Meigs Sheriff, Dam Worker Slain In Battle
Decatur, Tenn. - Sheriff John M. Benton, 53, of Meigs county and a man identified as Carl Hickmann 37-year-old
electrician's helper at the TVA's Watts Bar Dam, were killed in a gun battle at a dance hall near here.
Chief Deputy Sheriff J. H. Davis said Sheriff Benton killed Hickman when the man resisted arrest on a drunkenness
complaint and that the sheriff was in turn killed by a son of Hickman who fired the officer's pistol.
Davis said the son, Lester Hickman, 18, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting by State Patrolmen C.
W. Strader and Sam Watters who were called here from Athens. The arrest was made, Davis said, at the Hickman home
where the son had carried his father's body.
Davis said a man booked as Jim Kennedy, 28, of Decatur, also was booked in connection with the fight which preceded
the slayings.
The Kingsport Times, (Kingsport, Tenn.), September 29, 1941 - transcribed by, AJ
The Hunter Case; No Diptheria in Town; Society and Personal
Athens, December 21; The crime for which Morgan Hunter was sentenced to seven years in the Penitentiary was the
murder of Frank DeArmond, in
Meigs county in 1888. The murdered man who was the first cousin of Hunter, has a difficulty with him (Hunter) and
Hunter made several threats against DeArmond. This difficulty was made up, for the purpose, it seems, of keeping
it out of court, and it looked like Hunter's threats would amount to nothing; but one night while DeArmond was
passing near Hunter's house, on Hunter's premises, he was fired upon and his throat was cut and his body was carried
to the river and thrown in. The evidence against Hunter was purely circumstantial and the verdict was a surprise
to most of our people. An appeal will be made to the supreme court.
The recently adjourned grand jury found seventy-one indictments.
There is not a case of diptheria in Athens now. The health of the community was never better that now.
The way to the transgressor is hard, and likewise the way of the anti-corporationist, and if he can stand through
the holiday season without showing the white feather it will only be showing the similarity between man and mule.
The fireworks brigade was out in full force again Thrusday night.
The university closed Friday for the holiday vacation, and most of the students have gone to their homes to spend
Chrismas.
There was a party at the Euclid on Thursday night. It was a very pleasant affair.
Court will probably not adjourn until next week. At present a mal-practice suit between James Wilcox and Drs. Nakivel
and Rogers is occupying the time.
There were services at the St. Paul Episcopal church, Thursday night.
Rev. Dr. Saterlee will address the teachers meeting at the Presbyterian church this evening.
W. O. D. Davis, Jr., has returned to Washington.
Isham Young, of Chattanooga, is in the city.
Joe Williams, of Knoxville, has been in Athens this week.
The umbrella mender has been doing the town.
Billy Richards, colored, has returned to Washington.
Messrs Tom Rudd and C.P. Murphy have returned from Chattanooga.
The new Baptist church will be dedicated Christmas.
Mr. F.M. Lusk is seriously ill at the home of his son, Mr. J. H. Lusk.
Mr.James Bible and wife left Thursday for Cleveland.
Miss Kate Gaston came up from Cleveland last night to spend Christmas at home.
Daily Journal and Tribune, December 23, 1889, transcribed by, Pam Rathbone
