Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-01
TRIPLE MURDER.
A Young Tennesseean Protects Woman
at a Fearful Cost of Life.


NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 29.-Marion
and Dave Beatty and Gwyn Bowden of
Feltress county, on the upper Tennes-
see, lie dead in their houses and Ed
ward Harris, their murderer, is fugi-
tive from justice with a reward offered
for his apprehension and delivery at
Jamestown.
Three months ago Mary Beatty, sister
of the two dead men and the belle of
upper Tennessee county, retired from
society. Then it became noIsed about
that the young woman had become a
mother. The story was substantiated
some time after by the sudden arrest of
Clai borne Beatty, a banker and the
richest man in the county, at the insti-
cation of the girl, his daughter, who
charged him with being the father Of
her child. This stirred up a
hornets nest and so fear
full were the jailor and sheriff
of a mob that they removed him from
Jail and into another county for safe
keeping. Neighbors and friends began
to take sides, some with the wrOnged
girl, others with the father. Finally
Beatty gave a S., 900 bond and left the
country. Mary Beatty went to live
with some distant relatives, Hiram
Harris family, who lived at Allardt,
not far from jamestown. People were
beginning to forget the matter, when
the old sore broke out afresh.
The Harris family, accompanied by
Mary Beatty, came to town Monday,
the last to appear before the grand
jury to testify against her father. The
Beattys were there with their friends
and relatives and mutterings and
threats began to float about. Court
adjourned at o'clock and after
making some purchases the Harris
family and Mary Beatty started home.
When the Harris family left the court
house yard Gwyn Bowden and the
Beatty brothers mounted their horses
and followed them. One mile from
jamestown Marion Beatty, several feet
in front of his companions, rode up to
the side of the wagon and said, sternly:
"Mary, we have had enough of this
foolishness; we want you to come"
The girl replied: Il would rather be
dead than live with you again." and
turning to young Ed Harris, who had
stopped the team, she ordered him to
drive on. Marion Beatty commanded
the young man to be stlll and laying
his hand on his horses head, said: 'If
you won't go home we'll beat you"
With that he struck her cruel lash
across the face with the whip. She
screamed and fell fainting to the bot
tom of the wagon.
Young Harris sprang to his feet.
s'Take the same medicine" said Beatty,
and he dashed Harris thrice with his
whip.
The next moment young Harris had
drawn a revolver and presenting 1t
squareIy at Marion Beatty he pulled
the trigger A sharp report and Marion
Beatty fell dead from his horse with q
bullet through his heart. By this time
Dave Beatty clutched at the boy and
Harris struck him with the butt OF
the revolver, breaking his skull Three
shots were received by Gwyn Bowden,
and after finishing him II, iris shot
Dave Beatty through the head, while
that worthy was writing and wrig-
Cling on the ground, Harris kissed the
girl and his mother and, taking Bow
den's horse, fed.
TIE Beattys have always enjoyed the
respect of the people of the county and
six years ago Claiborne Beatty was the
State representative. He was extern
sively engaged IN the general-merchan-
disc and lumber business.
Many believe the girls story con-
corning her father. She is an educated,
| strikingly handsome woman about 90
years old and enjoyed the esteem of
every one in the vicinity. The report
that Miss Beatty and young Harris
were married some time ago in Scott
county is current but cannot be con-
| irmed.