A Negro Desperado -Memphis, March 17.
A desperate fight occurred on President’s Island, a few miles below this city, yesterday. Deputy Sheriff R. RODEGAN went there for the purpose of arresting a negro, named John WHITE, who, for some time , has been the terror of the negroes living there. RUDEGAN was met by a large body of armed negroes, who professed to want to assist in the arrest, but they stated WHITE had barricaded his cabin and would make a desparate fight. RODEGAN approached WHITE’s cabin and demanded his surrender. WHITE refused, saying he would be murdered by the negroes if he did. After some further parleying one negro approached the cabin and was shot dead by WHITE, who rushed out and secured his gun.
Source: Cleveland Banner newspaper of Bradley County, TN; 22 Mar 1872, pg. 3