The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-11
SHERIFF
SHOOTS PADDLER
At HATCH|E COON
Galen Tate, Well Known.
Mefnphian, Charged With.
Killing Man in Self Defense
at Fishing Club in Arkansas

A drunken paddler employed at
Hatchie Coon, Ark hunting and
fishing club craw1ed through the
window of the club house SUNDAY
night at 8 o'clock with pistol In his
hand for the avowed purpose OF XIII
ing Galen Tate Of Memphis VINO was
sleeping in the house and Tate snot
his assailant twice, killing him m
stantly. =
Immediately after the tragedy Tate
and DIR. H. F. Minor and DR.. >. >.
Terrell who were spending Sunday
with him at the club fishing, walked
| to Marked Tree, seven miles away,
where Tate surrendered to w: +.
Parks, city marshal and deputy sher--
iff. The preliminary trial was ,set
! for O'Clock Monday afternoon ana
| the consensus of opinion among the
| officials and others at Marked Tree
who knew the facts was that rate
would be exoneraten.
It is understood that the paddler'
whose name was not known to the
| officers at Marked Tree, was, drink
| ing Sunday and engaged Tate IN a
| controversy. Tate did not want 10
have a difficulty and it was averted'
| The party retired early in the even
| ing after a day of strenuous fishing
and .were awakened about s o'clock
by the man with whom Tate had the
! difficulty. crawling through the club
house window with a pistol in MS
hand. Tate shot him twice ana
killed him instantly.
| A. r. Hudson. president of the club
! was there Sunday but returned sun
day night and Monday had heard
nothing of the tragedy. Tate and
other members OF the party were out
on the lake fishing when ne LETT.
The first word of the difficulty
was received about 1 o'clock Monday
morning when Tate and his friends
reached Marked Tree and Galen teie-
phoned his brothef, A. b. Tate, with
whom he is associated In the opera
tion of a plantation in Arkansas.
Galen stated that he had been com
uelled to kill paddler but did not
give his name and made no further
statement. His brothers a. l.. ana
III. C. Tate left Monday morning for
| Marked Tree.
DR.. Minor and DR.. Terrell expected
to return to Memphis Monday morn
ing but messages received at theil
Offices stated that they were al
Marked Tree with Tate and would
not return home until Monday night
Tate was not injured as his assall-
ant did not haVe an opportunity u
fire a shot, Che reputation of the
paddlers at the club house Is moi
good and it is said that when they
are drinking they are q rough lot.
4 Galen Tate is a man Of quiet as
position, reserved and retiring. Ht
is regarded as a man of exceptona
courage but has never sought con
troversy and has never been In trou
Bile before.
DR.. Hopper and officers at Marked
Tree stated to The News Scimital
: Monday that from all they had hearC
of the affair Tate killed his assall
ant in selfdefense and under thu
most aggravating circumstances.
1t was the consensus of opinion
that the preliminary hearing set TO
Monday afternoon would be a mer'
formality. The Tates and thei
friends are expected to reach Mem
phis Monday evening at 7 o'clock.
Tate was sheriff OF Shelby count.
several years ago and since that tim
has been engaged in the real estat
business and in the conduct OF
plantation at Heth. Ark.