Parents:

William Riley Cecil
Nancy Williams West

Siblings:

Emily Clemons Cecil Phillips
James Trusville Cecil
Reuben Churchwell Cecil
William Riley Cecil
Reason Burl Cecil
Pherby Jane Cecil Phillips
George Washington Cecil
Charles Nelson Cecil
Robinson Crusoe Cecil
Harrison Maynard Cecil
Rachel Rosemary Cecil Sexton
Nancy Williams Cecil Carson

Paternal Grandparents:

James Timothy Cecil
Pharaba Reed

Maternal Grandparents:

Reuben West
Emily Temple Clemens
~~~~~~~~~~~

CECIL, JOHN WESLEY died 25 Dec 1881

The Helenwood Tragedy - Details Of The Murder Committed The Day Before Christmas - Mr. John Thompson, a citizen of Scott county, Tenn., brings the details of the terrible tragedy which was enacted at Helenwood, Scott County, on the day before Christmas, the particulars of are which that follows: John Wesley Cecil and Crusoe West were friends and comrades, companions in mischief and in deviltry, and considered by the community as bad and dangerous men. On the day referred to above, these two parties went to Helenwood, and bought a lot of cartridges for their pistols. They then proceeded a short distance from town, where they discharged their revolvers, reloading them with fresh cartridges. On their return they proposed to clean out the place, and to get up the necessary amount of nerve to proceeded to put themselves outside a considerable amount of whisky, when a quarrel arose between them in regard to whisky. West said, "Let's shoot it out." Cecil answered, "shoot," when both drew their weapons, which were discharged in the act of drawing. The second attempt was successful, and the reports blended as one shot, West receiving his bullet under his right eye, lodging near the ear. Cecil was hit in the left breast, the ball being afterwards cut out from under the shoulder blade. A general fight ensued between the two parties, in which pistols, guns, clubs, and rocks were freely used. Cecil fought the battle out, no one knowing he was shot until the battle was over. The fight resulted in the shooting of Jerry West, Charles West, George W. Thompson, and a man named Smith. Wm. West had his skull broken with a rifle barrel. All dangerously if not mortally wounded. Cecil was taken to his home, where he died at 9:00 o'clock the next morning. Crusoe West mounted his horse while his wife mounted behind him, and rode some three miles to his father's house, where he took his bed. The father and the brothers of Cecil swore that if Cecil died, they would go and kill West. So when Cecil died, they swore out a warrant for West, having a young fellow deputized to serve it, they accompanied the officer to West's place, where they found him in bed. Old man Cecil told him to consider himself under arrest. West answered that he would surrender to lawful authority, but never to one of the Cecil family. Whereupon the old man pulled himself out of bed, when the boys commenced firing upon West. Some one of the crowd pulled out a knife and commenced using it on his enemies, several of whom were badley cut and wounded. West, after receiving several balls in his body, fell to the floor dead. Three shot were fired into his body after he was dead. On examination of West's body fifteen bullet holes were found. No arrests yet have been made. (Source: The Knoxville Daily Chronicle, 8 Jan 1882, unknown page)


Cause of Death: Gunshot wound John Wesley Cecil was killed in a gun fight outside the saloon in Helenwood about December 25 1881 with his uncle Robinson Crusoe West.
Crusoe was John's mother's younger brother. Crusoe was killed a few days later by John's father William and brother George Washington Cecil but not before Crusoe stabbed John's brother Reason Burl Cecil to death.

Mr. John Thompson, a citizen of Scott County, Tenn., brings the details of the terrible tragedy which was enacted at Helenwood, Scott County, on the day before Christmas, the particulars of which are as follows: John Wesley Cecil and Crusoe West were friends and comrades, companions in mischief and deviltry, and considered by the community as bad and dangerous men. On the day referred to above, these two parties went to Helenwood and bought a lot of cartridges for their pistols. They then proceeded a short distance from town, where they discharged their revolvers, reloading them with fresh cartridges. On their return to town they proposed to clean out the place, and to get up the necessary amount of nerve they proceeded to put themselves outside of a considerable amount of whiskey, when a quarrel arose between them in regard to whiskey. West said, "Let's shoot it out." Cecil answered, "Shoot," when both drew their weapons which were discharged in the act of drawing. The second attempt was successful, and the reports blended as one shot, West received his bullet under the right eye, lodging near the ear. Cecil was hit in the left breast, the ball being afterwards cut out from under the shoulder blade. A general fight ensued between the friends of the two parties, in which pistols, guns, clubs and rocks were freely used. Cecil fought the battle out, no one knowing he was shot until the battle was over. The fight resulted in the shooting of Jerry West, Charles West, George W. Thompson and a man named Smith. WM West had his skull broken with a rifle barrel. All dangerously if not mortally wounded. Cecil was taken to his home where he died at 9 o'clock the next morning. Crusoe West mounted his horse while his wife mounted behind him, and rode some three