The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-10-30
TOM PlCKENS KILLED.
Shot Down in Cold Blood by DR.
M. A, Mcpherson.

Tuesday evening DR.. Tom Pickens,
well known in Maryville, was killed
by DR.. Mcpherson near Shocks Gap.
The details of the case are few and
may be simply stated as follows;-Dr.
NJ. A. Mcpherson, who had been
practicing in the neighborhood Of
where the murder was committed for
the past four years, decided that he
would move to Knoxvcille. He &C
cordingly made proposition to DIR.
Tom Plckens, a young physician liv-
ing near Shocks Gap, to sell him his
house and lot, together with his prac-
tice. An agreement was made
between the physicians and DR..
Pickens had paid all of the amount
agreed upon except $Ioo, which was
to be settled by January I, 1898. DR.
Mcpherson owed Sam Cusick, Of
Sewer county, a note of $Ioo and
when Cusick heard that Pickens owed
Mcpherson that amount he went to
Pickens and "shaved" his note
sufficiently to induce Pickens to buy
it. Cusick had attempted to collect the
the note and not being able to do so
thought he had best get what he could
out of it. Mcpherson was expecting
to get SIoo in cash out out of Pickens
and when he was notified by Plckens
that he would settle the remaining
$500 note with the one he had pur-
chased from Cusick, he became angry
and made threats against Plckens.
This was a few days sbefore the
tragedy was enacted.
Tuesday afternoon McPheason was
at Cruze and Galyon's store, where
the tragedy occurred, early in the after
noon and came to his home near Will
lie Mondays store three miles this side
of Cruces before four o'clock. He
rode home from the store with Super
intendent V. F. Gossett OF the work
house and according to Mr.. Gossett's
statement he was drinking very littlc,
Soon after he arrived at home he be-
gan begging for some liquor which his
wife had hid from him. She at first
refused him but after he stated that he
was sick and wanted something to
stimulate him for trip he was to
make, she gave him a quart bottle
which was almost full. AS soon as he
received the bottle he drank almost
one-fourth Of it, according to his wife's
statement. Soon after he drank the
lntoxicant he mounted his horse and
started towards Bays mountain, tell
ing his wife that he was going to see
his brother "Buck," in Sewer county.
When only short distance from home
one of his acquaintances met him in
the road and finding that he was intox.
icated asked him to return but the
doctor replied that he was compelled
to see very sick patient near Shocks
Gap.
He rode at break-neck speed until
he arrived at Cruze and Galyon's store,
where he asked for Squire Cruze.
Being informed that Mr.. Cruze was
not in, he turned his remarks to DIR.
Pickens, who was standing on the
porch of the store. Mcpherson asked
Pickens if he knew what he (McPher.
SOM meant when he was talking to
him a few nights previous. Pickens
replied that he did not and attempted
to argue the question. This seemed
to enrage Mcpherson and he pulled a
pistol from his pocket and fired three
times in quick succession. The frs
shot took effect in Pickens' right hand,
the second passed through the flesh o.
the right shoulder and diagonally
across the body through the heart
The third shot flew wide of its marx
and crashed through window of the
store. Pickens reeled from the porch
and after staggering about ten step!
fell dead without speaking. AS soor
as he fell Mcpherson put spurs to hi
horse and disappeared going in tht
, direction of Sewer county.
Joseph Galyon and Willis johnson
r were both eye witnesses to the shoot
ing and according to their statements
t it was premeditated murder. Tht
5 general opinion in the vicinity wher,
the deed was committed is that Nc
Pherson went to the store with NJ
other purpose than to kill Pickens.
The relatives OF DR.. Pickens ar,