Coweta County GaArchives News.....FATAL AFFRAY AT SENOIA. ~ Killing of L. W. Couch by T. N. Burdett May 13 1887
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Phil Tidwell ptidwell2@mail.newnanutilities.org February 9, 2004, 9:11 am

From the Newnan Herald
FATAL AFFRAY AT SENOIA.
     ___________

Killing of L. W. Couch by T. N. Burdett

Senoia was thrown into a state of the wildest excitement last Wednesday evening 
by a fatal encounter between Mr. L. W. Couch and Mr. T. N. Burdett, both well-
known citizens of the place, in which the former came to his death at the hands 
of the latter.  The details of the affair are harrowing in the extreme, a 
succinct recital of which will be found below:

Burdett and Couch were neighbors and resided on adjoining premises.  For some 
weeks previous to the killing Couch bad been annoyed by Burdett's chickens, and 
finally became so exasperated that he killed tbree or four of them.  This 
provoked Burdett to make use of an expression that was personally offensive to 
Couch and he affirmed that Burdett would have to retract the remark or take the 
consequences.  Neither party seemed willing to make any concessions, and 
neither would agree to keep up his chickens.  Matters grew from bad to worse 
until about 7 o'clock last Wednesday evening, when the fatal meeting occurred.  
At that hour O. W. Floyd and Burdett were sitting on the steps of the Shields 
building engaged in conversation.  Burdett held in his hand a medium-sized 
hatchet, such as carpenters commonly use in bouse-building.  Couch came and 
stopping immediately in front of the parties, said; "Burdett, you called me a d-
-n s-n of a b---h, and I will give you just half a minute to take it back."  As 
he spoke he drew a 38-calibre Smith & Wesson self-acting pistol and opened fire 
on Burdett, the first ball passing through his left side, about two inches from 
the umbilicum.  As Couch fired the the second shot Burdett gained his feet and, 
summoning all his strength, struck his adversary a terrific blow on the left 
side of the neck with the sharp edge of the hatchet, burying it to the eye.  
The force of the blow severed both the carotid artery and the jugular vein, and 
as the blood spurted from the ghastly wound he reeled, walked four or five 
steps; fired two shots at random from the pistol which he still held in his 
hand, fell to the ground and immediately expired.  Couch's second shot struck 
Burdett in the vicinity of the left nipple, but ranged around and lodged in the 
back.  After receiving the second shot, Burdett staggered across the street and 
fell near the sidewalk, but a crowd soon gathered and he was taken up and 
conveyed to his home.  Medical aid was immediately summoned, but we have been 
unable to learn the result of their prognosis.  At last accounts, though, it 
was believed that he would die.

Deceased was about 33 years old and leaves a wife and three children.  For 
several months he had been doing duty as city night watchman and was considered 
a faithful and efficient officer.

Mr. Burdett is also married and has several children.  He is a contractor and 
generally beliked by those who know him.  So far as we know, he was never 
before involved in a serious personal difficulty.  He is a brother of Mr. A. R. 
Burdett, of this city.

Mr Couch's funeral took place yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock.

It was a most distressing affair, viewed in any aspect, and is deeply deplored 
in the community.

Additional Comments:
Joseph Henry Hightower Moore in "First Families of Henry County, Georgia" 
says, "Mrs. Couch continued to live in Senoia and later spent part of each year 
in Hampton, where she died at the home of her dau. Mrs. Moore, and was bur. 
with her husband in the Couch lot, Senoia Cem."


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