Fatal Affray
Last Tuesday evening a deplorable difficulty occurred in this place between W. C. MASHBURN and James MITCHELL, during the course of which the former gentleman was fired upon by the latter four times with a large Colt’s repeater; two of the shots took effect, one in the region of the lower part of the abdomen, the other in the left arm, near the elbow. The first wound spoken of was the one that caused the death of the unfortunate man, who expired at his residence, after great suffering, Wednesday evening at about half past six o’clock. The difficulty originated in the store of Mashburn & McKinney abou the settling of a small account. At the time of the shooting, MASHBURN was in the house and MITCHELL outside on the pavement. As soon as the bloody work was accomplished, MITCHELL turned and left the spot as rapidly as possible, but was pursued, captured and lodged in jail. Subsequently he was taken out and again remanded upon a charge of murder in the first degree. He is now being tried before Esquires Bills and Anderson. R. H. WOOD and James FENTRESS are prosecuting attorneys while Maj. J. B. DENNIS and Harry M. HILL are defending. The trial commenced at 11 o’clock Thursday morning and attracts no little attention. Since the above was put in type the trial closed, and the defendant, in default on bail, was committed to jail for murder in the second degree.

The Bolivar Bulletin. (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.), 04 Jan. 1868, Page 3. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.