1888 Demon Alcohol Leads to Murder

Picture was added April 18, 2013
The right image is the original scan.  The left I tried using color
correction software.  Neither is great but it's better
than nothing!  ca. 1880

While researching some of the Irvine relatives I came across Harry Clinton Irvine, the first born son of Agnes Moran and B.D. Irvine.  His nickname was Buck.   The Irvine branch of the family seemed to be full of piss and vinegar as my own mom would say.  They were a wild bunch.  In an earlier post I related the story of Sid and Tom Irvine and the murder of J.W. Kerr in Bowie Texas.  Tom did the actual killing but he left the state leaving Sid at the mercy of the law.

Back to Harry.  Harry was born Oct. 9 1857.

In regards to Harry, I came across the Hamilton Daily Democrat of March 5, 1888.  It seems that Harry and Tabe White were quarreling over a jug of whisky.  Harry shot and killed Tabe.  I've not found anything else regarding this crime.

The last thing I know about Harry is that he died at the age of 39 on May 7, 1897 and is buried in Moran Cemetery, Dresden Tennessee.  Cause of death is unknown.

Updated September 14 2019.

I came across the following newspaper article in the Memphis Daily Appeal, dated Mar 6 1888, which sheds more light on the Whisky incident. 

Killed a Negro

Tobe White, a Desperate Character, Shot by Harry Irvine at Dresden.

Special Dispatch to the Appeal

Dresden, Tenn., March 5--On Saturday afternoon at 5 o'clock Harry Buck Irvine, white, shot and killed Tobe White, colored, at this place.  The difficulty originated at the depot in the afternoon over a jug of whisky.  White and a white man were fighting, when Irvine tried to separate them.  This enraged White, who assaulted Irvine with Brickbats.  Soon afterward Irvine went to his father's residence, got a pistol, came down to the square and shot him through the left side, the ball ranging downward into the bowels and causing death about midnight.  White was the most notorious and daring negro in this section.  He it was who defied the four-mile law of the town for two years until he was sentenced to jail for twelve months by Judge Swiggart.  Public sympathy is with Irvine.

I can also update information regarding his death.  Here is the obituary that appeared in The Tennessean on May 8 1897.

The Tennessean

May 8 1897

Deaths

Dresden, May 7-(Special:) Death visited the home of Mr. D.D. Irvine and wife last night, taking therefrom the oldest son, Mr. Harry Irvine, aged about 40 years.  He was ill for about three weeks with malarial fever.  The remains were interred this afternoon at the family cemetery north of town.

History of Moran Cemetery, Dresden TN

If one goes by the remaining headstones in the Moran Cemetery it's very fitting that the two oldest graves belong to James Henderson Moran the first (1796-1843) and his wife Harriet Harris Moran (1813-1848).

But originally the land that became known as Moran Cemetery belonged to Benjamin Dabney Irvine, or B.D. to his friends.  B.D. Irvine was in the mercantile business in Dresden Tennessee and he married Agnes Moran, one of James H. Moran's daughters. 

The Irvine and Moran families were exceedingly close not just in proximity to each other but within the bonds of familial love. So it's not surprising that B.D. Irvine deeded the cemetery land to the heirs of James H. Moran Sr.

Another interesting note about the land.  There is a chain link fence and a concrete fence.    John W. Moran set aside part of the land for other families in the area who needed a place to be buried.  Those families are interred in the section surrounded by chain link and some of the surnames are:  DeRossett, Grubb, Insco, Dunn, McDaniel, Ooten and Radford.  The Moran's are buried in the section surrounded by the concrete fence.

B.D. Irvine to heirs of James H. Moran Sr.

Deed Book 18 Page 148.

And in consideration of the love and affection I have for the heirs of James H. Moran Sr. Deceased to wit, My wife, Agnes Irvine, formerly Agnes Moran, Martha H. Scott, wife of R.F. Scott formerly Martha H. Moran, and John W. Moran and their heirs forever have this day given and hereby convey in fee simple unto them a certain tract of land expressly for burial purposes situated in said county and State, 7th Civil Distrist and about one mile north east of Dresden known as The Moran burying ground and bordered as follows:

Beginning at the center of James H. Moran Sr.s grave runs thence North, East, South and West one hundred feet in each direction from the center of said grave.  I also give and convey to said heirs 15 ft. of land off the North side of the land owned by me to extend from the Dresden and Boydsville road to said burying ground in the line between me and E.J. Sanderfer as a passing to and from said graveyard and I warrant the title to said land to the heirs of said J.H. Moran Sr. and their heirs forever against the claims of all persons whatever.  Witness my hand and signature on the 17th day of May, 1894. 

B.D. Irvine