The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-03-16
EARLY MORNING TROUBLE
Kidwell McSween Slain BY John
Pritchett, Who Is Nor
tall Wounded
From Daily Comet of Tuesday.

From Daily Comet of Tuesday.
Newport, March 13.-As the result
of a dual tragedy early Sunday morn
ing, Kidwell McSween lies dead here
and John Pritchett is in hospital in
Knoxville mortally wounded. Both
are 20 ing men. The prominence of
their families and the popularity of
both men and the circumstances lead
ing up to the tradedy, maket it pecu
liarly pathetic.
The trouble between the men grew
out of reported marriage of young
Pritchett and Miss Emma McSween,
sister of the dead man. Miss McSween
recently went to Nazareth, Kenlucky,
to attend school, and the family learn
ed Saturday that she had left school
and had been married to Pritchett in
Knoxville. The McSween family had
bitterly opposed Pritchett's attentions
to the girl, and when the report of the
marriage came it was freely predicted
that trouble would result.
Saturday night Pritchett and Miss
McSween arrived on the o'clock
train. They were met at the station
by friends and advised to remain on
the train, as it was not considered safe
for Pritchett to return at this time.
They needed the advice and went to
Hot Springs, N g. At that place they
changed their plans and boarded the
"Carolina Special" an hour later and
returned to Knoxville. They remain
ed in Knoxville two hours and then
decided to come on to Newport and
risk the consequences. On arrival
here at o'clock Sunday morning
friends escorted Miss McSween to the
home of relatives.
Pritchett left the party and started
for his room which is in the Smith
building, near the station. In front
of Smiths drug store he and Nc
Sween met, and it is believed that
both men opened fire without speak
ing. McSween was armed with thir-
ty-eight automatic revolver, while
Pritchett had thirty-two automatic
and twenty-five automatic. Pritch-
EFT fired eight times, six of the shots
taking effect McSween fired six
ii mes, three shots taking effect. No
one was present when the shooting &C.
Cured, but the men were evidently |
not moro than six or eight feet apart. |
When friends arrived Immediately af- !,
ter the shooting, McSween was found |
lying in the gutter dead, eyidentl y |
having died instantly. Pritchett was
leaning against wall, holding the
two revolvers. He was taken to a |
westbound train and hurried to Knox
Vile for medical attention. McSween's |
body was carried to the undertaking
of Willis & Larue, where
an examination was held, snd it was
that six shots had taken |
effect, one in the right lung apparently
being the fatal one.
The dead man was the only son of
w. J. McSween, an attorney who is
widely known. The McSween family
has for generations been one .of the
leading families of Cooke county, and
they are related by marriage to
many families of note in other sections
Mr.. Pritchett came here two years ago
from Jonesboro, and was well liked by
many people. He had been EN- ployed
by the Southern railway at this place.
His people live at Jonesboro, his fa-
ther having served two terms as sher-
if of Washington county.
The family of young McSween are
Frustrated over the affair, and the con-
lition of his father has occasioned some
alarm among his friends. The funer-
al services will be held this afternoon
at the McSween home.