Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-05-26
JOHN andrews MURRILL.
A Brief Sketch of the Last Years of
the Great Western Land Pir-
ate's' Eventful Career.

TO attempt to write the life or early
history OF such character as John A.
Murrefi, with all details and minutla OF
his extraordinary and revolving Grimm
al lite TO be read and treasured up by
the youths Of the land, in my opinion
wound be- very questionable If not rep
rchensible. But whilst this may be tue
case, have but one doubt as TO peat
ing the history of tue last days and dy-
Ing moments Of John A. Murrsll; for no
man ever passed through q more rigid
scrutiny Of his every ACT and speech,
many expecting at any time some ylU-
lent act or demonstration Of his former
llfe. Many were drawn to him clOseIy
by morbid curiosity 10 know moro Of
his past VI early history, GU tsido Of the
published life gwen by Stewart, all Of
which no talked freely and unhesitat-
ingly but rigidly denying many charges
made by Stewart in his published life
of Murrell. The writer had peculiar
opportunities of testing the motives
and purposes Of the man, and 10 prove
his professions Of reformation to such
an extraordinary degree and from such
knowledge and the experience and i'm
formation Of many CiJlz1ns, has been
able to make the brief statement here
given. From the public records Of the
courts of our state and other state and
from personal information, known by
many AZ that date, Murrell was known
and recognized as the most daring and
desperate criminal of his day. Many OF
the crimes of to-day greatly excel
! those of Murrell's by the advanced age
OF improvement and rapid travel OF rail-
roads and telegraphIng, Of which he
was stranger--and If he had lived in
this age, doubtless would have been
their peer IN all things. The crime of
which Murrell was convicted and i'm
prlsOned was that of stealing two me-
groes from Rev. John Henning, of Mad
ison county, Tennessee, on the night of
the 18th vi January, 1884. Was tried
and convicted to the penltentiary for 10
years at the July term, 1884. AT this
term Murrell was ably defended by
Hon. Milton Brown, of jackson, in
whom MuTFell always acknowledged the
great legal ability by which he was de-
Tended. Tue keeper Of the ponitentl-
airy has furnished me with true copy
OF the record of the prison, noting Muir
rell's reception AMI discharge as follows:
John A. Murrel was received in the
penitentiary Aug. II, 1884. He is feet
1871 inches nigh; weighs from 1853
TO 40 pounds; dark hair; blue eyes;
long nose, and much pltLed by small
pOx; LOlerably fair complexion; % years
of age; born In Luxemburg county, Vir-
ginia and brought up in Williamson
county, Tenn; his mother, wife, and
Two children reside in the neighbOr-
hood Of Denmark, about nine miles
from Jackson, Madison county, Tenn.
HIS wIfe's name was Vaughan; her con-
nections reside on the waters of South
Harpeth, Williamson county, Tennes-
see. His brother, YIN. 5. Murrell, is a
druggist residing in Cincinnati, o; he
had another brother living in Sumpter-
vile, 5. q. He has a scar ON the middle
JOINT Of the finger next to tho middle
inger Of the lett hand, and on the mid
die finger Of the same hand. Has gen
orally followed farming; was found
guilty of negro stealing at the circuit
court Of Madison county, and sentenc ID
to ten years confinement in the jail and
penitentiary of the State Of Tennessee.
2nd Entry: John A, Murrell was dc.
} livered TO }. 5. Lyon, sheriff Of Madison
county, 9th Of April, 1887. See order Of
court OF errors and appeals at jackson
filed with Convict Rec A, 1887, by order
of court of appeals.
! 3rI Entry: Name-John A. Murrell
, crime, negro stealing; from what cOun'
, ty, Madison; age 26; occupation, laborer
. sentence, 10 years; where born, Virgin
ia; when discharged, 3rd of April, 1874
! conduct generally good.
When Murrell entered the prison, he
was allotted TO the blacksmith shop u;
striker for the skilled smith, and "
great was the fear of the officers of the
prison that he would escape or be deliv
/ cred by his great but unknown gang o
followers that he was continually KEEP
= chained to the anvil blO;k for NAM
] years, during which time the prison of
! tiCials persistently refused TO point hin
= out to any .sitOrs for fear tho visitors
might be one of his friends o.
, strikers as they were then called.
! But it sOon became known to the pub
t lis in Nashville. They usually went t,
the smith shop to see Murrell, and on,
? of the first and eager inquiries when b.
: returned home was: Ibid you see Muir
t rell?" But in a few years Murrelru
4 genlous developed him into one OF tn,
D most skilled smiths known, and whel
Q a man received from the prison piec
Q of fine work made by Murrell he usual
= ~ regarded 1t as treasure or keepsake
t Col. S. c. Norwood in Pikeville Re
Q porter.