Thriller Thursday: Jabez Owen Kills His Brother Richard Owen

Richard Owen and Jabez Owen, Jr. were the sons of Jabez Owen, a wealthy planter and physician in Williamson County, Tennessee.

1850 United States census, District 15, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 295B, family 981. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

Jabez Owen, Sr. purchased Forge Seat (also known as the Samuel Crockett House) from Samuel Crockett in the 1830s. The house is located in Brentwood, Williamson County, Tennessee.

Forge Seat, Brentwood, Tennessee. Photo by Concord715 (Own work) [CC1.0 public domain]. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

Richard had been jailed for murder in the 1840s. In 1849, his wife Mary (Temple) Owen sued him for divorce. She claimed that he drove her from their home and it was not safe for her to return. She also accused him of adultery. She asked for custody of their children.

On 4 August 1852, Richard and Jabez Jr. got into a fight. Jabez stabbed Richard with a knife. Richard died a few minutes later.  The Franklin, Tennessee newspaper Western Weekly Review reported that the incident took place at Owen's shop.

Western Weekly Review (Franklin, TN), 6 August 1852, page 2

Later sources report that Richard was killed in an upstairs room at Forge Seat. Perhaps the shop was located at the family's home.

References
Hill, Laura. "Historical Resting Place." The Tennesseean, 11 Apr 1997, pp. 1W, 4W.
"Horrible Occurrence." Western Weekly Review, 6 Aug 1852, p. 2.
"Owen Man Killed By Brother." In Little, T. Vance. Murder on the Wilson Pike. Brentwood, TN: JM Productions, 1996, pp. 21-22.
"Williamson Bicentennial Moment: Forge Seat, 1502 Wilson Pike, Brentwood." The Tennesseean, 11 Feb 1999, p. 2W.

Thriller Thursday: Tom Cox Rescues Sister

On 13 December 1897, my 2nd-great-grandmother's half-brother Tom Cox was arrested for assault. He had gone to Jessie Shivers' "house of ill fame" at 613 Line Street, Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, 11 December 1897. Line Street was the center of Nashville's red-light district. Jessie Shivers claimed that Tom had threatened to kill her and the other residents of the house, and that he had hit her hands with a pistol and broken her ring.

Tom had gone to 613 Line Street to rescue his sister Nellie. She had run away from home and had ended up at Jessie Shivers' house. Tom explained his reasons for coming to the house, but was refused entry. Nellie escaped out a window after hearing Tom's voice.

The officer that had been called to the scene, Patrolman Bergin, testified that he had not found a pistol when he searched Tom. Judge Anderson dismissed the case against Tom. 

Tom was frequently in trouble with the law. It seems believable that he would have been carrying a pistol. But whether he was or not, he also seems to have been trying to look out for his sister. Since Nellie escaped when she had the chance, she apparently wanted to leave Jessie Shivers' house.

References
"He Was Not in the Wrong." Nashville American, 15 December 1897, p. 5.
"She Prefers Charges." Nashville American, 14 December 1897, p. 5.
Wills, Ridley. Nashville Streets and Their Stories. Franklin, TN: Plumbline Media, 2012.

Nashville American, 14 December 1897, page 5

Nashville American, 15 December 1897, page 5

Thriller Thursday: Huge Rattlesnake

Timber Rattlesnake in north-central Pennsylvania. Photo by Rkillcrazy (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

G. W. Murphy, a farmer in Vaughn's Gap, Davidson County, Tennessee, went to look at the stock in his field on 4 September 1873. He spotted a giant rattlesnake in the field. It was 4 1/2 feet long and had sixteen rattles. That must have been one scary snake!

Nashville Union and American, 6 September 1873, page 4

Thriller Thursday: Robbery at Post Office, Vaughn's Gap, Davidson County, Tennessee

On 24 November 1896, a man named Henry Perkins (AKA Brooks) robbed the post office at Vaughn's Gap, Davidson County, Tennessee. He stole about $10.

Nashville American, 25 November 1896, page 5

Clementine Virginia (Leech) Binkley, the widow of my 2nd-great-grandmother's brother James Rutherford Binkley, was probably the postmistress at this time. In 1901, when a fire destroyed the post office building, she worked as postmistress and ticket agent for the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway.

