Burnesville, May 16—Citizens of this place are today in a turmoil of expectation, wondering what evidence will be brought out as to the causes of the shooting here last night which cost the lives of Sheriff J.W. Young of Yancey county and of Perry Gouge. The two men are said to have met on a road just outside of this place, and their conversation, it is said gave no hint of what was about to occur. Gouge is said by Charles Hutchins, Burnsville attorney, who was a witness of the shooting, to have called the sheriff, and the two stood talking. Gouge placed his pistol to the other man’s abdomen in a joking manner, according to Hutchins’ story, and when the officer laughed, the other fired six times.
Sheriff Young reeled back, regained his footing and pulled his own gun, fired one shot which pierced the heart of the assassin. The two men are said to have fallen dead in the road at the same time.
The fatal shooting is said to have occurred about 8 o’clock directly in front of Gouge’s home at Windon where he operated a general store. No reason could be ascribed by friends of the two dead men as to the cause of the shooting, but it was intimated that Gouge was under the influence of whiskey.
Upon receipt of news in Burnsville, Molt Hensley, Yancey county clerk of court, was sworn in as coroner and he immediately left for Windon where inquest was waived and the two bodies were removed to their respective homes.
Sheriff Young resided about one-fourth of a mile from Windon and had been, it is said, on the most friendly terms with the man he killed.
Sheriff Young was serving his second two-year term as sheriff of Yancey county and was considered an able and efficient law enforcement officer. He is survived by his widow and two-year-old baby. He was about 40 years of age.
Gouge, who also it was said was in the neighborhood of 40 years of age, leaves a widow and several small children. He had operated a commissary at Windon for a number of years.
The double killing near here last night was the most sensational homicide which has occurred in this county in years and recalls the killing of State Senator Zeb Wilson who was shot to death from his horse by his brother, Hiram Wilson, 17 or 18 years ago. At that time Zeb Wilson was a member of the general assembly. His brother Hiram was a dangerous man and had one murder, it is said, to his record. He killed his brother Zeb and walked away. The late Judge Ben F. Long presided over the trial of Hiram, who had been brought into court on a bench warrant. Hiram Wilson later went out west where he got into trouble, was sent to prison and later escaped.
From the front page of The Mooresville Enterprise, Thursday, May 20, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn93064798/1926-05-20/ed-1/seq-1/
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