The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-02
Warren Stewart Killed at Arcola.
a Drunken Drug Clerk Creates
Great Deal of Trouble.
Young Stewart Has Occasion to
Deal Him Severe Blow.
This Stings tho Pride of the VIC
tim SO Much
That Hc Renows tho Quarrel with
Shotgun Falling In This He Shoots
Stewart In tho Back at
Later Hour.

! Special Dispatch TO The Appeal.
ARcoLA, Miss, Feb. l.--Arcola was
scene OF shocking tragedy today which
resulted in the death OF Warren Stewart,
aged thirty years, who was Instant
ly killed by shot from a Winchester
rifle, fired by John Diamond. The sad
news reached Grccnvllo by telegram
shortly before . O'Clock pm, within less
than an hour after the occurrence. The
ArrEAL correspondent left Grcenvllc for
! Arcolao on the io'clock pm. train, and from
his Investigations there is little doubt
that the affair was deliberate aud
cold blooded assassination. Tho trouble
originated last night when tho deceased
Stewart, Diamond and Manriceo Elkan were
together after 10 o'clock pm. Diamond,
who was drug clerk Tor DIR. Southall,
prominent physician, had been out collect
ing at Burlcttc, and hala difficulty with a
negro there, named Field. Diamond
struck Field, who is dumb, with n hatchet
and 50 serious was the blow that the me-
gro will possibly die. Diamond and his
friend managed 10 90: back 10 Arcola.
There was some apprehension that tho
ncRros friends might make battle, and
Diamond was armed with u Winchester
| rifle. lie appears to have bcon drinking
hceyly, aud while with his two friends,
Stewart and Elkan, hc fired two shots,
one Of which came near hitting the latter.
The deceased Stewart deemed Il necessary
To strike Diamond with bottle Of pickles
hc was carry ing Tho blow, which inflicted
a small cut on the forehead. was not con.
sidcrcd n serious one. aud after much diff
iculty the affair was apparently made mp
and all three men had supper together in
Max Maysc' 'sstorc, where Stewart wascmp-
loycd Diamond wa To sleep with the de-
ceased, but changed his mind and slept in
his room at the drug Slorc, nearly oppo-
site. This morning when the trouble was
made known friends rendered their good
offices and there was no thought OF col.
lision. There Is overwhelming testimony
that the deceased acted in concliaiory
spirit aud didCvciy hing 10 avoid hosiilities.
| nhnppily Diamond seems Ia havc
| broOdcl over the blow ho had received
aud although protesting hH willingness 90
| itl llllNkH IfHlt lf NWNNNltNlN WWl'u
| himself Within u few moments Of the
| shooting the men met aud passed without
| more than an animated discussion W. 10
! whether ar not the blow with the bottle
was juiiliablc. Diamond appears 10 have
| then deliberately carried out hs purposes.
| As near - can br Rsccrtnincd, u was at
| o'clock pm. that Diamond came from the
| drug store with u shotgun aud discharged
| TWO lo1ds e huckHhot at stewart, who WIS
sli nling on th gillory oi Max Mnyso's
sfprs. un luc opposite side Of the street,
distant about forty yards. stewart was
OH. hit llr ran into the store and came
on minut after witt a Winchester rifle.
| Dia mood WIS not then visible, and u IL
stated hc had returned 10 the drug store
| for another weapon. Stewart turned
south and called 10 his friend James
johnson. who had started for dluncr and
was inside the yard OF nn adjoining housc.
| While IN this position with his back to his
assassin, without having fired shot In his
defense, Warren Stewart received the fatal
bullet that passed completely through his
body from the contcr Of his back aud
emerged under the right claviclc. lie
| fell without gtoan, expiring almost
| Immediately. All was over before Dr..
Souihall reached the spot, which was
within two minutes.
| The assassin nc once took 10 his hools,
| running over the Deer Creek bridge and
taking 10 the fields At first the awful deed
| was hardly realized by the citizens, but In
a lew minutes rcsOlulo men wcrc In hOt
pursuit Constable Atkinson, squire
Wccm.. Dr. Bzzcll, Frank hrlsong, Jim
johnson aud othcn, some on foot. some
on horseback ran him down about 2D
O'Clock about two aud half miles trum
I Il. n "a ALI
were exchanged on both sides. Diamond
came very near killing DR.. BizAcll. At
length. seeing himself surrounded, ho sur
rendered. lie admitted the killing and IL
now held without bail. lie isin room at
the rear oi Aldndgc's store well guarded.
Words cannot describe the shocking and
painful sensation this melancholy altar
has created The dead man aud his slayer
vpr,l the closest Of friends. boon Compu1.
ions. almost iusrplrablc. Warren stewart
vp4 thc sYn of Col. j. u. Stewart, Uuiied
State, Rcgiztpr OF Lands, M Jackson, Mits
Ills brother. Dr. Nolan stewart - Wen
known pLiclicng phWiclan ~ ~ anu ilv
Vus cousin tu VIII Hamilton, oil
tho Merchants Is Planters Bank,
OF Gponyilie, AMI related to the
/ Ycrru, the Juhusona, AMI many
of the best families In the State. lie bore
/ the N'lNINIlNN hA ~ NNNAi'Hf NNAN f'''''s
man, not quirvlsomc. Physically lac was
not strong, being slightly built Ills bus.i'
ness ability and his strict integrity male
him invaluable 10 bis employers. The
killing Of such q man IN the cary primeoi
lila b ,cplonblc. and tho accuc IN tho
death room tonight, whore his friends and
relatives sJbbcd around the silcnt form OF
one whose cheerful voice they will never
. hear a,ain. was incXpio sbly touching.
John Diamond, whose rsl act ha'
. placed him iu such un awful position
. cimr here from Mobile about eighteen
months ago. lie was q good druggist ana
. hal many friends hero. Ills habits now.
ever, Nrfr iutcmperatc, anal Whon under
the influence oi liquor hc was o dangef9us,
man. lie Is short, we'll built weighs liO
, pounds, and oi q fair complcN'on. ~ Is
Understood he will bo sent to tho County
Jail Il, G,cnyllo IN the morn,nh Wheh
seen by your correspondent th's eNcnln;
ho pl,l,,sed 10 make no statement oey' M
: b,i bc considered hin self justified IN hs
, ac,. The remains Of the Deceased viii %
r lakcu 10 Jackson for iuIorment tomorrow
by ,ht brother, Dr. Stewart