The Monticellonian., 1894-12-07
TIE KILLING AT EN0N.
GIaud Moss a Fugitive From Justice, Killed
 by an Officer.

voidabIe tragedy was enacted in this comfy, len miles south of i CarroIton. at Euon church, last Sunday about II a. m, in winch [ Claud Moss was the victim and | Ben P. Chatham. city marshal of CarroIlton and deputy sheriff, was the slayer. The facts as gathered from the evidence before inc pre- limiuarY court, which began in this city Tuesday morning last before Squire John P Marshall, l are about as follows: About two years ago C!aud Moss came to this county from Drew county, Arkansas, and hired to Mr. J. c. Carpenter, who lives near Enon church, to do farm work, where he has princppally made his home up to the time of his death. Some months ago it leaked out, proba
 bly, by Moss telling it as he de- sired to be considered somewhat tough" that be was fugitive from justise, he having killed a man.n Arkansas by euttig his throat, and finally the Arkansas authorities learned of his wherea- bouts, but everything passed along smoothly and Moss remain ed undisturbed until about twelve months ago the governor of this State honored the requsition of the governor of Arkansas, and or dered SherlF Mccain of this conn ty to arrest Moss and turn hIm over to the Arkansas authorities, since which time several trips have been made by the officers to the Enon country, but each was q failure, the officers believing trou- ble would ensue if Moss was not caught unaware, and they wanted to avoid bloodshed or any diff culty with hlm or friends. Moss in the meantime had grown bold, even going so far on November 18th last to pass through Carroll ton en route to Greenwood to the circus, returning that night, stop ping awhile in several business places, and firing half dozen or more shots from his pistol, 4l- calibrc Colts which was his con- s!ant companion, as he left the corporation. His habits had been learned by the officers, as they believed that, as was his custom, he would attend services at Enon last Sunday, so Ben P. Chatham n q Deputy Sheriff Claud Brewer, armed with the papers, proceed ed to Enon, thinking in view of the sacred and solemn surround lngs they could approach Moss and make the arrest and he would offer no resistance. When they approached the church Moss, in company with several young men, WAS standing about thirty wards from the church talking. Brewer and Chatham approached the crowd shaking hands with the young men, and Chatham was introduced by Brewer to those he was unacquainted with, among the numoer Moss, with whom he shook hands. Moss must have "smcled mousse" for be imme
 dately, with one of his friends, started to the spring for water, whoreupon Chatham stepped up to him and said: You are my prisoner; consider yourself under arrest~ At the same time Brew CT stepped up to Moss side, he (BreweD { having a pistol in his 1 hand, as also did Chatham, Moss first grabbed Chatham's pistol by the barrel, but Chatham wrenched 1t from him; he then grabbed Brewers pistol and was about to take it away from him, Brewer being badly crippled, uses crutch and physically unable to cope with a man, and Moss suc- ceeded in turning the muzzle di- rectly towards Chatham's face when Brewer cried out, "Look out Ben; he'll shoot you with my pistol!3 Moss pulled the trigger but Brewers finger caught the hammer of the pistol. and Chat ham recognizing his danger, imme- diately fired, and continued to fire till his pistol was empty.