Death of a Fugitive
Wilson Lewis, who had just broke jail at Hernando, Mississippi, charged with passing counterfeit
money, was shot near Memphis, on the 11th, by one of the sheriff's posse, who was endeavoring to arrest him. He
died immediately.
The Weekly Nashville Union, (Nashville, TN) Wednesday, September 10, 1845; Issue 14;
col F – transcribed by Amanda Jowers
Fatal Rencontre
We learn with much pain, that a very melancholy occurrence lately took place at Vicksburg,
on board the steamboat Tennessee, as she was proceeding to the
city. There were three companies of volunteers on board, and some umpleasant difference existed between Acting
Commissary R. C. Miller, of the Gaine's Guards, of Memphis, one of those companies, and Orderly Sergeant Sneed
belonging to the same. At Vicksburg, when on shore, they had a quarrel, about a point of etiquette, in regard to
some ladies whom they met - the Sergeant raising his hat, the Commissary omitting the compliment. - Sergeant Sneed
as we are informed, knocked off Mr. Miller's hat, immediately after they had passed the ladies. Returning on board,
the dispute was renewed; Sergeant S. ordered Miller to go into the ranks, which were forming on deck, and, on the
latter's disobeying, he (Sneed) used authoritative language, which so irritated the other, that he forthwith drew
a pistol, and shot his adversary through the body. He died about a quarter of an hour after. - Miller is in custody,
at the camp below the city.
The Weekly Nashville Union, (Nashville, TN) Wednesday, July 01, 1846; Issue 4; col F
– transcribed by Amanda Jowers
A NOSE BLOWN OFF.
In Memphis, recently, a man named David Banks shot a negro woman's nose off, while trying
to kill a white woman. His punishment consisted in depositing $50 with a magistrate as security for his appearance
at court. The woman he tried to kill was fined $10 for being disorderly, and the negro gets not a dime nor even
a flogging for having her nose blown off.
[Douglas Monthly, Rochester, N.Y., May 1861] contributed by, Candi Horton
A Negro Preacher Hung.
A negro preacher, belonging to Mrs. Harden, at Pine Bluff, (so says a Memphis paper,)
indulged in violent language to his mistress last Sunday afternoon, remarking, among other things, that he would
be free in three weeks, and could raise a thousand men himself for the purpose. His case was reported to the authorities
the same evening, and he was taken out and hung on Monday afternoon.
[Douglas Monthly, Rochester, N.Y., July 1861] contributed by, Candi Horton
Railroad Disaster
MEMPHIS, July 28-A dispatch from Clarksville says that the passenger train of the Memphis
and Ohio Railroad, which left here at 3 pm yesterday, fell through the trestle work this side of the Cumberland
River this morning at 1 o'clock. The cars were all burned save one, and the passengers baggage, mail and express
matter was totally destroyed. All the passengers were more or less injured; and two, names unknown, were killed.
The Engineer, Brakeman and Express Messenger were mortally wounded. Gen. Pike's son and daughter were among the
passengers and were saved, but their baggage was lost-
MEMPHIS, July 28 - Dispatches from Clarksville, Tenn., says the, express train from Louisville
which left there at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, ran through the trestle at Budd's Creek about l o'clock this
morning, and taking fire the whole train except the New Orleans sleeping car, including the express, mail and baggage
was destroyed. The engineer, fireman and two passengers were killed, and twenty five or thirty passengers were
wounded. The express messenger, Dugan, was jammed in the wreck and fatally injured. Great excitement exists here,
as a large number of Memphians were on the train, and no names of the killed and wounded can be obtained. One of
the passengers killed was from New Orleans
SECOND DISPATCH-MEMPHIS, July 28. -In the accident at Budd's Creek this morning the
entire train and contents, except the New Orleans sleeping car, was burned. The sleeping car was badly damaged.
