LOCAL--Rev. C.J. HONTS is visiting his relatives and friends in this city.--Col. Robt. M. HUNDLEY has just returned home form Cincinnati.--W.W. CLEMENS and Milo ERWIN left here Tuesday last for Keokuk, Iowa, on business pertaining to their legal profession. They will be absent about ten days.--The following named gentlemen have subscribed for the Monitor since our last report: John HANKS, Wm. TUCKER, R.T. STONE, Marion; John L. BULLINER, Carterville; J.E. GILLS, Herrins Prairie; W.H. MCCANN, Fitts Hill; Levi PHILLIPS, Wards Mill; S L HEARN, Oak Hill. --DIED March 29th, 1875 at the residence of Gilbert STEERS, two miles north of Caledonia, mrs. Evelina H. PULLEY, aged 55 years.--Mound City Journal.--Capt. W.E. GODDARD formerly of Johnson county Ill., but now a resident of Kansas, was in this place last Saturday. He reports the people of Kansas in a destitute condition, and says without help from other localities many families will undoubtedly, perish; having neither sustenance to live upon nor means to get away. He says the young grasshoppers have hatched out and can now be seen in vast multitudes. --H.M BASINGER has sold his mill and will sell one hundred thousand feet of lumber at first chance. --Prof. WORTHEN, the State Geologist is making a geographical survey of our county and his reports are very flattering. Williamson county has more coal and better coal then her neighbors.
--Quite a sensation was created in this place last Tuesday evening by an accidental shot, which came near being a serious one. Charley ROBERTS of the Goodall House was handling a gun in the office of the hotel, and from some cause the gun fired, the load passed through the glass front of the building and cut a hole in the coat of our county clerk., W.H. EUBANKS, who was passing by the hotel on the walk in front of the building. No further damage was done. It is to be hoped that the careless handling of fire arms will cease.
--J. C. MILLER and son met with a very serious misfortune last Saturday. They were on their way to this place with a load of tobacco, and when at Bainbridge, they were caught out in a very server rain and wind storm, from which they took shelter under and old shed which had been standing at that place for many years. Their team had scarcely stopped, when a strong gale of wind struck the shed and blew it down upon them. Mr. MILLER was considerably stunned and his son was so badly hurt that death, it was thought, would surely be the result. The team was crushed under the falling timers, injuring them in a manner that proved to be fatal. We are pleased to learn that the young man, MILLER, is improving and his chances for recovery are very good.
A man by the name of CARTER, residing at St. Louis, was passing through this county practicing dentistry, and stopped at F.O. SIMS in North Precinct; taken sick and died. He was a Mason and was buried in masonic honors at Union Grove Church, on Tuesday of last week. His wife was informed of his death and came here and taken charge of his effects, settled his business, and returned to St. Louis on Saturday last.
LOCAL--Mrs. MARSCHALK has been employed to teach the public school at Burnside. --Thomas DAVIS is getting thin, because, he says dread of hot weather. --Geo. W. YOUNG has erected a new awning over the front windows of his office. --Our Police Magistrate J.H. REYNOLDS has removed his office into W.P. GOODALL’ s building over Mrs. LOWES Millinery store. --M.W. ROBERTSON is having the north room of his building (The one recently used for a furniture store) plastered. --Rev. G.W. LAMASTER occupied the pulpit at the M E Church last Sunday morning. Rev. W.F. BROWN, in the evening. --Last Saturday and Sunday was the regular time for the monthly meeting at the Baptist church, Rev. John A. RODMAN, the pastor in charge officiated, Attendance good. --Remember that next Saturday, the 15th inst., you are called upon to elect a States Attorney for this county. See announcement of the candidates G.W. GODDARD and J.W. HARTWELL, in another column. Choose you which one shall serve. Vote for the man of your choice and be content with the result. --Thomas DWYRE of Crab Orchard, proprietor of the Crab Orchard Mill, called on us last Monday. Mr. DWYRE is establishing a permanent trade in this county. His flour is of first grade and needs only to be tried to be approved. --The late revival held by W.E. SPILLER assisted by Elders WILSON and BOLES, six miles east of this place, resuited in the organization of ---- Church of thirty members. Elder SPILLER is now carrying on a very interesting meeting two and a half miles south west of here, at the Corder School House. Fourteen acecssions by Babtism up to present. Elder BOLES is also conducting another interesting meeting three miles South of here at Shilo Church. Six additions up to present. --We are sorry to hear that Mrs. C.H. DENISON of this place, is very ill, and that there is little hopes of her recovery. --Miss Chloe MITCHELL of this place and Miss Jannie MITCHELL of Corinth, left on the evening train on Monday last for Kansas, to visit relatives. The former to remain sometime the latter returning within six weeks. We bespeak for them a pleasant tour.
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY SHOOTING OF CAPT. J.B. MORRAY BY LEANDER FERRELL.
Familiarized as our citizens have become to the story of bloodshed and death in our unfortunate county during the last eighteen months, yet the scene which was enacted on the Public Square in our city on Monday morning last, for tragic event and terrible issue has seldom had a parallel even in the bloody records of Williamson County.
