Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1916-07-06
BLOOD Fl OWS
IN SEQUATCHIE VALLEY
Three Men Shot Down, Two at PikeyiIIe, One At
WhitweI-- Fourth Proves Bloody Day.

stood the trip as we'll as could be ex-
pected, 1t was declared. During the
greater part of the journey he was un-
der the influence of an opiate. He
was brought to Chattanooga by DIR. w.
Fl. Harris, of Pikeyille. His wife was
in Dunlap yesterday and boarded the
train at that point. Her husband was
on cot in the baggage car and the
meeting between them was extremely
pathetic.
Hardly had the duelists been taken
from the scene of the shooting when a
long distance telephone message told
of the affray at Whitwell. :.
Asa Condra, one of the most feared
men in the valley came on the picnic
grounds under the influence OF liquor,
and after good deal of talking. 1t is
alleged, accosted Sam Thompson,
special deputy sheriff for the day, and
stationed neal the dancing pavilion.
where there were a large number OF
young people. The two had short
argument. at the close Of which
Thompson backed away and started to
another part of the grounds. Condra
followed him with an opened knife.
Thompson warned him three times to
stay away, reports say, but Condra in
sisted on following him mp. Thomp-
son finally drew his revolver and shot
him two times, one of the bullets in
ficting what was declared to be IA
tai wound In the abdomen.
The shooting occurred on the same
grounds where FIVE years ago on the
Fourth of July Condra stabbed to
death young man named Price in
difficulty which is said to have been
started by Condra very much in the
manner of of the one yesterday.
Thompson Immediately surrendered
to the officers and was taken by auto
to Bridgeport, Ala. In few minutes
after the shooting relatives of Condra
came to the grounds and announced
that they would "go and get" Thomp-
son. The latter's friends telephoned
to the county seat, but Thompson lad
gone to Bridgeport, we're he took
train for Chattanooga, and later sur
rendered at the jail here. IL was
feared at Whitwell last night that the
Condras might attempt to avenge the
shooting of their relative by an attack
on other members of the Thompson
family, and there was much apprehen-
sion up and down the valley.
"Most of Them were drunk Thomp-
son stated. "Jim Perkins, one of their
nun Der, stepped up on the dancing pavil-
| ion and seized the master of ceremonies
| by the belt and informed him that he
was too damed smart and said that his
time was short. He pulled the man to
the ground and was leading him away
when interfered. / asked Perkins to
ilet the man go as he had done no harm.
| Perkins refused and | grabbed him by
the arm and attempted to take the man
from him, whereupon young Asa Condra,
| who had been standing near, raised a
knife he had been holding in his hand,
| and after saying that this was none OF
my affair, declared that he intended to
cut my damned throat. He raised the
knife and started toward me and | shot
! him.
| "a deputy took me in charge and had
/ started to take me from the grounds
when George Condra ran up behind a
! tree with pistol and said he was going
to kill me. threw the deputy from my
arm so that could defend myself. As
/ moved about watching George, he
kept the pistol pointing at me contin-
uaily, but another deputy seized him
/ from the back before he could shoot
''They tried to take me through the
town but l refused to be taken that
way as thought that they were going
to mob me there. We started thru the
open fields toward the railroad station.
AS we neared our destination saw a
man, do not know who he was, run
ming across the field with gun, trying
to intercept us. The deputy left me
i his pistol and said he would meet me
at certain place with an automobile.
i / met him and we went to Bridgeport,
whence Sheriff Kelly and / came to
Chattanooga tonight" = Chattanooga
Times, Wednesday.
! Condra is reported as resting easy,
last night, and may recover.