The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-04-15
MOL|NO PAPERS
VERSION Of The
DOUBLE KILLING

An interesting account of the dead
ly duel between Pritchett and Pot
ter, which resulted in the death of
each man, is printed in the Molino
Advertiser this week. Some little in
accuracies were carried in papers of
the city, and the account as given
by the Moline paper is printed IN full.
It is as follows:
Story of Pistol Duel
Murdoch Potter, town marshal, and
G. H. Pritchett, of Repton, Ala, are
dead as the result of the former try
ing to arrest the latter. The killing
occurred about 11:20 Saturday eve
ming about half mile south of the
town line on the Louisville q Nash
vile railroad.
Pritchett, who is employed as one
of the crew of bridge workers on the
L. & N, and Brown Maxwell were
returning home after visiting at the
home of Mr.. Downs. Mr.. Downs ac-
companied them as far as the rail-
road crossing and he says after leav-
ing the two but a few minutes that
he heard pistol shots fired down the
railroad at about the distance of the
negro settlement, and he paid no at
tention to them.
1t was the shots, so it is said, that
attraced the marshal's attention and
accompanied by Murdoch Potter and
Will Hardy, went to investigate the
trouble. They saw Pritchett and
i Maxwell ahead of them and the two
Potters ran up and stopped in front
of them at the same time demanding
them to throw up their hands. Neith-
er Murdoch Potter, Maxwell nor
Hardy could tell just which of the
two men, Jesse Potter or Pritchett
fired the first shot. Pritchett fell
first and fired two or three shots after
falling, it is said. Potter walked
three or four steps and told his broth
er he was sick and started to sit down
and fell over.
! Murdoch Potter remained with the
| two men while Hardy and Maxwell
returned to town for the physician
! and to summon help. Both men were
dead when DR.. Mason arrived on the
| scene.
A coroner's inquest was held and
a verdict was returned saying Prit'
| chett died from gun shot wounds in
flicted by Jesse Potter and that Pot
ter died from the same cause at the
hands of Pritchett. Mr.. Maxwell was
not detained after the inquest.
| On examination of the bodies it
was found that Potter had received
one wound in the left breast, the
bullet penetrating the lung. Two
bullet wounds were found on Prit-
chett's body. 1t is said two other
wounds were found upon dressing the
body for burial, one through the right
| leg and one through the left foot.
Mr.. Pritchett was working in the
L. & n. bridge crew which is now
located at Quintette. He and Mr.
| Maxwell had been visiting at the
home of Mr.. Downs. According to
all statements he was not intoxicated
nor disturbing the peace of the town
He is a native of Alabama and his
| home is at Repton. He leaves wife
and little child. Mr.. Pritchett was
a member of the W. o. w. at Repton
| and as such the body was taken in
| charge by the local order. The body
was accompanied home by Mr.
| Downs.
| Mr.. Potter had been town marshal
for several months and was very
| prompt in carrying out his duties
/ He leaves a wife and little girl
The funeral was under the manage
ment of the city council. Interment
was made in the Morgan cemetery
Sunday afternoon.