Home > United States of America > Tennessee > Carter County > Hampton > Morton Cemetery > WILLIAM A PETERS

WILLIAM A PETERS

Birth	:	27 Jun 1866 Hampton, Carter County, Tennessee, USA
Death	:	26 Aug 1899 Hampton, Carter County, Tennessee, USA
Burial	:	Morton Cemetery, Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate	:	36.2902985, -82.1505966
Description	:	Special to The Journal and Tribune. Jonesboro, Tenn., Aug. 29, - T.M. Williams, Deputy sheriff from Carter county, accompanied by N.T. Carden, is here today for D.H. Stansill who was brought here Saturday night and lodged in jail for safe keeping. Stansill, who is a railroad foreman, came to W.P. Smith's distillery near Sulphur Springs, Carter county, some time last week, and indulged in a prolonged drunk of some days. Wm. Peters was employed at the distillery, in fact he did the "stilling," W.C. Hawkins, United States storekeeper and gauger was there on duty. Near the... Read More	Special to The Journal and Tribune. Jonesboro, Tenn., Aug. 29, - T.M. Williams, Deputy sheriff from Carter county, accompanied by N.T. Carden, is here today for D.H. Stansill who was brought here Saturday night and lodged in jail for safe keeping. Stansill, who is a railroad foreman, came to W.P. Smith's distillery near Sulphur Springs, Carter county, some time last week, and indulged in a prolonged drunk of some days. Wm. Peters was employed at the distillery, in fact he did the "stilling," W.C. Hawkins, United States storekeeper and gauger was there on duty. Near the distillery in a boarding house where they all boarded. Thursday evening, August 24, when they came to supper, Peters said he was not feeling very well and did not want any supper. Prior to that, Stansill had taken Hawkin's pistol out of his "grip sack," "slipped" it out, it is said -- and there in the room, without any seeming provocation, or any one knowing that a terrible tragedy was so near at hand, Stansill took the pistol from his pocket and with a "then, take that," fired at Peters, giving him a death wound. Two or the men present grabbed Stansill and tried to disarm him; but soon gave it up and fled. Although suffering from a mortal wound, Peters grabbed Stansill and after a terrible struggle, succeeded in getting the pistol away from him, and could have killed him then and there, but knowing that he himself had received his death wound, did not wish to commit murder. Stansill went into his room to bed, and Peters walked down the road to where the two men had run. He was shot after six o'clock Thursday evening and died Saturday morning about eight o'clock. He leaves a wife and four helpless children. Stansill was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Williams and placed in jail in Elizabethton, but the feeling against him was so intense that it was thought best to bring him to the Jonesboro jail for safe keeping. Deputy Sheriff Williams and N.T, Carden are now taking Stansill back to Carter county for a preliminary hearing. The Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, Tennessee). 30 Aug 1899, Wed. Allentown, Tenn., Aug. 29, - Monday the remains of Wm. Peters were quietly laid to rest in the family burying ground three miles east of this place. He leaves a wife and four small children to mourn his loss. It will be remembered that on the evening of the twenty-fourth instant, while Peters and a man by the name of Morton and Hawkins, the storekeeper for Smith, the distiller, were eating supper, at Smith's boarding house, David Stansill, a laborer on the Virginia and Southwestern railroad, entered and asked for supper. He was invited to a seat by Peters, and, after eating a very hearty supper, arose from his seat and asked if he owen anthing, at the same time putting his hand into his pocket as if to draw (as Peters thought) a bottle of whisky. Instead he drew a revolver and, without another word, or other provocations, aimed and fired, the ball entering Peters' left side, perforating the small intestines, thence through the inner side of the spine, finally lodging in the large intestines, on the right side. The ball was of 38-calibre and in the circuit completely destroyed the right kidney. But not withstanding Peters was mortally wounded and Stansill a much larger and stronger man, before Stansill had time to take second aim Peters was upon him, and quickly wrested the pistol from his hands, knocking him down and out of the house, unassisted by either Morton or Hawkins, who were from the moment of the firing running at railroad speed up the mountain side. Peters was soon after the shooting removed to his home, about four miles distant, where he died Saturday. An inquisition was held Saturday night and not completed until Sunday, 11 a.m. Doctors Ellis and Easley were the surgeons. Peters made an affadavit just before dying that he had known Stansill only for a short time and was not aware that he bore him ill-will. But when asked why he did not shoot Stansill after he had taken the pistol stated that he knew his would was fatal and he preferred to meet his God with hands unstained with human blood. Soon after the shooting a runner was started after Deputy-Sheriff Thomas M. Williams, who immediately summoned C.R. Hathaway and Nat Cardin to assist him and left for the scene of the trouble. But the news of the trouble had spread rapidly and Sheriff Williams found upon his arrival quite a number of Peters' friends assembled, excitement running at fever heat. After diligent search the murderer was located in an old house nearby by Sheriff Williams made the arrest. But, as evidence of Peters' good standing in this community and the heinousness of the crime, it was with great difficulty that Sheriff Williams and his assistans could prevent a lynching, and even after he had strongly barricaded himself and prisoner in a house, he could only restrain the angry citizens by repeated threats that he would defend the prisoner's life to the last with his own. All who knew Williams knew what these words meant and that his high sence of right and of duty were to him vital principles. So the prisoner was conducted safely to jail. It was stated that Sheriff McQueen and C.M. Hinkle made the arrest, but this is a mistake. The Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, Tennessee). 30 Aug, 1899, Wed.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is WILLIAM A PETERS's memorial?
WILLIAM A PETERS's memorial is located at: Morton Cemetery, Hampton, Carter County, USA.
When did WILLIAM A PETERS death?
WILLIAM A PETERS death on 26 Aug 1899 in Hampton, Carter County, Tennessee, USA
Where are the coordinates of the WILLIAM A PETERS's memorial?
Latitude: 36.2902985
Longitude: -82.1505966