The following is a list of casualties Killed--Engineer Eugene Riley and passengers Thomas Shields and Hugh McCall,
of New Orleans. The following passengers were badly wounded: Mrs. H. McCall and Judge Conklin and wife, of New
Orleans, Joseph Null, H. B. Michael, Ed. Stover, of Eufaula, Ala., John Burr, of Columbus, Miss, J. Jay Buck, of
Clarksville, Tenn., Henderson, of "Memphis, and the following trainmen: C. A. Brown, baggage master; John
C. Dugan, express messenger. The following are slightly wounded : William McCall, New Orleans; Mr. Peterson, and
wife, Baton Rouge ; J. C. Hannah, Coffeeville; J. C. Levy, Holly Springs; Miss. Hattie Michael, Lauderdale, Miss.;
W. E. Shepherd and two children of Judge Conklin, of New Orleans; sleeping conductor W. D. Wray, mail agent car
Edward Boone, and brakeman C. B. Webster.
Lafayette Advertiser --August 14, 1869 - All contributed by, Janice Rice
SHE DIED A MARTYR- Memphis July 27, 1879
Editor’s Appeal:
It has happened more than once in the recent history of our unfortunate city that opportunity to do heroic work,
and out of it to pass to the martyr’s grave has been seized by many an obscure man or unknown woman of whom there
is no earthly record beyond the mere name in the long death-list. True
in 1873, it became more notably true in 1878 that the names of many of our best and truest are known to few, or
it may be to none save God only.
Of course, they are none the worse for this, but
it is the misfortune of the living to be left without knowledge of any inspiring example.
It is with this feeling I wish to put on record
a little note of such life and death.
When the Tobin family, on Bradford Street, were
seized with the fever, there was of course no provision for hired nurses, since no one looked for the fever so
early in the season.
Opposite to this family, on the same street, lived
a young girl, about seventeen years old, named EVELYN WIDRICK, her father and little brother FREDDY being the only
other members of the household.
EVELYN had not had the fever, but she went to her
neighbors in their distress and remained with them from the beginning to the fatal ending. Immediately
after the last of the TOBINs were buried, the infection spread to the family of GODSEY, living next door to the
WIDRICKs. Without having rested, Evelyn began duty there and nursed these young
ladies with a skill far beyound her years. It was there last Sunday
morning I first saw this dear child.
I sent her relief and begged her to go to rest. Returning in the afternoon, I found the tireless girl still on duty and sharing
the labor with the relief nurse.
The same night the fever laid her prostate. Last night in her father’s room he begged me to tell him how his dear child was.
I could say no more than that she is resting – a truer word than he thought I meant, but tonight they both are
resting in Elmnwood, where side by side we laid them today.
From: Vernon Clipper (Lamar County, AL),
Aug 15, 1879 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney
CAUSE
OF THE OUTBREAK AT MEMPHIS
The true reason of the present outbreak of yellow fever,
says the Memphis Avalanche, lies not so much in the filthy streets and alleys of the city, but to the cupidity
of some of our people who would not give their consent to destroy even the bedclothes upon which patients died
of the fever. It has never been demonstrated that the yellowfever germ can be preserved
through the frosts and freezes of winter in the foul air of a privy-vault, but it has been shown time and again
that woolen goods, especially blankets, that have become saturated with the yellow fever poison, will retain it
for a very long period even in cold weather. It is well known that
many persons in Memphis did not hesitate to preserve and even to sleep upon beds and bed-clothing that had been
poisoned by the infected air of a sick room, or by direct contact with the yellow fever patient. These
articles have been kept, or course, in bedrooms where the heat of the fire during the day and the warmth of the
sleeper’s body at night prevented the germ from being frozen out. In
many instances woolen clothing that had been hanging in the sick room, where the air was reeking with the fould
fumes of the fever, was packed away in trunks, or, with the poorer class, in wooden boxes. Here
it remained during the winter.
The warmth generated by the fabric was amply sufficient
to preserve the germ in all its former vigor, and there it lay, like a deadly serpent, only waiting for the heat
of summer to warm it into life.
Mulbrandon’s coat, which, like the shirt of Nessus,
carried death in every fold, is now a matter of history. Another
is that mentioned in the Avalanche of yesterday morning of a South Memphis woman who has kept in a wooden
box all the clothing of her husband, who perished by the fever last year, and even the bed-clothes on which he
died, stained all over with black vomit.
