AN AFFAIR OF HONOR IN TENNESSEE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 769, 28 January 1871, Page 2

AN AFFAIR OF HONOR IN TENNESSEE.

Tennessee is the land of vendettas. Every man who goes to Tennessee carries his life in his hand, and his pistol in his pocket. Perhaps the latter has something to do with the former, but the question is, who is a' first to set an example by relinquishiaj the habit, rendering himself defenceless, and giving the advantage to his euemies. The exploits of Mr John B. Ward, of Hot Springs, have been brought to a summary close under circumstances which illustrate the Tennessee code of law and honor. "Ward had killed eleven (!) men in his various affairs, not counting the wounded of numerous skirmishes. It became necessary that "Ward should " slope," and he went to California, but he too dearly loved the freedom of his old State, and setting safety at defiance, he returned. His daughter had married Mr Jones,a person of good position, and settled in Arkansas, where, with his brother in law, he afterwards entered the Confederate service, and was statioffii near home; but the two, being suspected of horsestealing, were captured and hung. Mrs Jones returned to her mother, and the little affair which had made her a widow soon lapsed, with thousands of others, into oblivion, and she married a wealthy widower named Amnions. His beautiful retreat near Memphis was not sufficiently attractive to unite the couple in the bond 3 of love, for unable to reconcile their differences, they separated, remaining apart for years. But Ammons returned, and met his wife's father, who endeavored to bring about a reconciliation. Failing, Ward's mode of settling the dispute was characteristic of himself and of Tennessee. On the 22nd of August, as Ammons was walking home from the house of a sick friend, he saw Ward enter a dwelling, and come out with a double-barrelled gui' Ammons moved on till in front of Ward, who raised the gun, and Ammons turned in the direction towards which it was pointed to see what he was going to fire at. A moment after he heard the report, and his arm fell powerless at his side; a charge of buckshot had cut all the arteries, ana lodged directly against his heart. M wonderful to say, he escaped, reaching Dr Knode's office, where his woundi wore dressed. There he was tenderij nursed and guarded, which so exasperated Ward that he threatened tM doctor's life; but the lattor, aware»

the style of person with whom he had to deal, did not wait, like the innocent Amnions, but kept a loaded fowlingpiece in his offiee, and on the first opportunity shot Ward dead in the street before his door.