Family Members:

Parent

Thomas H. Peters

(1830 - 1881)

Nancy Morton Peters

(1836 - 1915)

Spouse

Angeline(Angie) Markland Peters

(1868 - 1926)

Siblings

George Franklin Peters

(1855 - 1923)

Evaline Peters Stout

(1861 - 1933)

Eliza Ann Peters Shaw

(1868 - 1908)

Zachariah C. Peters

(1871 - 1942)

Benjamin Hawkins Peters

(1878 - 1962)

Children

Mary Ann Peters Simerly

(1900 - 2003)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Morton Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2902985, -82.1505966

2. Johnson Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2954500, -82.1452600

3. Johnson Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2973200, -82.1437700

4. Union Baptist Church Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2965200, -82.1399600

5. Campbell Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2950500, -82.1385400

6. Hall Cemetery
Braemar, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2831001, -82.1616974

7. Campbell Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2843500, -82.1640600

8. Dogwood Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2827020, -82.1641220

9. Carden’s Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2974700, -82.1361400

10. Simerly Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2828480, -82.1660180

11. Campbell Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3034480, -82.1391710

12. Bailey Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2734640, -82.1505160

13. Goodwin Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3024100, -82.1338700

14. Goodwin Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3015500, -82.1328500

15. Sorrell Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2799988, -82.1694031

16. Campbell Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3035300, -82.1340000

17. Campbell Cemetery
Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3059600, -82.1339400

18. Johnson Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2858900, -82.1764800

19. Johnson Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2776240, -82.1721100

20. Goodwin Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3013700, -82.1265500

21. Lewis-Pierce Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3018300, -82.1267000

22. Hazelwood Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2804900, -82.1814000

23. Campbell Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.2793300, -82.1810830

24. Estep Cemetery
Hampton, Carter County, USA
Coordinate: 36.3034800, -82.1211200