The Polk County Republican. (Ducktown, Tenn.) 1914-191?, 1915-10-22
SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT STUARTOWN
One That Has Numbed the People
and Brought Desoldtion to
TUo Homes.

Grim death reaped harvest at Stuart
town, suburb of Ducktown, last Satur-
day night when two men we're killed, two
badly wounded while fifth had narrow
escape.
Bert Cordell was shot through the head,
dying almost instantly; Charley Parker,
shot through the abdomen, died Sunday;
Fox, an employee of the show, shot in the
arm; De Lessen, proprietor of the show,
receive a scalp wound; and Gaddis had a
bullet pass through the lapal of his coat.
A small show, which had been in this
vicinity for several weeks, was pulling off
a contest in which there was considerable
rivalry.
People from all sections of the Basin
were there, und what was thought to be a
good-natueed contest for prize of nominal
value turned out to be tragedy that has
no parallel In the history OF Polk county.
james Craig and W. Yoder, of Ducktown
were arrested, charged with the crime and
their preliminary examination was held at
the courthouse, Sunday, before Squire
Grant SImonds.
The testimony on the State developed
that there was absolutely no excuse tor the
shooting. That nothing had been said or
done to bring it on, especially by those
VINO were the unfortunate victims OF the
savage assault.
Inc testimony of a dozen Witnesses
showed that the only gun in the crowd was
that with which the shooting was done.
Several witnesses testified that W. Yoder
had started the trouble by accusing several
boys-bert Cordell in particular OF threat
enlng to run him away from the show
grounds. That just before the shooting
took place, Yoder was seen to step in front
of Craig and, apparently, hand him some
thing. That he had tried to buy cartridges
the day of the shooting from two firms.
The defendant, Craig, had no Witnesses,
and contented himself by asking Witnesses
several questions which brought no further
light upon the subject.
At the hearing of Yoder, he sought by
questioning Witnesses, to show that threats
had been made to run the Ducktown boys
who might be there away from the show
grounds. That certain persons had de-
clared that if the contest didn't go their
way there would be trouble.
He denied giving Craig the pistol and to
substantiate this evidence he put Craig on
the stand.
Craig admitted doing the shooting, but
gave no other reason than somebody in the
crowd was aiming pistol at him and he
was trying to get him first That the pis-
was his and had belonged to him for some
time; that he had possession of it all the
time.
Attorney Jeff A. Hedden grilleu Craig
while on the stand and made stsong
Plea that both ofthe defendants be held to
he grand jury without bail.
Squire Simonds committed Craig to
all without bail but gave Yoder the privi-
eye of bond in the sum of $4,000. Was
not made at that time and both were
aiken to Benton
The testimony showed that none of the
he show parties nor the defendant, Craig,
lad said a word to anybody; that nobody
vas under the influence of liquor; that it
here were any previous signs OF trouble
hey were not apparent to witnesses; that
he shooting began SO quickly that few had
ime to realize it until all was over.
The weapon used was an lver Johnson
# 32-caliber and contained five cartridges,
our of which found living targets.
Besides the desolation of two homes,
wo young men find themselves behind
Prison bars charged with terrible crimes.
It is a blow at law and order and blot
Ipon the community that time cannot ef-
ace.
It should be warming to those Young
nen who go around with pistols in their
pockets for sooner or later they will fare to