The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-03-24
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
ENACTED HERE LAST SATUR-
DAY AFTERNOON.

DAY At IEkNUUN.
Joseph Basket Shot Down on fth'
Street by J. B. Wstson-Fatal In
juries Inflicted from Which thu
Victim Dies.
A most shocking tragedy was en-
acted on the street in Henderson
Saturday afternoon. Joseph Basket
and J. B. Watson, farmers living {
short distance from town, had a diff
ficulty that morning in which eacl
used q gun. Neither man was seri
ously hurt, Watson's injuries being
the worst Of the two. One shot
passed through the wrist and took
effect in the throat penetrating the
windpipe. Basket was struck on the
hand and leg by a few shot which
barely stuck under the skin.
The difficulty occurred over piece
OF land which Watson had bought
from Basket. Watson had not COM
piled with his agreement about max
ing the first payment and Basket
sought to have him do SO or vacate.
Saturday morning Watson wrote
Basket a note to come over to his
house and he would pay him the two
hundred dollars agreed upon as the
first payment (which amount was to
have been paid the first of January
together with rent from the time the
place was occupied by Watson before
Christmas).
Basket declined to 90 to Watson's
house and sent a message that if he
wanted to see him he (Watson) would
have to come to his Baskets home.
Later Watson went to Basket s house
and called him out in the road. Hot
words followed and it is said both
men drew their knives, Watson being
armed with pistol also. Watson
had single barrel breech loading
gun close by, observing which Basket
told him he was not armed but if he
would let him go home and get his
gun he would meet him on an equal
footing. To this Watson assented,
telling Basket that he would be sure to
find him there when he came back.
Basket went after his gun Watson fol-
lowing him for some distance. When
near the house Basket warned him
not to go any further. Basket got his
gun and came out to the road. When
within about 40 yards of each other
both men raised their guns and fired.
The reports from the guns were so
close together that it could not be
determined who fired the first shot.
When Watson was struck he turned
and ran. Otis Watson, a son of j.. B.
Watson, Gagged about 16, also shot at
Basket with q pistol, neither of the
four shots taking effect.
Watson came to town and had his
wounds dressed. He was not seriously
hurt and went back home. On the
road he met Basket coming to town.
Upon reaching home he got his gun
and started back to Henderson. His
wife tried to dissuade him fsom such
purpose but could do nothing with
him. She sent for a neighbor, R. D.
Turner, and begged him to go and
get Mr.. Watson to come back home
and not go to Henderson. She feared
further trouble and did all in her
power, to avert it. Eurner went in
pursuit of Watson using Watson's
horse and buggy which Mrs. Watson
had in readiness by the time he ar
rived. Watson would not listen to
Turner's entreaties to go back home
and not come to Henderson saying
he had business here and was just
bound to come. Being unable to do
anything with him Turner went back
and told Mrs. Watson that she had
better go after her husband as he
could not do anything with him. The
carriage was then ordered to be
hitched up and accompanied by the
little boys Mrs. Watson drove in
rapid pursuit of her husband who
was walking. He stopped at Grisom
& Nights store opposite the Hender-
son Cotton Mills, and at j. A. ellis
store in the edge OF town and tried
to buy some gun Shells He did not
state for what purpose he wanted
them but did not get any. Nor did
he make any threats to Mr.. Turner
as to what his purpose in coming to
Henderson was. 0t has been re-
ported that he told Turner he was
coming here to kill Basket and that
when he tried to buy shells at Gill's
store he stated that he wanted them
to kill Joe Basket WITH
Mrs. Watson had just reached town
and sent one of the little boys to find
MIR. Basket to warn him. She feared
trouble and seems to have done
everything in her power to avert it,
standing.
While Watson was stopping on the
way presumably at ellis store)
Mrs. Watson passed him. Shortly
after she reached town and within a
few minutes after one of the little
boys had been sent by her to look
| for Mr.. Basket, her husband came uI
the street with his gun on his shoulder
He was seen by several persons anC
while they took notice of him the
supposition was that he had come tt
answer for the affair of that morning
and had brought this gun along t(
be introduced at the trial.
| Proceeding up Main street just a!
he got opposite Smolanskey's store
Just beyond the post Office, he hes
itated q moment and looked in as
hunting for some one. Just at tina
time Mr.. Basket came down TIN
street accompanied by his attorney
Mr.. A. C. Zollicoffer, going to the lat
ter's office.
They were discussing the affair O
that morning, and Mr.. Zollicoffer wa
advising his client to be conservativ
and avoid any further difficulty
When about opposite Dorsey's drus
store, Mr. Zollicoffer observed Wat
sons carriage standing in the stree
and called attention to the fact. !