Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1916-07-27
TRAGIC DUEL
W|THKNIVES
Bunyan TanksIey Stabbed to
Death by French Hoge.
SLAYER'S ACT JUSTIFIED
CORONER'S JURY FINDS
Roge Declares He Had Never Seen
His Antagonist Until Latter En-
tered Grocery Store and
Started Quarrel.

Bunyan NJ. Tsnksley, aged about so.
we'll known ..dairyman Of the Tyner
nejghborhood, was stabbed just above
the heart and instantly killed at S:So
Yesterday afternoon by French Hoge,
of III Harrison avenue, formerly
Seouatchie Valley merchant, follow
inc a Quarrel, which, 1t Ia alleged,
was brought on by Tanksley. Hoge
asserts that he had never seen his an
tagonist until yesterday afternoon
when he entered Bushels grocery
store at the corner of Harrison avenue
and Palmetto street, where the kill
ing took place. Hoge is in jail. al.
though the coroner's jury, which held
an inquest last night, returned q YER
dict 70 the effect that be killed Tanks
lev in self defense. -,
A Tanksley fell to the floor. with q
gaming wound in his left breast, where
an srterv had been severed, Hoge left
hurriedly and, brushing aside the wife
of the store proprietor, went TO the
home Of his wife's uncle, Col. W. d.
Spears, on Lindsay street, where ne
vas arrested some three hours later.
He was Immediately locked up at po-
lice headquarters, vigorously asserting
| his l0DOC6Oc6 VI any SAAAAo 0nN ~'-
| ing self defense.
When the police reserves, accompan-
| led by Times reporter, arrived on
the scene in response to trantic cAils
at the station, Tanksley was FOUND ~
ing where he had fallen, with az open
knife in his half closed hand. Inc AR
in the place WAS suffocating and the
| body was covered with swarms or
flies. Following hurried investiga..
ton by the officers and the removal or
the body to the funeral home OF the
L. ], Sharp company, pursuit or hoge
was taken up, which lasted until he
was placed under arrest by Detective
Wells, Special Officer Holder and De-
putty May. L.,
entered the grocery with a woman and
child while Hoge was waiting there
for purchase. He had deliberately
INTERRUPTED remark by Hoge to Mrs.
Busbel, it was stated, an inquiry
about her husband, and, aiently
| in an intoxicated condition, continued
70 argue with Hoge. Mrs. Busbel
! stated that she requested the men to
90 outside but to no avail, and that
inst as she started to the back of the
store Tanksley loudly declared that
che was attending to mis- business and
conld take care of as much ground as
ha covered" She did not see Tanks
lev drav weapon, but did see Hoge
strike at him and the other man fall
TO the floor. A woman, said to have
been Mrs. Williams, rushed to
Tanksley's side, and. crying that he
was dead rushed out side door with
her child after Hoge. The woman
could not be located last night.
interviewed in his cell at the police
station, following his arrival there,
Hope could not or would not tell very
much of the argument leading up to
the killing. He stated that be bad
never seen Tanksley before until he
came in the door and ordered lemon
soda for the child. After accosting
him in a disagreeable manner, Hoge
saws that Tanksley continued to talk
and drew a knife from under his coat.
He stated that Tanksley made three
attempts to stab him, and exhibited a
cut thumb and shirt cut in two
nlaces as evidences OF Tanksley's in
teutions 1t was not until he saw that
it was either Tanksley's life or his,
Hoge declares. that he drew his knife
and stabbed him.
At the inquest last night considera'
BILE evidences was introduced tending
to show that Hoge was not the aggres.
sor in the affair, while Lawrence
Spears. cousin of Mrs. Hoge, testifi
ed that Hoge had only gone to Col.
Spears home to advise with the latter
and was not seeking to evade the Off
GERS. Hoge, ct was learned. is broth
OF in law of Lawrence Robertson, clerk