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Gibson County Tennessee
The Homicide in
In last
Saturday’s issue
we referred
to the
murder of
Mr. Pybas,
in Distressing Homicide – The quiet of our usually peaceable town was disturbed last Wednesday, by the report of a pistol, and the alarm that Mr. Pybas , one of our most respectable and orderly citizens, was killed – shot down without a moments warning – while engaged in his shop at his trade, by a young man by the name of Emmerson B. Eddings, who has been reared in our midst and bore a character without reproach or stain. Young Eddings is the only surviving son of a widowed mother, who resides in our town, and is the only support and protector of her and two sisters – one of whom has been engaged for some time past in teaching a juvenile school in this place. Mr. Pybas was one of her patrons, and on last Monday instituted a suit upon a State’s warrant against Miss Eddings upon a charge of maltreating his little son. The trial was held on last Monday evening before a magistrate, and after a thorough investigation of all the facts, Miss Eddings was honorably acquitted. Here it was hoped the matter would have rested, but information was communicated to young Eddings at South Gibson, where he resided and was transacting business, and perhaps too high a coloring given to the whole affair. This incensed him to such an extent with a belief that his sisters character was involved, that he came into town on Wednesday morning, doubtless for the purpose of seeking an explanation or some other satisfaction. Unfortunately, upon his arrival, he had to pass by Mr. Pybas’ shop to go to his mother’s residence, and possibly the temptation was too strong not to resist his calling in. When he stepped into the door, there were several gentlemen present, conversing with each other, who had not noticed his entrance until his salutation of “Good morning Mr. Pybas,” accompanied at the same instant by the report of the pistol. Mr. Pybas fell back and expired in a few minutes – the ball having taken effect in the right side near the right breast, ranging across through the heart, first passing through the right wrist, which was at the same time raised to his side. Mr. Eddings was immediately arrested by Officer A. C. Nolan, who was present at the time, but owing to the pursuit of Mr. Pybas’ sons, and to prevent him from being shot was again turned loose. He went immediately and gave himself up to Esquire Hill, and in the afternoon his trial came off in the Court House. The room was crowded to overflowing by the anxious populace to learn everything connected with this distressing tragedy. After a very patient and thorough investigation of all the evidence, aided by the counsel on both sides, young Eddings was committed to jail to await his trial at the next term of the Circuit Court. By this dreadful tragedy a gloom has been cast upon our town, which is sensibly felt by all, and it id difficult to tell where it’s sympathies are most bestowed – weather upon the large family who have been suddenly deprived of it’s head, in the full glow of health and without warning, or for the equally bereaved mother and sisters, whose only protector and solace is incarcerated for one of the highest offences known to our laws. Both were citizens equally well thought of and highly esteemed in this community, and the friends of one were the friends of both. The one an aged citizen with a large family around him, the other a young man who had grown up in it’s midst and been kindly and carefully nurtured by an affectionate and widowed mother. Both were quite, orderly and inoffensive citizens, and both had secured by their peaceful deportment many strong and warmly attached friends. But in an evil moment the tranquil sea has become ruffled, and the families of both plunged into an inconceivable anguish, casting a gloom upon the countenances of a sympathizing public. We would that a veil were thrown over this portion of our town’s history, and that we had never been called to chronicle it’s occurrence; but the fatal bullet has sped, and it’s victim lies weltering in his blood.
Mr. Pybas was buried with the honors of Odd Fellowship, on Thursday evening, of which order he and Mr. Eddings were both members.
The Daily Dispatch (
Fatal Affair in Eddings sister teaches a school in
Convicted and Sentenced – E. B. Eddings was convicted by the Circuit Court of Haywood, and sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years. Eddings, it will be remembered, killed Pybass in 1857, and removed his trial to Haywood.
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