The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-04-25
BULLETS AND FIRE.
Used 70 put and end to the life
of James Anderson and
ruin him financially.
r. J. Shoemaker accused or the
fearful deed OF attmepting the lie
Of a good citizen and burning
two Of his barns, iS head OF
stock. feed and farming
implements.

This county was excited and shock
ed last Wednesday morning when the
news spread that there had been an
attempt make to murder Jim AnderI
son, who IS the son of Mrs. M. M.
Anderson, of Rockford, and one of
our best known young men; and that
one barn containing six, hundred
bushels of corn, forty wagon loads OF
hay, five mules, two horses, eleven
head of cattle, a new buggy and
new hack, some wheat, a corn$heller
and several farming imlements and
another smaller barn full of straw
had been burned. In this latter barn
were twenty head of cattle, but the
door being open they escaped.
The first barn was one of the finest
in the county being 52xSo feet and
cost about $1,000. On this and Its
contents was $500 insurance. The
total loss on this barn was near $2.25o
and in the smaller one $500.
Shoemaker is man about IS or 80
yeare of age who came from North
Carolina. He worked for Anderson
during the winter until about
month ago when he discharged him.
He told Mrs. Anderson that
he Would "get even" with her son for
discharging him.
Mr. Anderson had been working In
the field very hard all day before and
retired very early, and the theory is
that Shoemaker fired the big barn
and then went to the house between
eight and nine o'clock and went to
young Anderson's room, first break
ing down the door with big wagon
boulster. The breaking down of the
door did not awaken Anderson but
when the first shot was fired he felt
the singing sensation between the
ewes. which with the noise of the
shot did wake him. A heavy blan-
ket which was over his face saved
his life and the bullet had SO lost Its
force that it only broke the skin.
Seeing that the first ball was not ef-
fective, Shoemaker again made his
pistol talk and this time little more
effectively, the bullet going through
the Aeshy part of the leg above the
knee. Dr., Donaldson probed for
and extracted the ball from the back
side of the leg. The bullets evident
lywere from Shoemaker's pistol as
they were gas and the pistol which
was taken from him was a 81 Rem
nington.
After this last shot Shoemaker fled,
no doubt thinking he had finished
Anderson. but the plucky young
man attempted to follow his would
be murder, and when he got to the
door he was surprised to see the big
barn all in one mass of flames. He
could see pair of big mules and
tried to save them but he got only
half way when the flames drove him
back. A number of neighbors were
gathered but could do nothing as
the fire had such start.
Mr.. Anderson rode to Rockford
where he swore out two warrents tor
Shoemaker one for Arson and the
other Malicious shooting and they
were placed in the hands Of Constable
Iva hodge A posse of men from
Rockford started toward the old Darn
which was last burned and Mr..
Hodge, on his horse, had started to-
ward Knox county and was nearing
the house which he had to pass when
he saw his man, who came from to-
ward the small barn which is about
,three quarters of mile from the
house. He had evidently been
hiding between the two when he
heard the posse coming from Rock
ford toward him. He passed righ,
through the yard and by a crowd
which was gathered there, saying
nothing to them and all the time
keeping his hand onthe pistol in his
pocket. When Hodge first saw him