One of the ablest physicians in Memphis said not
long ago that there was not a house in the city, whether occupied during the fever of not, that had not been thoroughly
infected by the yellow fever poison.
It should be remembered also that even those who
fled from the city when the fever broke out left behind them carpets, bedding, and winter clothes, to receive in
trust for them the insidious poison which they were trying to escape. This
reasoning may not be founded upon the principles of medical science, but it is certainly justified by common sense,
and be getting up all the evidence to be had in regard to the matter the medical fraternity may be able to throw
some light upon the origin of the present outbreak of yellow fever in our city.
From: Vernon Clipper (Lamar County, AL),
Aug 15, 1879 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney
A Romantic Marriage Brought to Light By the Husband’s Death
Revealed By Death (John T. Phillips) - A romantic marriage several months ago in
which a Knoxville belle and a Memphis man were the principals has just come to light owing to the death of the
husband. The young lady is Miss Eddie Collins, of Knoxville, and the husband John T. Phillips, of Memphis. Miss
Collins first met Phillips at the East Tennessee depot at Knoxville some two years ago. She was there to bid some
Knoxville soldier boy friends good-by when by accident she met Phillips, who was a member of the Chickasaw Guards
of Memphis, which organization accompanied the Knoxville soldiers and other leaders of the state militia to the
troubled mining districts. Mutual admiration at first glance grew into a violent and undying love, and after correspondence
the young people were soon betrothed. Leaving the army Phillips went to Macon, Ga., to secure employment. It was
there that he and Miss Collins were secretly married in March, and after having passed several days happily together
as husband and wife, Miss Collins returned home without divulging to any one her secret, which she has since carefully
kept and guarded. Phillips left Macon and went to Cleveland, Tenn., where he became critically sick recently. The
first of last week he telegraphed his wife to come to him, and she was at his side when death separated them. Mrs.
Phillips returned to the city and is with her brother and mother.
The Guthrie Daily Leader; Guthrie, Oklahoma; September 5, 1893 (Transcribed as written
by D. Donlon)
Wife of Tennessee Man Who Died Suddenly Is Indicted.
The grand jury today returned an indictment against Mrs. M. E. Hooks, charging her with
the murder by poison of her husband. Several weeks ago C. G. Hooks, a well known business man, died under suspicious
circumstances and it was rumored that he was the victim of foul play. These rumors became so persistent that a
coroner's jury was held and Dr. Kraus, a chemist, was ordered to exhume the remains of Hooks and perform an autopsy.
Dr. Kraus removed the stomach and after an investigation of a week or more reported to the coroner that he had
found enough powdered glass and arsenic in the stomach to cause death. The case was immediately placed before the
grand jury and today an indictment was returned against Mrs. Hooks.
Sunday World-Herald, November 24, 1901
Three Killed and Seven Injured in Tennessee Tornado
Memphis, Tenn., June 9 – Three persons were killed, seven others seriously injured and
nearly every store and residence damaged or destroyed by a tornado which swept Kerrville, Millington and the surrounding
section, about fifteen miles north of here, last night. The dead are Charles E. Martin, a farmer, and his 5-year-old
daughter, and a negro child. Two churches and the postoffice at Kerrville were among the buildings demolished.
Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas, June 10, 1917 – transcribed by Amanda Jowers
THE GOLDEN CITY DISASTER
Memphis, March 31.—The following if a corrected list of the lost by the burning of the
Golden City; Dr. Menahan and wife, Jackson, Ohio; Mrs. Creary and Miss Lola Creary, Winton Place, near Cincinnati
; W. H. Stowe and wife and Ollie Wood and wife, Henderson, Ky. ; Mrs. Anna Smith, Mass. ; Mrs. Helen S. Percival,
Hawesville, Ky. : Mrs. L. E. Kounze's three children. Miss Campbell, a relative of Mrs. Kounz, Robert Keller, second
engineer, Mary Boyd and Amanda Atchison, chambermaids, J. C. Crane, owner of a side show, three of the deck crew,
W. H. Howe and Wash Smith, The captain of the watch was sent to jail on a warrant charging him with murder through
carelessness in causing the fire on the steamer.
