The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-07
MURDERED ON A STEAMER
THE BLOODY AND TRAGIC DEATH OF
MARTIN MOORE.
The Excursion Boat Benton the Scene
OF One OF the Foulest Crimes in the
City's History-His Assassins Under
Arrest.

yesterday afternoon ever committed on
the Mississippi river. The fatal tragedy
occurred about s o'clock last night and
| just a few minutes after the boat had re-
turned from an excursion TO Jackson
Mound park and was being tied up for the
passengers to come ashore at the foot Of
Court street. The murder is 30 atrocious
in its details and the causes leading TO 1t
are equal in enormity to the bloodiest deed
ever recorded Of piratical cut-throats and
assassins, that to give the reader full
| conception OF the awful crime IL is neceS-
sary to give some Of the history OF the boat
and those who had charge OF it-their
characters and purposes.
The Benton is not n new boat, and lacks
a great deal in comparison with many OF
the other river palaces which are TO be
seen daily from the bluff. The boat be-
longs TO the Vicksburg Packet company,
and is in charge OF Capt. Elisha Evans.
Several weeks ago IL was rented TO four
men for the summer season, for the pur-
poses OF an excursion boat, either up or
down the river, at convenient distances
from the city. The names of the lessees
are Martin and W. ]. Moore, brothers,
Washington /. McCown and Samuel Til
ley. WI. Moore il the proprietor OF a
saloon at Main and Exchange streets, and
Martin Moore, while not having any spe-
cial business, has, since the renting OF the
boat, devoted his time to it. Both Of them
came from Madison, Ind, 10 this
city several years ago. McCown is also
from Madison, and Sam Tlley is from
Louisville, Ky. Martin Moore looked after
things generally on the boat; McCown
took in the tickets while Tilley tended the
bar and w. u. Moore had but little to do
with the concern, his time being taken
up ut his saloon.
The men are all known to be desperate
! characters. McCown is a onc-armed man,
professional gambler, and described by
the police as IAN all-round crook" II il
now stated that the boat was chartered by
| the men for the purposes OF making out OF
| il floating house OF prostitution and
gambling hell, and that McCown
ran the gaublingroom. Another per-
son, one OF the principal actor;
in the bloody tragedy OF yesterday,
but who had no proprietary interest in the
boat was Eph Reeves. lie Is IA handsome
, young fellow, twenty-nine years old, q
, professional gambler, one OF the shrewdcsl
and most INSCRIPTIONS sharks that infcsts
the city. Up to the time Of the renting o
the boat as stated, for nearly year past
, he has been the proprietor of poker room
5 ut Winchester and Main streets. The
game conducted there was what Is known
rs Skin game" and many q
, guieless man has been ruthless
\ Reeves Is desperate character and
| Ill attthN 40
ago in Nashville, in quarrel
! about his wife. Reeves was sent
: 10 the penitcntiary for four years, and
! served out his time. He then cam,
D TO this city, and being carriage painter
. worked at the Lilly carriage factory for q
6 few months. He abandoned his wife, Of
! rather she abandoned him, and retained
the custody OF their child, daughter, who
9 Is now about nine years old. When the
, boat was rented Reeves gave up his
! gambling den and went on the boat IN
9 partnership with McCown.
: Just as the boat was being tied up at th,
. wharf Martin Moore came down from M
2 stairs on the boiler deck. McCown, Reeves
: a man by the name OF I. w. Godfrey, ant
i several Others, were down there, and III
/ became involved in heated conversation
! with them. Suddenly McCown diew
4 pistol and fired at Moore, who ran towar,
4 the bar; rs he did no Reeves followed
y snatching huge butcher knife from Ia,
:. bar counter, and began slashing away a
4 Moore. At this juncture Tilley jumpe'
o from behind the bar and caught hold q
Moore. All was intense excitement. fou
or five shots were fired In quick succession
and Reeves savagely slashed away a
Moore, when suddenly the ovcrpowcre,
!. man fell pnostratc, bleeding and dyin
:. on.the floor. A pistol ball had entcre,
: his abdomen on the left sid
. lust below the fist rib, Will
l. from his head the blood gushed from tire
J. gaping wounds which had been infictc
% with such terrible force rs 10 penetrate th
n skull Tilley was cut across the RICH
= wrist, the muscles and tendons being on
!. tifcly severed In the bone, and an equal
!, gaping wound was on the back, and almo:
y the entire length OF the right hand. tn
!. widest panic ensued on board the boat
!. and the passengers went pell-mcll fror
;. decks across the gangways Tilley ran q
). fast as lac could up the bluff, accompanie
4 by Reeves, and went 10 Renkerts dru
= storc ON the corner Of Main and Adami
= where DIR. MCGEE dressed his wounds
= though not until he had almost bled I
1
y from the excessive los OF blood. w.
Moore was on his way 10 the boat, an,
Al reached there in time 10 catch the dyin
10 words Of his murdered brother. The dyin
,. man stated that Reeves had cut him wit
4. the knife and that McCown had fired III
m shot into his body. With these words o
h his lips he expired. Capt Hackett was o
N the street, not far away, and hearing Of III
r. tragedy ran down 10 tho boat. The fin
IA man he met was W. J. Moore, who n
II qucsied him 10 arrest every one Of the ere
! and all who were in any way connecte
m with the boat, and he did 10. The partie
M locked up nj the station.house were NJ,
m Gown, Reeves, 7. w. Godfrey, J. ii. Blu
n ton, win Smith (colorcd), the fireman, an
10 Horace Graham, the boats carpente
Tlloy was taken 10 his room nj Schilling
boarling-house, No. IL Adams street, an
Is In charge Of an officer
Squire Gutenberg impanelcd jur
In and held the inquest at the station. hous'
Al Cant Evans stated that he was In III
, pllot.house at the time OF the occurrence
= lie heard four or five shots In quick SUI
y ccssion and ran down NJ fast ~ he coult
y When he got down on the boiler deck h
" saw j. II. Burton holding Martin Moore
Il head In his arms and that Moore expire
Q. A few minutes aitcrward. Did not kno
n ANYTHING Of the causes leading
rs the murder. William Smith, the fir
IN man was the most intelligent, {
IN evidently the most inclined 10 &c
A. the truth Of any OF tho witnesses. ii
"a stated that lao saw Moore, McCowI
70 Reeves and one or two other men on III
/ a. sl...s N