The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-06

George Pritchard, the New Marshal
in the Central District of Indian
Territory, Goes There as
No Tenderfoot.
washington Post.)


Asheville, N. c., March 5.-On Febru-
ary 18th, George x. Pritehard, of Mitch
ell county, N. c. was confirmed by the
Senate for the position of United States
marshal for the central district of Indian
Territory. The nomination was held up
for several weeks, and some opposition
developed because Pritchard was not a
resident of the Territory. This, however,
soon disappeared. Mr.. Pritchard is a
brother of former Senator Jeter C.
Pritchard, of North Carolina, now asso-
ciate justice of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, who presided over
the court which tried Machen, the Groffs,
and Lorenz for frauds on the Post Office
Department.
1t is the general supposition that in
the discharge of the duties of his new
position Sheriff" Pritchard, as he is usu-
ally called i'll Western North Carolina,
is likely to meet good many crises re-
quiring resource-that quality known as
nerve and a brave mans contempt for
death. II this be true, the President
chose well when the chose Sheriff Pritch-
ard for marshal
In 1888 Mr.. Pritchard was elected sheriff
of Mitchell county, N. G. Mitchell is one
of the far western counties, where blood
runs fast and hot; where hip pockets are
made for pistols, and the inhabitants
know how to use them. Pritchard was
the regular Republican candidate, and his
opponent who then held the office of
sheriff was an independent Republican.
Pritchard had not a single blood relative
in the county, while his opponent was a
man OF large family connection. The
campaign was a very exciting one.
Pritchard's opponent lived in a strong
Republican township, a considerable pro
portion of the citizens of which were his
relatives. When the candidates met
there in joint debate, political sentiment
was at fever heat. Pritchard in his speech
attacked the record of the sheriff, and
the friends of the latter, to the number
of about forty, drew their pistols on
the speaker and cooked them, as a sort
of intimation that his language ought to
be sm:lder
ONE CHAMPION OF HIS CAUSE.
Prtchard was speaking from the van
tage point of a pile of lumber He paus-
ed moment, and then said, addressing
his opponent: John, we are in your
home township. You are the sheriff, and
it is your duty to protect me from vio-
lence. But if you will not, I'll protect
myself" At the same time he drew his
pistol, and a young mana Democrat,
by the way--stepped up to his side and
said: George, if you die here, I'll die
with you.''
The crowd Immediately became quiet,
and the guns disappeared. This incident
was described by an eyewitness, who
said 1T was the most dramatic situa-
ton that 1 have ever seen, and lived for
long time in Mitchell county"
During his first term as sheriff of Mitch
ell, Pritchard killed Avery Parker, his
personal and political friend. Parker was
a merchant of Bakersville, the county
seat: good fellow when sober and
demon when drunk One Sunday after
noon, as people were passing by the
door of his store, on their way from
church. Parker, who had been drinking,
suddenly came out and began shooting
into the crowd. The town marshal heard
the firing and hurried to the scene, along
with the sheriff, the two happening to
be together. Pritchard sprang into the
store, ordered Parker TO surrender, and
by way of reply received a bullet
through his hand. He then shot Parker
twice, and the latter fell Parker's SON
in-law, man named Young was one OF
the crowd which had gathered rapidly, and
he opened fire upon the sheriff, his first1
shot making two holes in Pritchard's
coat.
TRIED AND EXONERATED
pistol duel ensued, in which the
wounded officer shot Young in the arm,
breaking it. Pritchard ceased firing only
when the chambers of his revolver were
emptied. The sheriff was tried for kill
ing Parker. When the evidence was all
in, Judge James II. NIerrimon, Of Ashe-
vile, the judge presiding, ordered that
the court room be cleared of all persons
except officers of the court. He instruct
ed the jury that the State had not made
out case. The jury returned a verdict |
exonerating Pritchard. Young was con
vlcted of or pleaded guilty to an assault |
with deadly weapon.
During his same term in office the pro-
hibition forces carried Mitchell county. |
The sheriff went around among the dis
tilIers and whisky deslers-many OF whom
were MS It1endS-dHu lolu lheH lhdI lHc
law was going to be enforced. They did
rot at first take him seriously, but he
filed the courts with cases against them,
and stamped out the traffic. lie was
again elected, and his second term was
tranquil one In 1896 Mr.. Pritchard's
third term began. and it was in June of
the following year that the memorable
fight occurred around which the Incl
1ents of a novel have been grouped The
storx, sc told nv ono of prifehard'r ,noct ,