Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1916-02-16
TOOK MEALS With BROTHER.

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For some time after they all rt turnet
from the west Victor Rush lived in tn,
house with his brother, Will Rush, anC
wife. Later Victor moved to what Is
known as the old Rush house, which
stands about Go steps from the home OF
Will Rush. Victor and Will Rush had
, been decided the Rush homestead farm
under the conditions that they should
support and care FOR their father, John
Rush, as long as he lived. Will and
Victor Rush also owned some stock and
farm tools in common and worked the
;tafm together.
Mabel Rush, the murdered woman.
was beautiful woman, very neat in
person and tidy housekeeper as we'll
as being possessed OF good education.
She was admired and held In high es,
teen by her neighbors IN the Cove,
which made the frlghtful manner of
her death more affecting to the entire
community.
KILLED AND HOUSE BURNED.
The crime was committed about one
O. clock in the morning, Tuesday, Sep
tember Il. 1t seems to have been
committed in about the following man
ner: The murderer gained access to
the home of Will Rush and shot him
iy, hnd n
mouth and throat with No. shot from
IL gauge gun. Everything indicated
that he was killed instantly as the
partly consumed body was found on the
bed springs after the house was burned
to the ground. The shot ranged up
ward into the head and fractured the
skull. The shot must have been fired
from close range as two wads from the
shell were taken from the wound by
DR.. V. l.. Lewis, assisted by John
Dunbar.
HOW WOMAN WAS KILLED.
The woman was shot in the LETT
breast, near the collar bone, but did
not prove fatal for she ran IRON the
house and Was pursued by the murderer
for about five steps when he came close
! enough to strike her on the head with
the gun, which felIed her to the ground
and fractured her skull. While lying
en- the ground she bled profusely and
two large pools of blood were found
where she fell The body was then
dragged in circular direction few
steps farther, around a tree and into
the house. When the murderer struck
the woman with the gnu piece OF the
stock split off and was found near by
iAfter the body was placed in the house
the murderer went to the kitchen and
got three-gallon oil can and poured
the contents on the floor or bodies and
| set fire to it. In few moments the
house was in flames. The house was
frame ana consisted of two rooms and
small kitchen ell. The murderer
left the gun IN the house near the body
Of the murdered woman and it was
found there with the stock burned off.
Rumor has 1t that Victor Rush admits
that the gun belonged to him but de-
mes any knowledge of how 1t came
there.
Victor Rush went To the home OF
Bratcher Wilson, about one fourth OF a
mile away, ana aroused hlm-about one
O clock in the morning and said that
his brother Wills house was on fire and
he feared his brother and wife were
burned in it. On arriving at the burn
ing house the body of Will Rush could
be seen in the burning building.
tDlD NOT WANT BODIES REMOVED
Some one suggested that the bodies
he taken from the fire, but Victor Rush
objected on the ground that they were
both dead and that the bodies had
burned about all they would. when
the bodies were removed the hanos and
legs of Will Rush were burned off the
hands and arms almost to the elbows
and the legs more or less badly con-
sumed or burned up to the trunk. The
head of both victims was also SO badly
burned that it was with difficulty that
they could be recognized by friends.
Persons living nearer the Rush home
than Bratcher Wilson are SAID to have
heard two shots in close succession and
also heard some person cry out as II IN
great distress. Shortly after they
were attracted by the burning house.
BLOODHOUNDS USED.
Bloodhounds were brought from
Chattanooga and followed trail to the
. kitchen of the old Rush homestead,
where Victor Rush lived, through the
II L.f.<