Nashville American, 6 June 1901, page 2

The 1900 U.S. Census showed that she was a ticket agent for the railroad. Her husband had died in 1890, and she would have needed a way to support herself and her children. She may have worked as postmistress and ticket agent since shortly after his death. Perhaps she was the one who discovered the theft. Perhaps she watched Assistant Jailer Jack Smith chain down the drunken suspect.

Thriller Thursday: Edward Scruggs Shoots William Tillett

Republican Banner, 12 October 1869, page 3

The Tennessee Agricultural and Mechanical Association held a fair in Nashville on 18-23 October 1869. On the last day, there was a shooting in the amphitheater.

Republican Banner, 24 October 1869, page 1

Although the Republican Banner reported that Tillett shot Scruggs, Edward Scruggs actually shot William Tillett. The wound was apparently serious enough to get Scruggs charged with attempted murder. Scruggs' trial began on 3 December 1869.

Nashville Union and American, 4 December 1869, page 1

My 3rd-great-grandfather Joseph Tarkington testified at the trial. He was listed in the newspaper as Joseph Sarkinton, but I cannot find any other evidence of the existence of a Joseph Sarkinton. William Tillett knew Joseph Tarkington for almost his entire life, and I think they were related (William Tillett was the great-grandson of William Tarkington). Even if Joseph Tarkington's testimony was similar to that of William Tillett and Sawyers (presumably Willis), I still wish more details about it had been published in the newspaper.

Edward Scruggs was convicted and sentenced to three years in the penitentiary, but a motion to continue was made.

Republican Banner, 20 February 1870, page 4

On 30 March 1870, the motion for a new trial was argued.

 Nashville Union and American, 30 March 1870, page 4

On 6 May 1870, as Edward Scruggs was riding home, someone shot at him. Although he was wounded near his knee, it was just a flesh wound.

Republican Banner, 8 May 1870, page 4

I wonder if this shooting was related to William Tillett's shooting. Perhaps someone wanted revenge.

In September 1870, the prosecutor dismissed the charges against Edward Scruggs.

Republican Banner, 8 September 1870, page 4

Thriller Thursday: Murder Near Tonawanda, New York

Atlas and Argus (Albany, NY), 20 October 1860, page 2

On 17 October 1860, a woman's body was found on the tracks of the Buffalo and Niagara Falls road, about a mile from Tonawanda, Erie County, New York. One person reported that the woman was standing near the track and fell over as a train approached. The train stopped, and it was discovered that the woman was dead. Her throat had been cut. Another person reported that the woman's body was lying on the tracks and was run over by a train. Her body was cut into two, but it was discovered that her throat had previously been cut. Either way, the killer apparently wanted the woman's death to seem to be the result of a railroad accident.

My 3rd-great-grandparents John and Ann (Walker) Winters were living in Tonawanda at the time that the murder took place.They probably heard about it.

Thriller Thursday: Martha (Gower) Gatlin Struck By Electric Streetcar

Just before 3:00 PM on 28 May 1905, Martha Ann (Gower) Gatlin, the wife of my 3rd-great-grandfather's brother John G. Gatlin as well as my third cousin five times removed, decided to visit Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee after having dinner at the home of her nephew, Robert Page. She probably had dinner with his widow, children, and mother; Robert, the son of her husband John's sister Nancy, died in 1898. As she moved closer to the Fairfield line's track at the intersection of University and Washington Streets, a streetcar approached. Members of Richland Lodge, Junior Order United American Workmen were on board. As Martha crossed the track, the motorman rang his gong, but she did not appear to hear it. She was struck by the streetcar and thrown to the side of the street. She had been knocked unconscious, and was taken to her nephew's home. She died there at 5:27 PM.

Nashville American, 29 May 1905, page 8

Although the article in the Nashville American stated that she left no children, she had adopted a daughter, Minnie Gatlin (born Tennessee Reed), in 1874.

Martha was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, by her husband John.

Nashville American, 30 May 1905, page 9

Nashville American, 30 May 1905, page 9

Thriller Thursday: A Shot in the Dark

In May 1897, the Trocadero opened in Nashville, Tennessee. The theater catered to families; women and children could attend (although the women had to be escorted). High-class vaudeville artists performed at the Trocadero.

Nashville American, 1 May 1897, page 5

The opening performance on the night of 3 May 1897 was well attended, and the audience enjoyed the performance.

