The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-12-31
4 TRIPLE TRAGEDY
Over In Fentress County.
Tennessee.
A Fathers Terrible Crime Against his
Daughter.
Three Violent Deaths Have Thus far
Resulted In the Case.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 30-Fen-
tress County, on the Upper Tennessee,
is ablaze with a sensation, which re-
suited in the death of three men and
the disgrace Of three of the first fami-
lies Of Tennessee. and it all came of a
scandal about woman Marion and
Dave Beatty and Gwin Bowden lie
dead in their mansions, and Edward
Harris, their mul lderer, is a fugitive
from Justice, with reward of 5000 Of
fered for his apprehension and deliv-
cry at Jamestown. Three months ago
Mary Beatty, sister of two OF the dea |
men, and the belle of the Upper Ten
nessee country. retired from soci, ty,
and the people. wondered at her priva-
cy. Then it became noised about that
the young lady had suddenly become
a mother, and for u time it seemed
that there would be trouble over the
scandalous rumor, The sensation was
substantiated some time after by the
sudden arrest of Claiborne Beatty, a
banker, and the richest man in the
county, at the inStigation OF the girl,
his daughter, who charged him with
being the father of her chi d. THIS
stirred up a hornets nest, ard So fear
full were the jailer and sheriff of mob
t'iat they remov d him from Jail and
into another county for safe keeping.
Neighbors and friends bes an IT, take
sides, some with the yronged girl, 9th
ers with the father Finally Beatty
gave a $4,000 bond, and hied out.
Mary Beatty, the girl, went to live
with some distant relatives, Hiram
Harris family, who lived at Allardt,
not far from jamestown to hide her
shame. People were beginning to for
get the matter, when the old sore
broke out afresh in the triple murder
Monday the Harris family, accom-
pnAied by Mary Beatty, Ca ne to town
to do some trading and to appear be-
fore the grand jury to indict her faith
er. The child of shame was brought
along and exhibited in court The
Beattys we're there with their friend,
and relatives, and mutterings anC
threats began to float about Cuur
adjourned at 4 O'Clock, and after ma
king some purchases the Harris fami
ly and Mary Beatty started home
When the Harris family .ft the cour
house yard th" three, Gwin BOwdeI
and the b atty b others, MOUNTED
their horses and followed them On,
mile from jamestown Marion Beatty
several feet in front of his two com
panions, rode up to the side of TIN
wagon and snapped out "Mary, view
had enough Of this toolshness. W.
want you TO come home" The cir
colored visibly and replied II woul,
rather be dead than live with yo,
again" and turning to young Ed Hal
ris, who had stopped the team, she OF
dered him to drive on. Marion Beatt
commanded the young fellow to b
still, and laying his hand on the horse
head, said "D-m you, if you won
go home we'll beat he'll out of you,
and with that he cut her cruel las
across the face with his whip. Sh
screamed, and fell fainting to the bo
tom of the wagon Young Harris il
dignantly spr,ng to his feet and spot
vigorously to the three.
"Take the same medicine, you i'm
OF hell, said Bpatt, in reply, and /
lashed Harris thrice with the viii
That was all, but the next momel
young Harris had drawn Al calib,
British bulldog, and presenting
sqdarely at Marion Beatty, pulled II
trigger A puff nm report, an
Marion Beatty fell dead f,om his hor
with bullet through mis- heart.
this time Da e Beatty clutched at Il
boy, and Harris struck him with tt
butt Of the revolver, breaking his sku
Three shots were received 10y G"
Bowdpn, and after finishing hi II, H.
ris coolly shot Dave Beatty throus
the head while that worthy was wri
Cling on the ground. Harris kiss