Deadly Duel (1897)
A bloody duel was fought last week between two prominent young farmers of McMinn county, near Moose Creek. A.N. SHEARMAN and Wash SMITH had quarreled over some trivial matter. They met in the road, SMITH carrying a shotgun and SHEARMAN a 38-caliber resolver. Without any words, they both began firing. After discharging both barrells of his shotgun SMITH dismounted, deliberately reloaded and began shooting again. When the smoke had cleared away mutual friends, who had been attracted by the firing, found SMITH with a broken leg and a badly mutilated hand, and SHEARMAN insensible from bullet wounds in the head. SHEARMAN’s horse was lying dead by the road.
Source: Carroll County Democrat, February 19, 1897.