Huntsville gazette., 1892-05-14
Tuscumbia Has Another Terris
BILE Shooting ARRAY.
John Goodwin Instantly Killed bY
Thomas Steele.
a Double Barrel Shot Gun Does the
Deadly Work Followed by
Two Pistol Wounds.
From Daily Mercury.

From Daily Mercury.
| TUsoUMBIA, May 13-Again Tuscum-
bia has another horrible shooting affrav,
which took place at 11:05 O'Clock this
morning in front of the Parshall House.
This deeply regretted affair was the
shooting of John Goodwin by Thomas
Steele with a double barrel shot gun
loaded with buck shot, and after Good
| WIN fell he was shot twice with revolver
in the hands of the same party.
The cause of the fatal difficulty is sup
posed to be the effect of the shooting af-
fray that startled this community about
two years ago; when John Steele, Jr.,
lost his life, Thomas Steele was badly
wounded and John Goodwin received a
load of buck shot in his shoulder; this,
| the first affray, occurred in Alternately &
Curry's drug store and during the melee
Mr.. Tracey Abernathy, one of the pro
prletors of the store, was shot in the left
arm while acting solely as peace maker;
LIE will carry the mark to his grave.
The reports of to-day's tragedy are
conflicting, as to the direct cause Of the
renewal of the bloody affair.
Some saying, Goodwin had made
threats against the Steele family, while
others claim differently.
From the most reliable source the facts
are about as follows:
Goodwin came walking down the
street in front Of the Parshali House,
passing Tom Steele who was sitting on
an empty beer keg in front of Joe
Sowelps saloon. After Goodwin had
passed without saying word to Steele,
the latter stepped into Sowell's place Of
business and got shot gun, walking out
emptied both barrels into Goodwin's
back. Goodwin wheeled and attempted
to pull and fire his revolver, but the
weapon fell from his hand just as the
mortally wounded man hit the ground.
Steele then ran up to Goodwin and shot
him twice from q revolver About this
time three other of the Steele boys ap-
peared on the scene with drawn revolvers
and held the crowd back while Tom, the
principal, escaped.
The community is very much wrought
up over the affair and no doubt will de-
tnand thorough investigation, as our
town now has several Of these dark
stains on her fair name that should be
cleared away.
The parties are all highly connected.
Both Goodwin and Steele are single.
Coroner Looney, of Sheffield, will hold
an inquest over the remains of Goodwin
this afternoon when it is expected other
facts will be brought to light.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
TUsoUMBIA, May II John Goodwin, a
young man wei known and highly con-
nected in Tuscumbia, was shot and killed
in front of the Parshall House, here this
morning. He had just started across
from Guerin & Wilson's saloon to the
freight office, where his brother clerks,
when Tom Steele fired at him from Sow
ell's saloon, but missed his aim. Good
win tried to turn and face his ants gonist
but received the second shot in bis side,
which killed him almost instantly.
Steele then ran up and fired two shots in
to his victims head with pistol.
The affair grew out of an old trouble
in which Goodwin killed John Steele two
years ago in Abernathy s. Curry's drug
store, when he received load Of buck
shot in his shoulder and Tom Steele was
shot in the leg.
Both men are middle aged and are con-
sidered brave and courageous at all
times.
1t is difficult to say what provok ed ac-
tion just at this time, but there is man
here who is said to know details that will
throw ghastly light on the affair.