The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-10-01

zens and turned over to Deputy Sheriff
Boring. He waived examination, and
on account of threats made to lynch
him was taken to Jonesboro and placed
in Jail.
This was one of the most unprovoked
murders ever committed in this section.
There was neither reason nor excuse
for it. Beginning in folly it ended in
crime.
THE STORY.
A section of garden hose was missed
by Mrs. Browder aud a neighbor told
her she had seen a little boy take it
away. Mrs. Browder notified Chief of
Police ReMine and described the boy
as best she could. ReMine and Allen
imagined that a little son of David
Britt had taken the hose and went to
his home, and not only accused the boy
of the crime, little fellow six years
of age, but searched the premises with
out either warrant for the arrest of
anyone or search warrant the only
authority with which they were clothed
being their uniform. Knowing his
boys were innocent Mr.. Britt felt very
much incensed at the gratuitous insult
and stated to the officers that they
would have to prove the charge or suf-
fer for 1.-THE natural feeling of an az
grieved parent.
Monday morning Britt, with his wife
and two little sons, came to the Re-
corder's office on business and Allen
was present. Britt again told Allen
he must prove the charge he made or
retract it. They got into heated con-
versation, and finally Recorder Ponder
told them they must not fight in his
Office. Britt left first and seems to have
waited at the foot of the steps until
Allen came down. Here the alteration
was renewed, and Britt struck Allen
with an umbrella staff and Allen drew
a 44.callibre Colts revolver and fred
three times The first two shots in
hicted only flesh wounds in the wrists,
but the last one pierced his body from
left to right, passing through the heart,
and Britt sank to the pavement and
expired at the feet of his wife and two
boys. The screams of these stricken
ones almost palsied the hearts of those
who had gathered around the scene.
1t was pitiful to witness their acute
grief, and SO intense was the feeling
that prompt action alone prevented a
lynching.
Allen was street foreman with police
powers, but has been permitted to carry
this revolver with him on the work in
absolute violation and defiance of law,
and this shooting shows that he has no
idea where or when an officer should use
gun. He claims to have killed four
men with this same weapon and took
great delight in showing it to those
working under him. He came to John
son City several years ago and married
here. He has been foreman for rail
road contractors on the Three C's and
recently worked a gang of convicts on
the extension of the S. & ". in North
Carolina.
Britt was hard working laborer but
had been a night Waterman at the Sol
diers Home for some time. He leaves
a wife and four children, the oldest
child, q girl of about twelve years OF
age, is blind. They live in house on
West Main street that Britt bad con.
tracted to purchase on the installment
plan, but debt of about $500 is still
due. As soon as this became known
!, an effort was made to raise this sum by
, private subscription. Hon. Thad. A.
Cox headed the list with 800 and J. E.
Parrish gave $50. Next week THE Com
EFT will publish the complete list will
the names of all other donors who care
to assist helpless and pitiable family
: Subscriptions can be given to Mayor
Crumley, left at the Unaka Nationa
Bank, or sent direct to THE COMET.
. Another fund is being raised to EN-
: ploy counsel to assist the district attor
e ney in the prosecution. Allen ha
d employed Reevs & Reeves and Kirk
}. patrick, Williams & Bowman to defenC
him.
THE FUNERAL.
g One OF the saddest features of tn
j. whole affair was the funeral of the vic
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