A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2782, 9 January 1869, Page 6

A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.

The Nashville Press and Times, Sept. 26th, says : — " The details of a terrible deed of blood reached us yesterday from Hawkins County. The victim was J. C. Willis, himself the murderer of a man named Sizemore, who fell by a bullet from his pistol, about a year ago in the same county. Between this Willis and one Barton a bad feeling had been growing for sometime, and they thirsted for each others blood. At length the devil favored their wish, and they met on Sunday last on the banks of the Clinch River, a few miles east of Rogersville. They met in a lonely place i both were mounted. The moment they came in sight of each other, at a sharp bend in the road, they were not more than twenty yards apart, and their horses were going ata good trot. When tbey pulled up, the animals' heads touched each other. Tlipy halted and let tho bridle lines drop. Willis's belt came loose, and the pistol fell down on the horse's back. He partially turned round to pick it up, and while in this act his assailant fired and struck Willis in the side. The man fell, and when he came to the ground the horse on which he was riding turned round and galloped off, dragging him a considerable distance. His foot caught on a projecting root, while the other remained fixed in the stirrup. The violence of the jerk literally wrenched the thighbone from its socket, while the saddle girth broke, and he was left on the ground groaning. When the enemy rode up and dismounted, Willis saw the evil design in his eye, aud begged of him to give him a respite to sco his wife. But no ; the black-hearted man was inexorable. He would allow no respite, noteven to utter a short prayer, but sternly told the man that he should die. Willis implored mercy, the blood streaming from his side, and the agony of his torn limb working his face into fearful contortions. He clasped his hands together and begged for mercy, but there was none. The monster deliberately put his pistol to the almost dying man's forehead, and shot his brains oufc. He then mounted a horse and rode to a friend's house, to whom he detailed the particulars of the murder, took three or four drinks of whisky and left. He has not been heard from since.