miles to his father's house, where he took his bed. The father and brothers of Cecil swore that if Cecil died, they would go and kill West. So, when Cecil died, they swore out a warrant for West, having a young fellow deputized to serve it, they accompanied the officer to West's place, where they found him in bed. Old man Cecil told him to consider himself under arrest. West answered he would surrender to lawful authority, but never to one of the Cecil family. Whereupon the old man pulled him out of bed, when the boys commenced firing upon West. Some one of the crowd pulled out a knife, and made a stroke at West, who seized the knife and commenced using it on his enemies, several of whom were badly cut and wounded. West, after receiving several balls in his body, fell to the floor dead. Three shots were fired into his body after he was dead. On examination of West's body fifteen bullet holes were found. No arrests have yet been made.Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Sun. 8 Jan, 1882 Vol. xii, No. 185 John Wesley Cecil was a nephew of Robinson Crusoe West.

CECIL, JOHN WESLEY. Son of William Riley Cecil and Nancy Williams West
"The Helenwood Tragedy."

Details of the Murder Committed the Day before Christmas. Mr. John Thompson, a citizen of Scott County, TN., brings the details of the terrible tragedy which enacted at Helenwood, Scott County, on the day before Christmas, that particulars of which are as follows: John Wesley Cecil and Crusoe West were friends and comrades, companions in mischief and deviltry and by the community as bad and dangerous men. On the day referred to above, these two parties went to Helenwood, and bought a lot of cartridges for their pistols. They then proceeded a short distance from town, where they discharged their revolvers, reloading them with fresh cartridges. On their return to town they proposed to clean out the place, and to get up the necessary amount of nerve they proceeded to put themselves outside of a considerable amount of whisky, when a quarrel arose between them in regard to whisky. West said, "Let's shoot it out." Cecil answered, "shoot," when both drew their weapons, which were discharged in the act of drawing. The second attempt was successful, and the reports blended as one shot, West receiving his bullet under the right eye, lodging near the ear. Cecil was hit in the left breast, the ball being afterwards cut out from under the shoulder blade. A general fight ensured between the friends of the parties, in which pistols, guns, clubs and rocks were freely used. Cecil fought the battle out, no one knowing he was shot until the battle was over. The fight resulted in the shooting of Jerry West, Charles West, George W. Thompson and a man named Smith. William West had his skull broken with a rifle barrel. All dangerously if not mortally wounded. Cecil was taken to his home, where he died at 9 o'clock the next morning. Crusoe West mounted his horse while his wife mounted his horse behind him, and rode some three miles to his father's house, where he took his bed. The father and brothers of Cecil swore that if Cecil died, they would go and kill West. So when Cecil died, they swore out a warrant for West, having a young fellow deputized to serve it, they accompanied the officer to West's place, where they found him in bed. Old man Cecil told him to consider himself under arrest. West answered that he would surrender to lawful authority, but never to one of the Cecil family. Whereupon the old man pulled him out of bed, when the boys commenced firing upon West. Some one of the crowd pulled out a knife and made a stroke at West, who seized the knife and commenced using it on his enemies, several of whom were badly cut and wounded. West, afer receiving several balls in his body, fell to the floor dead. Three shots were fired into his body after he was dead. On examination of West's body fifteen bullet holes were found. No arrests have yet been made. Knoxville Daily Chronicle, Sun., 8 Jan 1882, Vol XII, No. 185. "The Helenwood Tragedy." The Details of the Double Murders on Christmas Eve. Rhea Springs News: We learn the particulars of the Helenwood tragedy from our correspondent, H.C. Thompson: On the 24th of this month there was a dispute between John Darity, of Helenwood and a Negro in a saloon crowed with men. A young man by the name of John Cecil mistook Darity for Crusoe West, a friend of his, and began, as he thought, to befriend West, when West drew a pistol and commenced firing on Cecil and shot him. Cecil then drew his revolver and returned West's fire, his first shot knocking him down. The West shot Cecil the second time, and before men could get to Cecil, he shot West the second time. A general fight ensued between the friends, in which pistols, guns, clubs and rocks were freely used. The fight resulted in the shooting of Jerry West, Charles West, George W. Thompson, and a man named Smith. William West had his skull broken with a rifle barrel. All dangerously if not mortally wounded. Cecil was taken to his home, where he died at 9 o'clock the next morning. After his death his father, brother, and two other men went to West's house to arrest him. West showed fight and stabbed a young Cecil twice with a knife, but was himself killed by having ten bullet holes made in him. West is a notorious character and has only been out of the penitentiary about six months where he was confined for murder. No arrests. The Chattanooga Times, Sunday, 8 Jan 1882.