The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-22

already purchased our omnibus tickets
TO take the train tonight. The dead
man has them in his pocket now. We
were sitting on the settee chatting about
matters and things while awaiting the
time for our departure. 1t was about 930
o'clock when man approached us from
the direction OF the billard-room, and
without word Of warning placed his pis-
toll against my friends breast, fired two
shots in rapid succession. With cry OF
pain he rose, staggered into the bar-room
and fell. The rest you know"
Mr.. S. @. BURLINGTON,
night clerk at the Peabody, said:
| was looking over the register when
Lane entered from the front door and
perused it also. lie turned TO walk away
when he discovered Brown on the oppo-
site side with his back turned to him.
Without uttering word he pulled
out his pistol and began firing.
Brown placed his hands on his
breast and turned around. As he did
so Lane fired again. Both then broke and
ran, Brown going into the bar-room and
Lane making for the back door. | called
out TO some gentlemen who were sitting
near the door, and they caught the muir
derer and held him until an officer ar
rived. The rotunda was full Of people at
the time, and stampede towards the
doors ensued.
Mr.. JAMES n. ALoEE,
editor Of the lScimiiar, said
81 was in the rotunda conversing with
friends, when | had my attention at
tracted TO the rear OF the bulldog by two
sharp sounds, which at first thought
were made with billiard cue. Looking
around saw the people rushing toward
the doors and ran whence the the sounds
came. Just after passing the water cooler
] was told by some one that q man
had been shot and he was
in the bar-room. rushed in there and
saw young man lying on the floor with
bullet wounds in his breast. Hearing
that the perpetrator Of the crime was in
custody, left the hotel and went to the
station-house, where | interviewed the
prisoner. / asked him why he fired the
shots, and he said that he had been told
TO do so by the spirits. When returned
to the hotel, learned that the wounded
man was dead"
THE VICTIMS APPEARANCE
was that OF young man about thirty-two
years OF age, OF stalwart build and power
ful frame. Light curly hair covered his
head and a mustache OF similar hue
adorned his upperlip. When seen by the
reporter he was still clad in the garments
that embodied him when tho murder
Gus bullets terminated his strong young
life. A few minutes aiterward metallic
coffin was brought into the room, and
strange hands lifted the stranger tenderly
into the casllet, while all around moistcned
eyes and quiyering lips told how deeply
the souls Of the by-standers were stirred
by the unfortunate young mans tragic
end.
INTERVIEW WITH THE PRISONER.
II was nearly midnight when an APPEAL
reporter rang the bell at the big iron gate
OF the county Jail and requested adInis-
sion. Officer Mike Butler promptly came
10 tho door, opened tho pondorous iron
gates and led the reporter 10 the
tile paved hall which opens into the i'm.
mense honeycomb Of cells where county
prisoners are confined. After some porsua-
sion Mr.. Butler consented 10 permit the
reporter 10 see the prisoner and. preceded
by colorcd man bearing light, he soon
reached the cell where lane is locked up.
Lane readily came 20 the small aperture
in the door which affords view into the
cell, and replied without hesitation 10 all
questions put 10 him. lie Is about twenty
SIX years OF age, small OF stature, OF slight
frame and beardlcss face, although an UNI
shaven line Of stubby growth on his upper
lip and under his chin show traces oil a
mustachc aud beard OF a brown color,
similar In shade to his hrir. Small
dark eyes, sunk deep back in his
head over an under arching brow Of average
breadth and hight betrayed none OF. the
usual signs OF insanity. lie wore hat
aud all his clothes, having evidently
thrown himself upon the bed when locked
up, without even removing his coat. Even
his shirt collar had not been removed,
but there was no sign Of cmyat. Tho
light shone full ON hs face during tho in.
tcryiew, but no visible signs Of emotion
wcro apparent.
lane" said tho reporter, "why did
you kill that mang'
III was crazy" was the reply. 81
never saw the man before, hal nothing
against him. II seems like some unknown
force took possession OF me and fired tho
shots
"IIavc you ever had these spells be.
fore?'
"Ycs; | began 10 get thcm about four
years ago, Just after undergoing treatment
Tor ---- "a loathsomc diseased, by DR..
Sim"
"How 10 they affect your"
"Wcll, Il seems like everybody 500 Il
n mind reader trying 10 real my thoughts
and talking 10 me, and try aud grt rid of
them, 80 tho idea struck me tonight that n
| killed one Of them they would stop both.
oring NC"
"Did Your family know Of this7"
Eyes, aud about two yoans ago my
father sent for the lunalic asylum wagon
and ,hcy tried 10 take me, aud I wouldn't
90, and over since then have thought IL
hard that my father should Try aud put
me IN an asylum"
"wcro YOU not working in The law Office
OF the Lehmansg'
"Ycs; ! have been with them for flyo
months doing shorthand and type writ
ing"
"when did this attack CONF on yonq'
several days ago, but tonight Il got
worse"
"Di1 you have fixed purpose IN your
mind when you left home tonight2''
Yes, ] had made up my mind 20 shake
OF the mind readers II had 10 kill one of
them. They worried mo and gave me
pain IN the top Of ms head ~ that fclt
like clutching my scalp and pulling them
out"
"when did you leave homer
about o o'clock. | walked TO the
junction Of Mississippi avenue and Her
nando road and let two OF three cars pass
me, but finally took one"
why didn't you kill one Of the passen.