Nashville American, 4 May 1897, page 3

On the following night, 4 May 1897, things did not go as smoothly. While the lights were out, a shot was heard. The audience began to panic, thinking that a fight had broken out. However, there was no fight. My 2nd-great-grandmother's half-brother Tom Cox was in attendance. He had been drinking whiskey, and in his drunken state, decided to fire his pistol in the theater! He was immediately kicked out by security. He was lucky that he was not arrested.

 Nashville American, 5 May 1897, page 2

Thriller Thursday: Boys Fall from Tree After Electric Shock

On 25 August 1909, my great-grandfather's brother Bruce Gatlin and his friend Willie Dowd were climbing a tree which had a wire through it. They received an electric shock from the wire and fell out of the tree. The boys fell about 9 or 10 feet and hit their heads on the curb. Bruce fractured his skull and was taken to St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Willie seemed to be less seriously injured and was taken home.

Nashville American, 26 August 1909, page 10

Although at first it seemed probable that Bruce would die, he recovered. However, Willie's condition worsened. He began to suffer from paralysis of the bowels, and surgery was performed at St. Thomas Hospital. Although he survived the surgery, he grew weaker, and he passed away that night.

Nashville American, 28 August 1909, page 3

Willie's death certificate appears to be dated 21 August 1909, but the accident did not occur until 25 August 1909. The date of the record may have faded; I see a small spot to the left of the 1 that may actually be part of a 7.

Davidson County, Tennessee Death Records, death record no. 14081. Wm. Dowd, 21 [27?] Aug. 1909.  Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Death Records, 1908-1958 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.

My 2nd-great-grandfather William M. Gatlin and Willie's mother Theresa Dowd filed suits against the Nashville Railway & Light Company. They claimed that the company was responsible for the accident.

Nashville American, 1 September 1909, page 10

Thriller Thursday: Charles Ward Arrested for Murdering George Gee

Nashville Union and Dispatch, 14 December 1866, page 3

In February 1865, George Gee, his brother Charles Gee, and their cousin L. J. Gee were transporting whiskey from Sumner County, Tennessee to Davidson County, Tennessee. They were using three teams of four mules to transport the whiskey. When they reached the border between Sumner County and Davidson County, Charles Ward and another men began firing at the Gees, and they killed George Gee. They forced Charles and L. J. Gee to knock in the heads of the whiskey barrels. They emptied the wagons, stripped off the men's clothes, and stole the mules.

Charles Ward then got a job working at Williams' saw mills. On 28 July 1866, he married Sarah C. Cummings from Vaughn's Gap. On 10 December 1866, while Charles Ward was killing hogs, he was arrested by William Mayo of the night police and one of Joseph Cheatham's independent detectives. The officers brought Ward to Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee, and L. J. Gee identified Ward. He was then brought to the Nashville county jail to be held until the next sitting of the Gallatin court.

Some of my ancestors lived in Vaughn's Gap, although as far as I know none were living there until 1871. William Mayo of the night police was probably my relative. My Mayo ancestors moved to Tennessee from Virginia in the 1840s, and some of their other relatives also settled there. However, I have not yet determined what my relationship to him is.

Thriller Thursday: Charles Buise Embezzles Stake Money and Flees

Shortly before the 1892 wrestling match between D. S. McLeod and Joe Acton, Charles Buise deposited $250 with the Chronicle to secure a bet on McLeod, $1000 against $1100. Washington Marion, a traveling salesman,  gave Charles Buise $500 to bet on McLeod, and Buise secured a bet of $600 for him.

San Francisco Chronicle, 22 January 1892 

Prior to the match, there was suspicion that the contest would not be a fair one. McLeod won the match.

 The Morning Call (San Francisco, CA), 11 March 1892

Charles Buise was the proprietor of the Hot Scotch saloon on Morton Street in San Francisco. After he collected his winnings, he did not give Washington Marion his share of the money.  He sold his saloon to his bartender, and headed to Portland, Oregon, where his wife was working as a song and dance performer. He was captured there several months later and was brought back to San Francisco. He was charged with embezzlement and placed in the San Francisco City Prison, but was released on $3000 bond.

