THE LIBERTY HERALD

Editor, Will A. Vick

August 28, 1895

"ANOTHER DEAD"

Silver Point Adds a Murder to Her List

Another dastardly outrage has been perpetrated, and another black and damnable crime has been added to the long list that stands out like a black pall over the toughs and outlaws of Silver Point. This blot on our county, this infernal hole where hellishness holds full sway, where all that is mean, low and contemptible can be done and go unpunished, where nine murders have been committed within the past five years, to say nothing of the hundreds of throat cuts, free-for-all fights, insurrections and wholesale meanness; again, right in the face of apparent peace, rises up and enacts another sickening drama in which one body returns to dust and its soul goes out to the Great God for judgement. In five years gone, there has been killed at Silver PointBill Medley, Dr. Fuller, James Mitchell, Oscar Plunket, Liza Carr, Louis McGuffy, two negroes and the last was Mat Schudder, killed Saturday night about 9 o'clock, while on his way home and his reputed murderer, Walter Tucker, riding on the horse behind him. The facts as we learn them are that a short while before the killing Tucker and Scudder were at Jones store at Silver Point, both drinking. They were making preparations to leave when Tucker made the remark in the presence of Esq. Jones that there like to have been one of the d------st rackets you ever saw and that he would shoot any man who would accuse his brother of burning a house. (Scudder's father's kitchen had been burned the week before and Tucker's brother was accused of firing it.) Jones held a light while Scuder mounted his horse and Tucker got up behind him. They rode off together and when they were near John Wilkinson's house, just across the big cut, a pistol shot was heard. Tucker went in and told Wilkinson some one had killed Scudder but that he didn't do it. A large crowd had soon collected and Esq Walter Jones empaneled a jury of inquest, who after proper deliberation rendered a verdict that the deceased was shot and killed with a pistol in the hands of Walter Tucker.

Dr. W.E. Cypert made an examination of the wound and found that the ball was a .38 calibre. Next morning the officers went out to arrest Tucker and found him near Jas. Baine's house in the 11th district. When Tucker saw them coming he ran in the house and gave his pistol to one of Baine's girls and it was found to be a .38 calibre. He was brought to Silver Point and was to have a preliminary hearing yesterday but we have not heard the result.

It is supposed as the two rode along, they must have quarreled and as Scudder turned part around to see Tucker, the latter fired. So close was the pistol to Scudder that his face was burned and blackened with the powder and it could not have been done by a man standing in the fence corner as Tucker says. From all that can be learned there is but little doubt but that Tucker did the shooting.

Tucker is a well known character, his name appearing on the docket of the criminal court each term for years and has been implicated in many things, the doing of which indicate the villain. Scudder was a mechanic and had at times been in tough doings-his anatomy having on numerous occasions been extensively carved.

The reputation of Silver Point has been heralded abroad until some people are afraid to pass there. Circuit court will be on in a few weeks and we will look forward with much expectations to the action of that tribunal.

-Cookeville Press

Cannon County News
Warren Cummings and R.S. Robertson are candidates for Justice of Peace to fill out the unexpired term of J.C. New, resigned.

Mr. John Rushing, who had gone to Roberson springs for his health was called home by the illness of his little grand-daughter, Margaret Rushing, who has since died.

Mr. Geo. St.John had a warrant served on Mr. Al Bates of Readyville, Tuesday which charge him of beating to death a horse belonging to St.John. Mr. Bates gave bond for his appearance.

A difficulty arose between Wm. Sewells [sic] and Willie West of Hills Creek Sunday night in which Sowells [sic] received four ugly wounds by a knife in the hands of West. The officers were sent for but none happened to be in town, no arrest has been made as Mr. West skipped. Both were under the influence of liquor at the time of the fight.

A Mr. Henry Runnels, living three miles southeast of town, said that a Bill Bivins of Rutherford county introduced himself as Mr. Beaty and wanted to employ the Runnel's daughter as a nurse for his wife. It was proven in court the Mrs Runnels had requested this be done to prevent the whereabouts of her daughter being known to some young men of their neighborhood.

Dry Creek
Shelah Farmer of Linwood has been among relatives and friends here for a few days.

Grant Bratten has been on the puny list for several days.

Joe Barrett and Miss Mary Jane Hale were united in wedlock, Squire Jas Braswell officiating.

Mrs. Wm. Hendrixson, Sr. is on the puny list at this writing.

Dr. J.A. Fuson has been on the puny list for several days.

Mr. George Ellege is sick at this writing.

Miss Helen Close is not improving very fast.