Memphis, March 31.—The steamer Fulton, which conveyed Captain McIntyre and party to the wreck of the Golden City,
has returned. A diver went down but could do nothing. The wreck lies in twenty-five feet water, bow up stream and
the current so swift that all efforts to go through the cabin by the diver proved fruitless. No more dead bodies
have been recovered since the one mentioned yesterday, which has been identified as that of Mrs. Anna Smith, of
Springfield, Massachusetts, who had been visiting relatives in New Orleans. Her remains have not yet been interred,
and are awaiting instructions from relatives and friends. If nothing comes by to-morrow the committee of citizens
will have the body buried in Elinwood Cemetery. Many of the passengers and crew of the Golden City left last night
and this morning for their home. Some others will go to-night on the J. W. Gaff.
Source: Date: 1882-04-01; Paper: Macon Telegraph - Submitted by B. Z.
ANOTHER MURDER
Cold-Blooded and Brutal Assassination of a Deputy United States
Marshal in the Presence of Ladies
Robert Drury, and ex-convict, the Murderer, and his Uncle, Albert Gibson, is the Victim - A Chapter of
Revenge
Causes Inducing the Bloody Crime Career of the Criminal Father and Son - All the Recent Murders Revisited
Only about ten days ago a man named Herbert Jeffries was beset on Front Street by ruffians, who after beating and
stabbing their victim, tried to finish the bloody work by shooting at him as he ran away.
The man is dangerously wounded, his cuts being deep and ugly.
A week ago last evening, as Mrs. Mary Connor, a worthy huckster of the Poplar Street market, was wending her way
home, she was seized by the hair and her throat cut by some unknown assassin, who fled into the bayou and has not
been detected.
The old woman died in less than twenty minutes from the effects of the wound. As yet not even the name of the assassin
has been ascertained.
Last Monday night another foul and unprovoked murder was committed in a house on Madison Street by a negro named
Henry Cox, his victim being Ben O'Neal, colored. This murderer made good his escape and has not since been heard
of.
Tuesday afternoon Mr. L. Kaufman's residence on Exchange Street was robbed of three thousand dollars worth of jewelry
and thirty-four hundred dollars in money. The thieves were perused next day by the police and detectives and one
of them, Jack Williams, colored, traced to a house at No., 209 Linden Street. The thief resisted arrest and shot
Detective Pryde in the shoulder, producing an ugly wound. Williams then fled the city, but was captured on the
Charleston railroad train near Burton Station and brought back to this city.
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION
In addition to the above we hear of an attempt made yesterday morning to assassinate M. W. Verguson, one of the
APPEAL carriers.
According to his statement he was going along his route about five o'clock yesterday morning and noticed a man
who seemed to be following him. When on his route between Ruth and Lauderdale some unknown person fired two shots
at the corner, but fortunately missed him. Being unarmed Verguson ran away as fast as his legs could carry him,
but the villain still pursued him. He cried for help, and finally hid behind a fence until some person came to
his assistance. The above is the substance of the affair as related by the carrier.
Fearless and bold as the murders above mentioned may appear, the murder of Deputy United States Marshal Albert
Gibson, by his nephew, Robert Drury, last night, in the parlor at S. B. Hunt's boarding house on the southwest
corner of Second and Poplar streets was perhaps, as deliberate and unprovoked as any murder ever committed in this
city.
THE MURDER LAST NIGHT
In fact, was such as we could expect from a trained and educated assassin and such, indeed as shocks this entire
community and arouses a keen sense of the danger to which the citizens of Memphis are exposed.
The facts attending this appalling murder, and the proceeding causes of its commission are as follows:
In November, 1875, old man Tom [Drury] was arrested by Albert Gibson, on the charge of passing counterfeit money
and placed in jail here to answer the indictment of the Federal grand jury. Gibson was a deputy marshal of the
United States court, had to make the arrest of old man Drury, although the latter's wife is the former's sister.
Since his arrest, Tom Drury has been confined in jail and was to have been put on trial today in the United States
court.
Two years ago, Robert Drury, son of Tom Drury, was convicted by the United States court of passing counterfeit
money and sentenced to two years imprisonment in the penitentiary at Nashville.
