The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-10-09
ARRAY Took Place on Main
Street at 7 O'clock This
Morning.
FISTFIGHT FOLLOWED
Wounded Man Was Principal
Five Years Ago in Killing i.
Henry Majors.
(By ERNEST TAYLOR

(By ERNEST TAYLOR.)
VIII Palmer Is again in the lime
ligAt.
The well-known railroad engineer,
who shot and killed Henry Majors.
another railroad man, few years
ago, when he caught Majors paying
ardent attentions to the first Mrs.
Palmer, was principal Thursday
morning in another sensational en-
counter. which very nearly cost him
his life.
]. p. Chastaine, bookkeeper for
the Stulce- Yarnell Furniture COM
pany, shot Palmer ir the breast near
the heart about o'clock this morn
ing. The affray took place at the
corner of Main and state streets.
1t Is charged that Chastaine's at
tentfons to the second Mrs. Palmer
were responsible for the trouble.
Palmer's plea in the Majors murder
trial was the "unwritten law"
Following the affray. both men
were registered at police headquar-
ters, Palmer on a charge of disorderly
conduct al | carrying a pistol. and
Chastaine on the charge of carrying
pistol and shooting with the intent
to kill.
The fighters were very bloody. and
their appearance indicated that the
struggle had been fierce one. 4
Chastaine, the smaller OF the two,
had an ugly wnelV under the eye/
wh4rh ssas Needing profuseiy ~
faes was bruised and slammed.
Palmer was also bruised abou.
face. IN
He was brought to the police sta
ton by l.. +. Kirk, after being arrest
ed by Patrolman Bettis. The patrol
wagon, in charge of Driver Louis
Minor and Guard George Webb.
brought Chastaine to headquarters.
Patrolman Belts and Constable
Frank Hendricks were credited with
the arrest.
When he arrived at the sergeant's
Office, Palmer appeared to be calm,
and demonstrated with Kirk for
bringing him in instead Of taking him
to doctors office. He said he in
tended to give himself up after re-
ceiving medical attention.
Palmer with an air of coolness that
was little short of remarkable. pulled
off his coat, showed the officers where
he had been shot, then walked back
to the water tank and washed his lace.
He was bleeding from his wound
which appeared to be only flesh mark
of the bullet which narrowly missed en-
tering his body just above the heart.
After washing his face, Palmer lighted
a cigarette and sat down to smoke as
If nothing had happened.
When Chastain came in he appeared
to be very nervous. His shirt was
spattered with blood. He was later
taken to the county Jail. Palmer was
removed to Erlanger hospital in
Wann's ambulance.
According to accounts of the trouble,
Chastan was standing at the corner
of Main and State streets talking 10 a
woman when Palmer approached them
and struck him. The two men grap-
pied. Chastain, it was learned at po-
lice headquarters, managed to Gluten
q revolver which Palmer is claimed to
have had in his pocket During the
difficulty Chastain fired at Palmer. and
the bullet inflicted the wound In his
breast. He is said to have then struck
Palmer over the head with the weapon.
1t is also said that after this punish-
ment, Palmer continued his attack and
inflicted the damage to Chastains face.
The struggle lasted but short time. as
bystanders rushed up and separated
the two men.
Was "Looklng for Him"
Palmer. it is claimed, had sent Chas-
tain word that he was looking for him.
He had visited the furniture store in
search of Chastain.
a short time after being arrested.
Chastain retained Attorneys Eugene
Bryan and Sam Ford to represent him.
The preliminary hearing Will be held
when Palmer is able to appear In
court.
Palmer, a splendid engineer for the
Southern railroad, with a good record
of service to his credit, discovered a
few years ago that Henry Majors,
man he thought to be his friend, was
calling on the first Mrs. Palmer in his
absence. The husbands suspicious
grew, and one Sunday. instead of GO
ing out on his run. as It was thought.
he returned to his home on Main
street, and from window next door
watched the conduct of his wife and
Majors.
He later encountered Majors, whom
he shot down in the yard of the Palmer
home. Majors fell near the corner Of
the house and died almost instantly.
Palmer then surrendered to the po-
lice. retained Judge Lewis Shepherd to
represent him, and was later acquitted
by jury in criminal court. He based
his case on the unwritten law.
Following the killing, Palmer was dl-
iorced from his wife. and later mar
led again.