We had a little skirmish this week between Simeon Taylor and Shade Tramel in which Taylor pelted Tramel pretty severely on the head with his fist.

Saturday night Thomas Reynolds and one Fish became involved in a difficulty in which Reynolds was hit on the cheek bone with a rock.

OUR NEIGHBORS
News Taken From Our County Exchanges

Smith County ---- The Times

William Brown, one of the parties implicated in the robbery of R.H. Cleveland's store at Pleasant Shade a few days ago was tried on Monday and Tuesday in Carthage before R.C. Williams, U.S. Commissioner, for robbing the post office at that place of about $3 in money and 200 2 cent stamps. The prisoner was bound over to answer at the Federal court.

Warren County ---- The New Era
Judge M.D. Smallman returned Monday after an absence of several weeks.

Mr. John Dickson had a very fine milk cow break her neck by getting her head tangled in a rope.

The death of Mrs. W.M. Gunn occurred at the family residence on Sparta street in this place at 11 o'clock last Monday morning, after a short, but severe illness. The deceased was 30 years of age.

Mr.&Mrs. Ed Nunnely were called to the bed of Mrs. N's sister, Mrs. Maggie Hobbs, who is quite sick at her home at Sewannee, last Saturday. They returned Thursday, leaving Mrs. Hobbs some improved.

Mr. Wm. Ramsey is rapidly recovering from a severe spell of fever at the residence of his father, Mr. J.C. Ramsey, on Smithville street.

Putnam County ---- The Press
Math Matheny's baby died last Friday after 24 hours illness. Mr. Matheny lives near Algood.

W.W. Lester has purchased from T.L. Denny ten acres in the Southwestern suburbs.

Mrs. Sam Young of Buffalo Valley has returned after a several weeks visit to Denver, Colorado.

C.Y. Jared, formerly of Missouri, has been employed as principal of the Cookeville High school, Miss Lizzie Owen will have charge of the intermediate department and Miss Nora Lee the primary school.

White County ---- The Expositer
Frank Pearson is quite sick.

License have been issued for the marriage of Rising Robinson to Mrs. Cannon Smith, for Sunday.

Bud Price has moved into the jail and Col. Tom Price, who is in feeble health, has gone to his son John's.

Mrs. Gen. W.G. Smith is visiting her father, Wm. Templeton, who is quite ill at Quebeck. Mr. Templeton is 91 years of age.

James Tompkins, brother of Geo. Tompkins, was severely hurt at Tubb's Rolling Mill last Saturday night. He fell down the steps, but is improving fast.

Married at the home of the bride's parents, two miles north of town, Aug. 19, 1895, Joe Tallent to Miss Cora Smith, Esq. D.G. Brown performing the ceremony.

Rutherford County ---- The News
Squire Jackson Knox lost his barn by fire Wednesday of last week.

News was brought to town Monday morning by Presiding Elder H.C. White of a sensational killing during the progress of church services at a colored church near Cainsville, on the Wilson County line, last night. Mr. White had just announced his text when a sharp report rang out followed by a groan and the sound of a man falling heavily upon the ground. The congregation was panic stricken and rushed outdoors, and, to the horror of everyone, found Perry Harris, a young colored man, lying dead on the church steps with a bullet through his heart and the upper part of his body covered with blood. Two or three men who were on the outside say that Harris was approached by Will Cluck, a young negro man living in the neighborhood, and questioned as to whether he (Harris) had said he saw Cluck in a compromising position with a young colored woman of the community. Harris flatly retorted that he had, and without further demonstration Cluck drew a pistol and fired with fatal effect. Cluck walked off unmolested after committing the deed, and the congregation waited outside until a coroner's jury was summoned and passed on the death of Harris the verdict being that he came to his death from a pistol shot fired by Will Cluck. Cluck is still at large.

Peoples' Party Resolutions Adopted at their Bright Hill Meeting

We the undersigned committee on resolutions beg leave to submit the following, which were adopted:J.M Starnes, Wm. Adcock, E.N. Green, Robert Turner, J.M. Redman

Forks of Pike

Profs. Charley and John Preston got into a terrible fix Saturday as Mrs. T.P. Bragg had a lot of fine peaches to can. The boys thought they would help her peel a few to see how they tasted. They set in early in the morning and she held them until evening and they remarked that they didn't love peaches much.

Prof. N.E. Groom commenced school on Sycamore today.

H.C. Givan bought the I.B. David farm near Prosperity.

N.G. Maddux, the noted collar manufacturer of Mechanicsville, spent Friday night with T.P. Bragg.

Hendersons X Roads
Mrs. Sally Ann Henderson died at 6:30 Monday morning. She had a stroke of paralysis last week.

