The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-14
Strange Experience Of Rev. Mr.. Kno!s
A Migaty Fusillade Of Bricks From
Every Direction.
Doors Battered and widows t.
nolished.
Fo-lcs on the Spot but Unable TO
Furnish q Clew to the Mystery.
Raleie II Ro I'd nnd Its Immediate Neigh
borhood Intensely Excited over
tho Mysterious Oc-
currence.

The house Of the Rev. James w. Knott
on New Raleigh road has for the past
three nights been subjected to brick
bombardment SO mysterious in its charac-
tr that the utmost vigilance OF three
experienced, trained and shrewd police
officers have thus far been bafiled in their
efforts TO arrest the parties from whose
hands the we'll directed missiles are pro-
jected.
The first attack was made Tuesday
| night at $50 clock or thereabouts, while
the family were at supper, and every
| night nce then the siege has been reesi
imed. The bombardment usually begins
at o'clock or a few minutes earlier, and
usually ceases at 10 o'clock. The bricks
come one at time and from different
built, twostory frame house, with
an ell, and fronts on New Raleigh
road, in the rear Of the Leath
Orphan Asylum. 1t is the center OF an
immense Enclosure and tree from contact
with any neigh5oring buildings or other
coign OF vantage which might serve as
convenient place OF concealment from tho
besegers. A whitewashed, open, board
| fence surrounds the house on all sides Mt a
distance of not less than 200 feet, and
there is no shrubbery to serve rs conve-
nient ambush. The spacious lawn in
front OF the building is covered with tall,
leatleSs trees, on which II would
be impossible to conceal man
10 that lac could escape discovery, and yet
for three nights the windows of that house
have been smashed from four sides, the
front door battered, and the sash OF win
| 4 .,.s N .1.r,...lfghnI
80 cunningly has This been done that the
combined efforts OF three policemen and
four citizens were unavailing last night TO
detect the perpetrators. From 7 to $50
o'clock the officers were on hand, and
they were assisted by DIR. LOOMS, three
neighbors, the Rev. Mr.. Knott, his wife,
and four school girls. inmates OF the
house, ranging in age from eight 10 four
teen, but the presence Of these sentinels
made no change in the operations OF the
attacking party. The fire OF bricks was
kept up Just the same as ii Sergts. Koran
aud Turbeville and Private Dillon were
not on the spot keeping their eyes skinned
for the marksmen who were sending in
their missiles with such true and unerring
aim. Ii WAS very annoying. II shot
came from the rear Of the house
and the officers made n rush in
that direction, smash, crash. cape-
a sound from the south side Of the house.
Ii they started for that side n well-aimed
brick would he heard striking the sash on
the north exposure. but the singular thing
APPEARS to be that when the police ap'
preached within ten feet or less Of tho
house the firing ceased. This gave rise 10
the theory that the bcsiegers were either
In the ell or In a little summer house sit
uatcd about six feet south OF the main
building. Search in the summer
house was made with frutless results
The ell Is used as storeroom and
Is kept securely locked, hence II
was not thought probable that the
bricks came from there. This left no
other theory open than that the brick
hurlers were either concealed in the main
building or in a celery patch about 100 feet
in the rear OF the house. Search In tho
latter revealed nothing. The former was
not searched. Its only inmates are the
Rev. Knott and Mrs. Knott, their grand
children Charley and Tom Knott, both
girls, Miss Lula Raspberry, and
Miss Ph0be Raspberry, aged, respect
lively, fourteen and eleven years, adopted
children Of the family. MIR. Knox
Is about fifty-fve or sixty years OF ago
and has been connected with the
Methodist ministry Cor thirty-iive years.
lie has no cliuch here, but makes pastoral
visits 10 Louisville and other ncighboring
towns. The theory that the bombardment
comes from within the house Is hardly
tenabc, for the reason that the outer front
doors arc battered, and there is no posi-
bic way 90 reach them with brick except
by hurting II from behind tree or fence,
rs there Is no building or other sh elIer
within 200 feet Of the front door
THE rLAS or THE PoLIcE
was 10 20 10 the spot early and wait for
the connonading 10 begin. AT q o'clock
nm. Scrgcnn,s Koran and Turbcyillc,
accompanied by Officer Dillon. mou.~>l
horses and rode out 10 the Rev. Knots
house. There they were joined by TOUR
neghbon aud surrounded the house.
Two minutes after the fun began, bricks
and stones were striking tho
walls and windows at inter
yals. The moon was shining bright
as day. bat none Of the attacking party
were visible. The ncighborhood OF tho
fences were ransackcd In four directions,
but nothing could bc seen. Returning in
tho direction OF the house. the police
thought they heard suppressed giggling
within. leading them 20 infer either that
the boinbarlncnt came from within or
that some OF tho children inside woro
hugely enjoying tho inn. AZ any rate
Il il certain that the police AMI ncighbors
STAYED until go'clock aud found no sDlu-
tion Of the mystery. After their depart
urn Mr.. Knott says the sport was ooniin-
. ucd until 10 o'clock, when everything boz
! camc Quiet aud remained ~.
, AZ midnight
: AZ ArrEAL REPORTER VISITED THE HOUSE,
in company with Mr. Knott 20 inspect tho
, building, outhouses and Enclosures. Tho
font door was slightly battered and borc
! two deep indontaions. Tho side and rear
: Windows were slightly mashed. Tho
windows OF the l. at both ends
. were complete wreck. Tho
door knob OF tho summer house was
, broken bali IN two. Tho imam what
/ irowcd Hat brick" must have been In tho
. l., or within six feet OF the house. IL
WIS too neat Job 10 have been done
otherwise. Tie following note was found
Q In the kcyliolc Of the front door at dusk
Y yesterday
llov iaines Knott.
4 Ny Darling ~, was bad last night but
will be worse tonight"
I The writing was In female hand and
may lead TO the solution OF the mystery.
Mr.. Knott says he would give anything
for tho detection and arrest Of the guilty
parties There will probably be another
: brick performance tonight, aud the police
hope ~ make an important discovery.
7
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