The Morning Call (San Francisco, CA), 1 July 1892

After getting out on bail, Charles Buise left the United States and returned to his home country, Canada. He went to Victoria, British Columbia. The winning wrestler, McLeod, was also from British Columbia; he came from Nanaimo. I wonder if this was coincidental, or if there was some connection. Charles Buise had been born and baptized in Quebec City, and had lived in Montreal before he came to San Francisco (and had allegedly passed a counterfeit bill there in 1887). Although an attempt was made to capture him in British Columbia, he escaped and went to Montreal. When he found out that his wife was cheating on him with actor Waldo Whipple, he tracked them down in Butte, Montana, where he shot them and then shot himself.

San Francisco Chronicle, 27 January 1893

Although the above article states that Waldo Whipple also died, he actually survived his injuries. 

Charles Buise was probably related to Elizabeth Buise, who married my 3rd-great-grandfather John Bennet Winters. But since his mother Margaret McGillivray's death notice was transcribed in the Winters family Bible and she was not Elizabeth Buise's mother, I wonder if he is also related to me. I have many black sheep in my family. Considering all of Charles Buise's misdeeds, I figure he must be my cousin!

Thriller Thursday: John Gatlin Shot By Saloonkeeper

On 7 October 1916, my great-grandfather's brother John Reynold Gatlin was at Frank Morilli's saloon at 537 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, with several others. They caused some trouble and were thrown out of the saloon. John attempted to get back inside, but Frank Morilli was determined to keep him out: he shot John in the right leg!

Chicago Tribune, 8 October 1916, page 4

Thriller Thursday: Robbed, Beaten, and Thrown Out of Car

On 1 October 1914, my great-grandfather's brother John Reynold Gatlin began a drive from Chicago, Illinois to Indiana, where his (and my great-grandfather's) older sister Mary Florence (Gatlin) Pate lived. His friend Charles Harris accompanied him on the trip. Two other men that Charles Harris knew joined them while they were still in Chicago. When they were near Lafayette, Indiana, John was beaten by the three men and thrown out of the car. In addition to the car, the men stole a diamond stud and $103.

I suspect that there may be more to the story. John had been in trouble with the law before.

The car belonged to John's brother-in-law William K. Wells. I am still trying to determine how the two men were connected. John's older sister was married to Downie Campbell Pate. His other sister Anna was married to Frank Joseph Smith at that time. In 1920, John was enumerated in the United States census with his apparent wife Ermer, but her age was given as 21. He had at least two subsequent marriages. On his World War I draft registration card, John stated that he was single. William K. Wells' sister could be an unidentified wife.

Indianapolis Star, 3 October 1914, page 4

Thriller Thursday: Charles Buise Shoots His Wife and Her Lover, Then Commits Suicide

On 25 January 1893, Charles Buise (the son of Margaret McGillivray, the "mystery woman" in the Winters family Bible) was responsible for a triple shooting in Butte, Montana. When Charles was away on a visit to Montreal, Canada, his wife, an actress known as Lillie Hampton, had run off with another actor, Waldo Whipple. The two actors had traveled from Spokane, Washington to Butte, Montana, where they were performing at the Theater Comique. Charles Buise tracked them down and went to their residence on West Mercury Street. He shot his wife in the arm. He shot Waldo Whipple in the chest, and the bullets entered his right lung. He then put the gun in his mouth, pulled the trigger, and committed suicide.

The tragedy was reported in many newspapers throughout the United States, with varying degrees of accuracy. Some of the reporters believed that Charles Buise was a stranger to the couple, and that the actors were married to each other; one believed that Buise must have been crazy. Some newspapers reported that Waldo Whipple would live; others reported that he could not live, or that he had died. Whipple survived the shooting and continued to perform as an actor.

Charles Buise's death certificate reports that he died on 28 January 1983. However, many reports of the incident were published on 26-27 January 1893. Perhaps the certificate was filled out a few days later and the wrong date was written down.

Certificate of death, Chas Buise. 28 January 1893. State of Montana, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Available from Montana, County Births and Deaths, 1840-2004. FamilySearch.

