THE SHOTGUN
Avenges a Young Girl’s Ruin in Crockett County.
The quiet little inland town of Alamo was the scene of a terrible tragedy on Wednesday morning [12th]. Joseph K. Stalling, a merchant in the place, was shot and mortally wounded by Mr. Harris, and ex-sheriff of the county, his two sons and son-in-law named Burrus, the latter Stalling’s partner in business. The cause was the seduction of the daughter of Harris, whom stalling had been visiting for about two years. It was discovered that she was pregnant a few days ago, and Wednesday morning when Stalling went to his store the four men were lying in wait for him with guns and told him he must marry the girl. He agreed to this, saying such had been his intention, and one of the men was dispatched for a license. During his absence, some words taking place, one of the Harris boys becoming exasperated, fired on Stalling, the shot taking effect in his right breast. The others also fired; the wounded man fell and the assailants fled. The wound that will probably prove fatal is the once first inflicted. At last accounts Stalling was still alive but had hardly any chance of recovering. He expressed the will that his property go to the young lady if she had no hand in the killing. Both parties are highly connected in Crockett county.
– Brownsville Democrat.
Memphis Avalanche, May 15, 1886
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