Mrs. James H. David [sic] of Statesville is visiting her son, Dr. Davis.[sic]

Joe Oakley and family of Washington, D.C. are spending the week with their cousin in Watertown.

Born to Dr. Davis and wife, a boy.

Chambersville, Texas
T.L. Bond will start for his home in Tenn. in a few days.

Ira and Rush Lee are very low with fever at this writing.

T.B. Williams is all smiles this week as Miss Inace Meade has returned from Lebanon, Texas.

P. Robinson is with the writer today.

Geo. Close has a great deal of business at Lois Ganey's of late.

Prof T.M. Hinsley is teaching a penmenship class at Franklin.

Mr. Dug Cantrell is under the weather, he asked Miss Minnie to marry him and she said no.

Alexandria
A protracted meeting began at the Methodist church Sunday, Rev. Z.W. Moores and Rev. J.W. Cherry will conduct the services.

Liv Tubb has moved his carpets, window shades, mattings and so forth to the Goodner corner having made an exchange of rooms with Goodner & Son at the bank.

Messrs. Dave and Bob Crutchfield of Nashville spent Sunday in town.

Next Saturday there will be a sale of the lands of W.B. Grandstaff, dec'd. by James Walker.

Jordan Vanatta has purchased the farm of Billie Turner near Brush Creek.

C.D. Baird is teaching the Watertown band.

Tom Davis of Brush Creek and Miss Estella Eaton of New Hope were married yesterday.

Miss Effie Jones of New Hope is visiting Miss Ada Bridges in town.

The sale of personal property of J.M. Walker, dec'd. will take place today.

Mrs. J.L. Dinwiddie visited relatives in Smithville last week.

Miss Myrtle Bowers left for her home in Nashville last Tuesday.

Esq. R.C. Nesmith was in town last week.

Rob Roy and Dib Dinges left for Bellbuckle last Monday.

J.H. Shaver went to Grant Sunday.

Elmo Hill and Charlie Ragland were in town today.

Mrs. S.W. McClellan and Miss Elsie Davis returned from Hall's Hill last week.

James Corley was in town today.

T.W. and Jack Goodner left for Nashville this morning.

Mrs. C.R. Groomes and D. Bethel left for their home in Saint Louis, Tuesday.

Enoch Rollins and Miss Cornie Brown and Florence Rollins attended the Rome fair.

Mr. Claud Doss (very faint) and wife attended the fair at Rome.

Miss McDonald is visiting Miss Carrie Simpson.

Esq. John Yeargin was in town today.

Liberty
Born to Dyer Vandergriff and wife, a girl.

E.C.Bratten visited Smithville Sunday.

Seed Rye for sale by J.R. Corley, Dowelltown, Tenn.

Alfred Williams visited relatives on Smithfork Sunday.

Rufus Gleason and Chas. Wood were upon their wheels Sunday.

Mrs. Lucinda Evans on Dry Creek in on the sick list this week.

Tom Starks stuck a nail in his foot yesterday and is not able to work today.

Mrs. A. Key, daughter and Mr. Halowell returned to Murfreesboro Friday morning.

The little child of Mr&Mrs. Thomas Chapman, Jr. living above Dowelltown, is very sick.

Oscar Whaley presented our force with a nice lot of peaches. Many thanks.

Dry Poplar ceiling and weatherboarding and Oak fencing lumber for sale by T.H. Grooms, Gassaway.

J.D. Colvert finished roofing the new store of Vick & Bright yesterday. He put on 30 squares in 2 1/2 days.

Roe Malone's team ran away on Snow's Hill Saturday throwing him out and bruising him considerably.

T.H. Groom and Ben Odom, two successful farmers of the Sycamore country, were in town this morning.

W.H. Allen and Caskey Bros. brought a load of fodder to town Monday containing 1000 bales.

Howard Hudson is here today on business.

Mrs. M.A. Hollondsworth is not as well as she has been.

Joe Evans returned to Franklin Monday where he will attend school this fall.

Mr.&Mrs. S.W. McClellan of Alexandria visited at C.W.L. Hale's.

Frank Gaither, living on the Sellars farm on Sycamore, died last Friday.

Mrs. J.F. Woodward and two sons of McMinnville visited relatives at this place.

Mrs. Dr. Duggin of Dowelltown has recovered sufficiently to be carried to her brother's, Sam Odom near Auburn.

Miss Angie Eagleton died at her home in Woodbury, Sunday the 18th. She once lived here and has a number of friends left who will regret the sad announcement.

Return to the Herald Main Page

Return to the Dekalb County Page