The event to which we refer, was that which resulted in the death of James B. MORRAY, a wealthy citizen of Johnson county, and well known throughout the Southern portion of the State, at the hands of Leander FERRELL, a respectable and law abiding citizen, residing in the south east portion of this county.The fatal feud, which resulted in the death of Capt. MORRAY, was one of several months standing, and grew out of some difficulty between the parties in reference to the collection of some taxes by FERRELL, as Deputy Sheriff, upon lands of MORRAY lying in Williamson County, which collection was resisted by MORRAY. This was sometime in Aug. 1874. Some two or three meetings occurred between the parties afterwards, at which times FERRELL claims that MORRAY attempted his life and was only prevented from accomplishing his purpose by the intervention of third parties. Their last meeting before the fatal one on Monday last, was near the town of Bolton, and occurred sometime in the latter part of last December. Leander FERRELL was in company James Arnold Jr., and assisting him in driving cattle. Near the farm of Amos BURNS they met Capt. MORRAY and one of his sons--when they met, both FERRELL and MORRAY alighted from their horses MORRAY drawing his pistol but FERRELL being unarmed. An encounter took place between the parties during which the pistol of MURRAY was discharged--but the weapon being knocked aside by the hand of James ARNOLD, who was attempting to separate them, it harmed no one, but entered the ground near the feet of FERRELL. ARNOLD succeeded in getting them apart and they did not meet again until they met on the Public Square in our city last Monday morning, about eleven o’clock
. Leander FERRELL, in company with O.P. HENSON, was sitting upon some empty boxes lying near the outside edge of the side walk in front of the store of Westbrook & Howell his back being towards the sidewalk. While sitting in this position, HENSON discovered MORRAY in front of the Court House coming towards them--when nearly opposite them, it is stated that he slightly halted and turned his face in the direction of where they were sitting, his arm slightly raised and a little behind him, -- on this FERRELL sprang from the box and fired, but on account of some difficulty in drawing his pistol from his pocket, it was prematurely discharged, the ball passing over MORRAY’ s head and through the room above the store. Several shots were fired in quick succession, the parties moving on towards the west, MORRAY on the sidewalk and FERRELL a few feet to the north. When MORREY reached the end of the sidewalk he staggered and shortly after fell, partially raising himself to a sitting posture he took deliberate aim and fired two shots at FERRELL, who was moving around him to the north west and afterwards in the direction of DUNAWAY’ s store, into which he ran for shelter--having shot once after the falling of MORRAY. Shortly after he came out of the store and walked back in the direction of where MORRAY was sitting, when he was taken in custody by Messrs. PULLEY and SWINDLE, at the instance of Sheriff NORRIS, who was quickly on the scene of action and making every effort in his power to restore order and prevent further trouble. FERRELL made no resistance to the arrest but quietly permitted himself to be taken. After the shooting, MORRAY rose and staggered towards the sidewalk where he sat down on a goods box, faint from his wound and weltering in blood, from whence he was carried into the store of Westbrook & Howell where his wound was examined by S.H. BANDY, who pronounced it fatal--a short time after he was carried to the Goodall House where he lingered in great agony till about 1:50 on the morning of the 18th. He remained in full possession his reason to the last and bore his pain with great fortitude--his family had been sent for and were present at the time of his death--everything possible was done to add to his comfort during his painful hours of lingering at the portals of death.
On the morning of the 18th, by permission of his friends and family, a post mortem examination was made of his body which developed the fact that his death was caused by a wound made by a pistol shot, entering his abdomen from the right side, passing through the right ithum? near the sacum, ob--que-ly though five folds of the small intestines, opening them in five places and opening the omentum in three places; it passed out and lodged against the skin in the left side of the abdomen, about halfway from the crest of the ilnum? to the pubes nearly on a direct line--the ball was extracted. The examination was conducted by Dr. E.L. DENISON assisted by Drs. BENTLEY, FERGUSON and MITCHELL--a coroner’s inquest was then held by Esquire YOUNG, in the absence of the coroner which developed in sunstance the facts as above stated, which we have collected and reported with great care for the benefit of our readers, knowing the interest that will be felt in this matter, on account of the extensive acquaintances and well known reputation of both parties.
LOCAL--Dr. BANDY has returned to this place, from Nashville Tenn, where he has been for some time. We are informed that the Dr. will remain and enter into the labors of his profession in this county.--Alfred and Dallas BRIDGES, who a short time ago broke into the drug store of Damron & Bro, Veinna Ill., have been sentenced to three years imprisonment in the penitentiary.--James HAYS, late of Corinth, departed this life on Sunday last, the 16th inst., The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Green MITCHELL, by request of the deceased, at Zion M.E. Church. Mr. HAYS was 77 years of age and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.--Miss Lissie SPILLER, a young lady living some four or five miles north west of this place met with quite a misfortune last Sunday. She was riding on horse back and her horse fell, inflicting severe injuries. Dr. DENISON the physician treating the case informs us that she is doing well.--Mrs. Syntha RORRER, a wife of John RORRER, of this county, was brought to this place last Monday, charged with insanity. A jury was summoned and returned a verdict of insanity and ordered that she be sent to the Asylum. Mrs. RORRER’ s mind was afflicted by sickness, and is no doubt totally insane. --The dogs have been playing havoc with the sheep down in Union precinct, geo. KIMMELL has had 14 killed and six wounded. Wm. T. HOUGHERTON had fourteen killed. Isaac WEEKS two killed and two wounded, H.F. WILLEFORD, two wounded. The best and only safe way to deal with dogs is to give them a dose of cold lead or cut their tails off just behind their oars.