Bailey received a long cash down his hack from
his side. hut he vas saved from certain death
once by his sister jumping in between him and
his enemies when of course all firing ceased.
Seen the friends of Bailey made dash with him
for the door and succeeded in eett out with
few scratches from knives. as all The ammnni-
ton in the party had been expended. and fifty
bullet holes in the walls showed how erratic
the aim of the excited men.
Bslly was hurried into the woods and ESCAPED.
1t is said that neither of his wounds is serions,
and that he will come back and repay same Of
his enemies for their work His action in the
unfortunate affair is simply astonishing TO those
who knew him Up To the time nf the trustees
meeting, Bailey was considered most exam-
pary young man. He was a church member, a
Sundsy-school teacher AM tempe -ance adva-
cate, and had never been known 10 indulge IN
any display of temper gun. His friends
are much surprised his fearful deed CT
shooting a def-nseless old man. and try hard to
believe that what his party claims is true that
he did shoot first. and that old man Rut-
ledge was killed by another of the crowd. Rut-
ledge. the elder, a peaceable. upright citi-
zen, and he known have any
trouble with anybody
Bailey is being tracked by officers, but 1t is
said that he has place of conceaiment which
nobody can fiad but his friends who are In the
secret The elder Rutledge and his were
buried the dag after the fight in one grave.