Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-08-18
GUILTY OF MURDER
in THE FIRST DEGREE IS SIMS,
Who Shot Walter 6sIlusay--sMisnesd TO b
Hung September q, 1897.
HISTORY OF TUE CRIME.

~9
HISTORY OF TUE CRIME.
On the 9th Of July, 1897. at the resi-
dence of Geo. Boring, in the Eleventh
District of this county, Walter Gallo
way was shot to death by Isham Sims,
a negro in the employ Of Mr.. Boring.
The deed was evidently premeditated
and done in cold blood. No oifense in
any degree justifable had been offered,
and facts brought out in the trial gave
unmistakable evidence that the muir
der was calculated and determined
q D previous to the date of commits.
The murder occurred in the evening
OF the above date, and was witnessed
by Miss Efie Boring, q young lady upon
whom Mr.. Galloway had called. He
had not been to supper, and wentout
With Mrs. Boring, the lady Of the house,
into the dining oom to eat. Sims was
in the dining room and Galloway asked
him to put up his horse, and told him
he would give him a nickle for doing 80.
This Sims refused to do, and said he
would not put him up for five dollars.
Other words passed between them, and,
50 Sims claimed, Galloway threat
ened to put a head on him" at this
Galloway proceeded to care for the
horse himself. In the meantime the
negro went into the house, procured a
gun, loaded 1t and declared to Miss
Boring his intention to shoot Galloway.
Miss Boring went out to the stable to
war; him of his danger, and while
they were standing in the yard talking
Sims came out Of the house carrying
the gun. Discovering the couple he
deliberately shot his victim. who lin.
gered until the following Saturday,
when he died from the effects of the
shot.
ESCAPE OF SIMS.
After the shooting Sims made his es-
cape, and was quickly followed by a
possee of citizens but without vail.
On Saturday Sheriff Pritchett procured
some ~bloodhounds from Morristown
and wentout to the neighborhood where
the shooting occurred, and attempted
to trace the murderer who was sup
posed to have gone in the dirS%ion of
Piney Flats. The pursuit was a fail
ure, and up to Monday the outlaw had
not been apprehended.
THE CAPTURE.
Monday Sheriff Pritchett received
word that Sims had been arrested near
Church Hill, Hawkins County, and
taken to Rogersyille and placed in jail.
In the afternoon of this day the Sheriff
left for Rogersville, where the prisoner
was secured and started for Knoxville
The prisoner was placed in the Knox
County Jail. where he remained until
brought to this place for trial. The
reasons for taking Sims to Knoxville
were some misleading reports that
mobs had been formed here and at
other places in the county, prepared to
lynch him if ne was bro=est hTe, 1t
is needless to state that thesst reports
were without foundation. While much
excitement was aroused over the crime.
we do not believe the murderer would
have been lynched had the Sheriff
brought him to Jonesboro.
t,s THE TRIAL.
Circuit Court met in this place Mon
day, August o, and an immense crowd
was in town, attracted by the expected
trial. The case did not come up Mon
day, however, and Tuesday saw the
same large crowd present that was here
Monday. Again disappointment met
the people, and not until Wednesday
was the trial commenced. A jury was
secured Monday forenoon after about
LAO persons had been impanelled, and
in the afternoon the trial proceeded.
But few witnesses were examined, but
all the evidence pointed conclusively
to p~remeditated, cool blooded murder.
THE TESTIMONY.
Mrs. w. D. Boring testified that Gal
loway, the murdered man, arrived at
their home about supper time. He
asked Sims to put up his horse, telling
him he would give him five cents.
Sims replied that he would not put the
animal up for five dollars, much less
five cents. albright, then" said Gal.
loway, II a put him up myself" He
sat down and ate supper, going imme.
mediately after the meal to put up the
horse. Sims took some milk down
cellar for witness and when he came
back, 40 got the shotgun, loaded it,
and started toward the barn. Witness
went into the house and told her sister
Efie, G~alloway's sweetheart, about the
negroes action. She (EGe) called Sims
and asked him what he intended % do
with the gun. He replied that he was
going to shoot Galloway. Efie then
ran to the barn. where Galloway was,
witness going out on to the porch. She
soon heard a gun shot and heard Efie
say: "Don't-don't shoot him again
you have killed him now." Witness
ran to the barn and found Galloway
lying under a shed with his left hand
-Eshot off and a hole in the left side of
his head. He died next morning, mover
speaking after she saw him.
/ ALI the other witnesses for the State