Salt Lake Herald, 26 January 1893, page 1

San Francisco Chronicle, 26 January 1893, page 4

St. Paul Daily Globe, 26 January 1893, page 8

 Daily Plainsman (Huron, SD), 27 January 1893, page 2

Ohio Democrat, 4 February 1893, page 3

Thriller Thursday: Lakeport Grocery Holdup

On 30 December 1957, two men robbed the Lakeport Grocery in Lakeport, Sullivan, Madison County, New York. My first cousin twice removed Louise Margaret Gray and her husband Leonard Smith operated the store. Leonard was hit on the head with a pipe, and the men stole about $60 from the cash register.

 Daily Sentinel (Rome, NY), 31 December 1957, page 12

Thriller Thursday: Attack with Brandy Tumbler

In my 4th-great-grandfather Hugh Winters' Brooklyn neighborhood, a 20-year-old woman, Emma Burke, attacked another woman, Sarah Daily, with a brandy tumbler on 24 September 1866. The incident took place in the same building as O'Malley's bar, where Eugene Fergus shot Patrick McGuann (who later died from the gunshot) the previous month. My 4th-great-grandfather testified for the defense at Fergus' trial.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 25 September 1866

Thriller Thursday: Couple Attacked By Ex-Employee

On 28 May 1905, my great-great-grandfather's brother Frank A. Shirlander and his wife Jennie (Hart) Shirlander were attacked by John Corning, their former employee. Corning's right leg had been amputated, and he walked with the aid of crutches. He had worked at the Shirlanders' grocery and meat market in Chicago, Illinois, and boarded in a room which adjoined the Shirlanders' residence. He had argued with the couple several weeks before the attack.

Corning entered the couple's home, using a cane to walk instead of his crutches. He entered the couple's bedroom and began striking Jennie Shirlander with the cane. Frank Shirlander woke up when he heard the attack. Frank tried to stop Corning, but Corning shot him three times (in the shoulder, chest, and cheek). Corning then used the gun to commit suicide.

Frank was taken to Provident Hospital. Jennie stayed with her brother, Fred Hart, who lived nearby.

The incident was reported in the 29 May 1905 issue of the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Tribune, 29 May 1905, page 8

The incident also received coverage in out-of state newspapers, such as the Cortland Standard, a Central New York newspaper.

Cortland Standard, 29 May 1905, page 1

Although this report states that the Shirlanders had taken care of John Corning from babyhood, I could not find any evidence to support this claim. The Chicago Tribune article stated that Corning had worked for the Shirlanders for four years. In 1900, the Shirlanders' household did not include John Corning. Based on his age and profession, I think that the John Corning who attacked the Shirlanders was living with his brother and sister in 1900.

Thriller Thursday: Back from the Dead?

Nashville Globe, 8 March 1907, page 7. Available from Chronicling America.

My great-great-grandmother's half-brother Thomas "Tom" Cox committed suicide in the county jail in Nashville, Tennessee on 3 May 1905, before he could be executed for killing police officer Ben Dowell. Almost two years later, the above report appeared in the Nashville Globe.

I have a copy of Tom Cox's death certificate, as well as newspaper articles about his death, including one that stated that his remains were at the home of his brother-in-law William Gatlin (my great-great-grandfather) for viewing by friends and family before his funeral at St. Mary's Cathedral. I do not think that he was still alive in 1907. It is interesting that someone reported seeing Tom in Chicago, though. My great-grandfather Henry Brown Gatlin and his brother William D. Gatlin had moved to Chicago in 1904. Henry moved back to Nashville after marrying Rose Kuenninger in December 1905, but Rose may have been from Chicago, and the couple could have returned for a visit. William was arrested for robbery and sent to Southern Illinois Penitentiary in Chester, Randolph County, Illinois. I have not yet learned the date of his arrest, but it may have been after 8 March 1907. He escaped from Southern Illinois Penitentiary twice. Maybe the person who believed that he saw Tom Cox actually saw one of Tom's nephews.

Thriller Thursday: Skeleton Discovered in Haystack

On 22 May 1941, my first cousin 3 times removed David Borg and his brother went to the marshes near his farm in Porter County, Indiana. David stuck his pitchfork into a haystack, and he pulled out a skeleton. The skeleton was taken to the Flynn Funeral Home in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana. It could not be identified, and it was buried in Chesterton Cemetery on 23 May 1941.

 Vidette Messenger, 22 May 1941, page 1

Tipton Tribune, 23 May 1941, page 8

Vidette Messenger, 23 May 1941, page 12