The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1909-08-25
ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE CHANCERY
CLERK ERNEST ". NEWMAN
SUNDAY NIGHT.
The Town Now Under Martial Law
Three Companies Of State
Militia on Scene.
BunckIey Afford Arrested and Warrant
Out for Ferd Middleton.

sinate E. w. Newman, the recently
elected chancery clerk of the coln.
ty. Mr.. Newman, it will be re-
membered, was elected July 81 to
fill the unexpired term of his
father. DR.. A. M. Newman. late
chancery clerk. who was killed on
June ID on the main street of the
town. Only one shot was fired by
the would be assassin last night,
the load consisting of buckshot,
two of which struck Mr.. Newman
on the left arm above the elbow
the remainder, ten or more, being
embedded in the ceiling of the
room above and behind the place
where Mr.. Newman was standing.
Fortunately for Mr.. Newman.
neither Of the wounds are danger
Gus, both being flesh wounds and
one Of them only a slight abrasion
of the skin.
The attacking party selected an
opportune time for the deed. Ii
was during the hour Of night SER
vice at the church when Sam New
man, a brother Of the intended vic
tim, Sheriff Jones and majority
of the male population living in
the vicinity of Mr.. Newman's resi-
dence, were attending church in
the opposite end of town.
The front room on the west is
occupied by his mother and the
second room on the west was being
occupied for the time being by Mr..
Newman, who has not yet recover
ed sufficiently from the effects Of
the wounds he received in the dead
ly street battle of June IA to feel
safe to go to his own residence.
Looking west from this last room
is a window and about twelve or
fourteen feet west of the house is
a small gate almost IN line with
the window. Through this gate
the assassin doubtless came and
took his stand to await the hour
that his victim should retire.
Leaving his mothers room
shortly after supper, Mr.. Newman
went to his room to retire. He lit
the lamp. which was on the dress
er, and went to the window to
draw down the shade, using his left
hand for the purpose. just as he
seized the shade to pull it down he
heard the click of gun outside
and instinctiyely threw his body to
the right. The gun was fred and
the charge. except two buckshot
that struck him, passed between his
left arm and the ceiling to the rear
of him. just before the gun fired
Mr.. Newman's mother, from her
window, saw the man and called to
warn her son. but too late.
She saw him dive under the
house after firing the shot and call
ed to her youngest son, Monroe,
that the man had shot his brother
and gone under the house to escape.
Monroe, a boy not more than seven
teen years of age, seized his gun,
ran out and fired twice at the re-
treating form about the time the
man passed out of the gate. Mean
while his wounded brother had se-
cured gun and reached the front
gallery and fired parting shot at
the man as he crossed the road and
started west.
There is no cleW to the identity
of the party who made the attempt
to assassinate.
Sheriff r. I Jones teIephoned
to Sheriff Clarke of Adams county
at Natchez for bloodhounds and he
brought out three on special train
early this morning. but they could
strike no trail further than to the
point where the party is supposed
to have mounted horse and left
the scene. An attempt was made
to follow the tracks of the horse,
but after following them for con-
siderable distance the trail was
lost.
The Indignation of the people Of
the town and community caused by
this crime knows no bounds. II
seems that no mans life In this
community is safe from the assas.
sins bullet. The people at large
were beginnIn9 to believe that the
troubles Of the past were Of the
past and that al era Of peace. bet
ter 1eeling and greater safety 81
life was beginning to dawn.
The town. which had been yir.
tuaIly dead ID d business way was
beginning to show signs of revival
and there were prospects Of bet.
ter future than ever before it.
Residence and business houses that
had been vacant for months were
beginning to be occupied again and
faith ID investments and business
enterprises were beginning 20 re-.
turn,
The officials are retieent as tG
their movements ID the matter. bul
It Is known that they are sparinQ
no expense, time 81 energy 81 run.
ming down even tlie slightest cleWs
That may present themselves
a large number of people from
The surrounding country disfF icfz