Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1915-07-16
MURDERER HIMSELF
Is SHOT TO DEATH
Robert Pruett Kills Dave Far
-mer at Pounding Mill, and in
Attempting Escape Meets
Instant Death.

Additional details of the tragedy a.
Pounding Mill Saturday afternoon.
which cost the life of Robert Pruett
and Dave Farmer, have been received
here. From the best source obtainablc
it appears that Robert Pruett, who
, bore reputation as local rowdy,
became intoxicated and attempted to
get into a row with n son of Dave
|, Farmer. The Farmer boy Stunned him
all possible. 1t is said that Pruett fol-
lowed the boy from place to place,
and threatened to shoot him on one or
more occasions if he "even batted an
eye." Young Farmer succeeded i'm get
ting away from Pruett, and on the
way home met his father and related
to him what had occurred. Farmer
sought Pruett and demonstrated with
him to keep the peace, and in the ar
gument Pruett drew his gun and shot
Farmer several times, the first shot
breaking Farmers neck. and other
shots penetrating other portions of
his body. Farmer fell to the ground
and in dying condition he saw Pruett
standing above him, waving his gun
and defying anybody to arrest him.
He is said to have circled the depot
several times, returning each time to
the PROSTATE form of Farmer, and
brandishing his pistoi. He stated to
those standing near that he was sorry
he shot Farmer but he had to do it.
A woman, who had witnessed the
shooting from second story window
yelled at Pruett, You're Il liar"
whereupon Pruett drew his pistol on
her and she had to seek shelter in
the inner recesses of her home. The
west bound passenger train came
along and Farmer was taken to the
hospital at Richands, where it was
hoped his life might be saved, but he
died a few hours after reaching the
hospital.
During the confusion incident to
the arrival and departure of the train
Magistrate Thomas ordered George
Duncan to arrest Pruett, and in his
efforts to do so shots were exchanged
between the men, Farmer filling Pru-
etts face full of shot and Pruett
firing four shots from his pistol at
Duncan, but none took effect. While
Duncan was getting a better gun,
Pruett escaped, and took refuge in
the home of Mrs. r. X. Gillespie, n
short distance away. He told Mrs.
Gillespie that he wanted to surrender
to the sheriff of Tazewell county, but
was determined that none of the off
crs from Pounding Mill should arrest
him. Mrs. Gillespie agreed to protect
him until the arrival of the sheriff
|if Pruett would turn over to her his
pistol, which he still held in his hand
This he refused to do. In few min
utes the posse which had been formed
at Pounding Mill, headed by officer
Grover Shamblin, reached the Gil
lespie home, and Pruett, who noticed
the approach of the men, made n
break for the back door, and made his
escape to the barn lot, where he was
discovered by the officers. At a dis
tance of three hundred feet officer
Shamblin shot at him, and Pruett fell
to the ground, and when they reached
his body his brains were oozing from
large bullet hole in the back of his
head, and he was stone dead.
The body was conveyed to his home
and the burial occurred Sunday after
noon. SO far as can be learned Police
man Shambln is held blameless in
the matter and no action will be taken
by the commonwealth against him. ,