Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-11-01
RESISTED AR
REST.
SHERIFF C0NER HAS x
CLOSE CALL AEDcAVES
HIS LIFE BY. USING
A SHOTGUN.
JOHN HAMILTON AN Ex-coN-
VICT RESISTS ARREST
AND LOSES HIS LIFE.

Last Saturday morning, on Blue
Water, in the southern part of the
county, Sheriff Polk Conner shot
and m9rtally wounded John Ham.
ilton; while trying to arrest him.
Hamilton died at the home of Lum
Mcdonnell Sunday morning and
the remains were bro ught to Law
renceburg and buried Sunday
evening. The facts of the killing
as reported to the DEMOCRAT are as
follows: On Sunday night the
20 instant some one broke into
Tom Hays store at Pleasant Point
and stole some clothing, postage
stamps out of the office kept in the
same building, and various other
articles. On last Friday Jim
Springer who clerks for Mr.. Hay,
discovered Hamilton walking or
the Railroad track wearing soMe
of the stolen clothes, and armed
with pistol which could he seen
sticking out of his pocket. Con-
stable Thos. Mabry of the 9Th dis
trict was notilid and he at once
leputiscd several men and tried to
arrest Hamilton, but Hamilton re-
sisted and being armed told the
officer that he would die before he
would give up. Hamilton Eeld
his gun on the officer and his men
till he made good his escape. A
messenger was sent for Sheriff
Conner. and the sheriff left in the
night Friday night for the scene
of trouble. He went 10 Springers
Station and deputised Prof. Gallien
who had been with constable Mabry
when Hamilton successfully re.
sisted arrest. The Sheriff armed
with shotgun and Prof. Gallien
with a winchester rifle went ovcl
on Blue Water thinking they
would head off Hamilton, who was
making his way toward Alabama
Just at day light Hamilton came
into the road and when within
about fifteen steps of the officers
sheriff Conner covered him with
his gun and told him to consider
himself under arrest and ordered
him to throw up his hands, but
Hamilton disregarded the Sheriff.
order and pulled his pistol, navy
six and snapped it at Sheriff Come
but for some reason the pistol fail
ed to fire. Mr.. Conner again an(
again ordered him to put up hi
pistol and Mr.. Gallien who wa
standing by the Sherilfs side als'
told Hamilton to surrender, Ham
, ilton, however, proceeded to revolv
his pistol with his left hand ant
snapped again at the Sheriff, an,
; in his third attempt to shoot, ShcI
iff Conner fired and Hamilton fcl
: MORALLY wounded. DR.. Mathes @
t Loretto was summoned and MI
Conner came to Lawrenceburg an
; sent DR.. Joe Kennedy to see til
wounded man. Hamilton die
. Sunday morning. he had served
sentence in the Alabama Stat
j prison and also term in our Stat
prison having been sent up fror
y Giles County for hog stealing.
Hamilton died game and refuse
; to answer any question abol tn
Y shooting or the causes that gay
p rise to it. No one censures OF
Sheriff for the killing rs he ran
e narrow risk with his own lif
: Sheriff Conner says he would n,
h have given Hamilton two chanc
:. to kill him, but he thought Hami
Ie ton would surely give up when
:, found himself covered by a sh
: gun and a winchester rifle. Har
ID ilton ,howcver.carried outhis tire
made the day before and died
he hud lived, a yiolator Of law.