Robert Drury served his time, which expired the first day of the present month and was set at liberty.
He returned to his home in Carroll County, where he met his nephew [uncle] Albert Gibson and professed to be on
friendly terms, but when Robert Drury ascertained that Gibson had arrested his father and was the only witness
that could possibly establish the old man's guilt, he determined to murder his nephew [uncle], and last night did
so.
Robert Drury came here ten days ago, avowedly to see and be near his aged father. Gibson whose home was in Carroll
county, whenever he came to the city, stopped at Hurt's boarding house and was there last night.
Shortly after dark, Robert Drury called at Hurt's house to see Mrs. Mary H. Donovan, who is sister of his brother's
wife. [Mary H Kearney-Donovan is Robert's sister-in-law]
Ascertaining that Gibson was stopping at the house, Drury left the parlor, where he had been conversing with Mrs.
Donovan, Miss Florence Chappel [I think this should be Florence Drury-Kearney] and Miss Maggie Hurt, and listening
to the latter who was playing the violin.
When Gibson heard that Drury was present, he asked the proprietor of the house to give him room on the third floor,
as he felt unsafe when his nephew was about.
Drury, after a few minutes returned to Hurt's and again ascended the stairs and took a seat in the parlor, where
the above named ladies were.
Gibson being desirous to hear Miss Hurt play the violin, went up to the parlor, and upon entering said "Good
Evening."
Robert Drury, whom it seems ge thought had left the house.
According to the testimony of Mrs. Donovan before Deputy-Coroner Nooe and the jury of inquest.
Gibson took a seat and as soon as he said "Good Evening" tried to draw a pistol and thereupon Drury,
who was in a chair, was impelled to shoot as soon as possible.
According to the testimony of Miss Hurt and Miss Chappell, Gibson made no attempt to draw his pistol, but merely
said "Good Evening" and took a seat near one of the ladies.
Thereupon Drury who did not return the salutation, drew a small revolver and fired at Gibson, the ball striking
him in the left nostril.
Gibson jumped up and staggered into the adjoining room, where he was followed by Drury, who fired twice at the
wounded marshal, one shot striking him under the left shoulder blade in the back and coming out near the nipple.
Gibson ran down stairs followed by Drury and staggered into the sitting room where he fell speechless and died
in less than four minutes.
Drury ran out and is said to have entered a Poplars street car, since which time he has made good his escape.
The murder was committed about half-past seven o'clock and in a few minutes afterward a large crowd gathered on
the pavement at Hurt's house.
Deputy Nooe summoned a jury of inquest and the verdict was that Albert Gibson came to his death by two pistol shots
fired by Robert Drury. Either shot would have produced death as the bullets penetrated both the body and the head.
The murdered man, as he lay on the parlor floor, presented a shocking appearance. His clothes were stained with
blood, large pools of which had formed on the floor and contrasted frightfully with the ghastly face as it lay
so still under the glimmer of the gaslight.
Mr. Gibson resided in Carroll County, where he has a wife and five children living. He was thirty six years of
age and had been deputy marshal for eighteen months, during which time he had always discharged his duty faithfully
and promptly.
His nephew, Robert Drury is twenty two years of age and unmarried.
The body of the dead man is in charge of his brother, who will take it to Carroll County for interment.
After murder, Drury returned to Lord's boarding house on Promenade street, where he had been stopping and procuring
the Lord's gray horse, made haste to leave the city.
At the corner of Beale and Welling ton streets he was discovered by Officer McCall and Captain Weatherford, who
fired several shots at the fugitive. Captain Weatherford pursued Drury for a mile, but was soon distanced by the
murderer, whose horse was fleeter than the officer's.
Source: Date: January 27, 1877; Paper: Memphis Daily Appeal - Submitted by Cary Rutherford Jr.
For more information see his website - http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~judfan/
Dated 4 Sep 1873
In a drunken fight over a game of cards at Colby’s dairy, near Memphis, last Monday, a
Swede named Christianson, was stabbed and killed by Daniel Sullivan who was arrested.
[Source: Pioneer Times. Oct. 1987, Vol 11, No 4. Typed by Joanne Scobee Morgan]
