The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-12-22
NEGRO KILLS OFFICER
NEAR ARLINGTON
PHELAN APPLEBERRY OF ARL.
INGT0N, is SHOT DOWN =
Alex Whitmore, COlOred, Shoots Off
cor While Papers Were Being
Served On Him Slayer is Still at
Large and Thought to be in This
County Officers Still Hopeful Of
arrest.

Large and Thought to be in This
County Officers Still Hopeful Of
arrest.
After an all-day hunt for Alex
Whitmore, negro farm hand, who
shot and killed Deputy Sheriff Phelan
Applebeuy, fouE miles north of Arl-
ineton, Tenn, on Friday. Sheriff
Perry and his posse Of officers and
citizens returned to Memphis last
night, says the Memphis Commercial
Appeal Of December 10. The entire
county north Of Arlington as far as
the Upton county line waaaseOured
by the posse for the fug I'VE, who
made good his escape Immediately
after the shooting, which occurred
when the officer went to arrest the
negro
The community about Arlington is
considerably worked up over the stu
alton, many declaring that the negro
viii not be turned over to the officers
when he is finally located. Mr.. Ap~
pleberry had been on the staff Of
deputies for the past Is years and
had earned the respect of all, who
knew him.
The last trace of Alex Whitmore
was received from Mason, Tenn, in
Upton county, where he was said to
have been yesterday morning after
an all-night travel with his sister and
other relatives in buggies. He had
three brothers living near Mason, it
is said. WI
Paul Battle, owner Of the land on
which Whitmore had been living and
working, swore out q peace warrant
for the negro because Of the terror
which he had created in the hearts
Of other negroes working on Mr.. Bat
ties farm. The warrant was placed
in Mt. Appleberry's hands for action
and the officer went to the place In
his buggy.
Those who knew him were aware Of
the fact that Mr.. Appleberry never
used his gun in serving papers. He
yves not that kind OF an officer and
believed that his badge was sufficient
10 command respect for the law which
he was sworn to uphold. On Friday
at $3.50 o'clock, when he arrived at the
farm where Whitmore was working,
DIR. Appleberry's pistol was under
him on the seat.
uCome here, Alex" I've got a war
rant for YOU" said the deputy, as
he brought his horse to a standstill
on the driveway a short distance
from where the negro was standing
in the field.
"You amt goin' ter take me no.
where" returned the black as he
raised his gun and leveled it at Mr..
ApplebeTry. The officer VINO still was
In mis- buggy, made no move to fire
at the negro. The latter pressed the
trigger and the load of shot entered
the officers abdomen, slapting in
wardly and carrying some OF his
into the wound.
Wnitmore, seeing that the officer
was helpless to give chase, ran to his
house and got some Of his effects,
then took circuitous route to his
sisters home in the bottoms about ,
five miles off. There were several
other negroes about when the shot /,
was fired, but no white men were
around, :
Mr.. Battle heard the gun dis
charged and ran to Mr.. Appleberry's !
side. "A call was made for DR.. w. s. I
Mccormick, VINO could not be found
at the time. DR.. E. e. Francis, from
Memphis, was summoned and made a 4
hurry call to DR.. McCormick's home, J
where the wounded man had been car !
ried. An operation was performed /
% save Mr.. Appleberry's life, but it !
was too late to avail results and the /
leputy passed out at IL o'clock on t
Friday night. 4
A posse composed of Sheriff Perry,
Deputies Palmer, Bradley and Cos t
wick and Constable Ed Powell left /
Memphis yesterday for Arlington and t
ode to Mason in the afternoon. They il
eturned from Mason late in the dag a
nd reported no success in their man S
uniting expedition, although it, still q
J generally believed by residents at
Arlington that he is in the vicinity
{ Mason.
A detailed description of the slayer :
s given by Sheriff Perry states that =
. Is 30 years old, six feet tall, slen- u y
er, and weighs between 165 and ITO -
Oundss He was of a ginger-eake q
~, smooth face, though at times he a.
ears mustache. He has large "
Ose, large mouth and teeth that pro- OF
'ude slightly. One Of his teeth Is
spped with gold. 70 70
Whitmore had served in the army I.
ia owns soldiers uniform, which r.
} carried with from his house when =.
} escaped. On account Of the cold -
Gather he probably is wearing this
lit. At the time Of the shooting
had on his leather leggings and a
ather cap. Br
Deputy Appleberry had served UNI mis-
I Or. Mccormick, magistrate at brl
for q number Of years. He thi
d come to believe that there was wa
necessity in using force in making rot
arrest, but that the mere reading
warrant was sufficient show Of she
thority. This fact probably led to shi
death, for he never fired shot at 9th
J negro when he saw the black IL
ding q shotgun at his side when
drove alongside him. to