The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-25
A SWITCHMAN SHOT.
ANOTHER TRAGEDY ENACTED IN
FORT PICKERING.
Harry Overton and Thomas Sweariuger,
White Switchmen, End Quarrel, the
Latter Being Shot and Kined-The
Slayer Makes Good His Escape.

Death has sealed the lips of one OF two
principals in a quarrel yesterday morning,
and it never will be known whether the
bullet that killed him was fired because of
murderous hatred or whether it came In
iancied seli-defense.
Between 10 and II o'clock, Harry Over
ton shot aud MORALLY wounded Thomas
Swearinger, who died about twenty min
utes aiterward.
The two men were white, employed as
night switchmen in the Kansas City,
Springfield & Memphis Railroad yard,
and boarded with Mrs A. b. Jewell,
at No. 1856 Georgia street. A quarrel
about lantern, begun Wednesday
night while on duty, lapsed for the time
without assuming form OF violent en-
counter, and those who heard il dismissed
any thought of future trouble as a result
The two went TO bed, slept, and arose
about the same time for breakfast. At tho
table, where no one was seated but the
two, the quarrel was raised, and an old
score mked up, in which Swearinger ac-
cused 0vcrton of having too freely used
his name in an uninvorablo manner. Tho
talk was continued in the hall and out
on the front porch, but no one appears 10
have paid sufficient attention to the row
to remember the subject OF it,
Mr.. T.. l.. Harris was an eyewitness Of
the shooting, but heard not word that
passed between the men Immediately pre-
| ceding IL. He was sitting in Dr. Winkler's
buggy, about twenty-five yards from the
scene, while the owner was paying q pro-
fessiOnal visit TO some one in the house in
front Of which the buggy stood. lie ob.
| served the men emerge from the house OF
| Mrs Jewell, saw them stop on the side.
walk in front, and knew from their APP
| pearance and manner that earnest discus
| sion occupied their attention. After talking
short time Ovcrtun turned away aud
started across thostrcet When Ovcr'on was
about hall way across, Mr.. Harris says he
saw Swcaringcr make u gesture with his
| hand, rs though no had addressed re-
mark 20 OyeriOn, though hc could not
hear il. Oyerton wheeled, and, drawing
| his pistol, shot Swcaringer through the
stomach. The wounded man grabbed the
fence and sank TO the ground.
Another witness states that Ovorton
| struck Swearinger, while they were ON tho
| front porch OF the house, us resentment Of
u hloNt li' udu bttn klNtUs nc also htNh
/ that Swearingcr had started TO run across
! the street, but turned and came back
! toward Oycrton, who drcN n pistol and
presented II. Swcaringer stopped aud put
| his hands in his pocket, when Oycrton
fired, the ball striking him about an inch
20 the right Of the navel.
Justice Garyin presided over the In.
quest the jury returning a verdict that
deceased came TO his death from a pistol
wound, inflicted by pistol in the hands
Of Harry Oycrt0n. OycrlOn fled toward
the river after the shooting, and although
pursued by citizens a short distance made
good his escape. He is twcnty-thrce years
OF age and came here from s. Louis where
his father il said to be prosperous mcr-
chant. Swcaringcr was forty two years 0f
agc aud unmarried. lie came from Allo-
ghcny, Pa.