Maryville Times, (Blount Co. TN) Saturday, October 7, 1899:

“Monday evening about four o’clock, George Shope shot and killed his brother-in-law, Will Heaton in Dave Smith’s Store in the 17th District of this county. Both are son-in-laws of Dave Smith who is well known throughout our county.
They had been partaking freely of mountain “booze,” and while engaged in a scuffle, became enraged. An old grudge had existed between them for years and the scuffle only participated matters.
Shope drew a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver and fired, setting Heaton’s coat on fire.
Heaton then picked up a stone, which he threw at Shope, and Shope fired a second shot, it entering Heaton’s breast, going through his heart, and passing through his body, lodging in his clothing. The murdered man died without uttering a word.
Heaton is well known in some parts of our county, having been raised near Montvale Springs, and was a man who was held in high esteem by his acquaintances.
Shope, the murderer, escaped, he or some of his friends having cut the telephone wire between Chilhowee and this place so that the officers were unable to get word of the killing until Tuesday morning, but they are now on his track and it is to be hoped he will be caught.
Shope is a North Carolinian by birth, his brother being United States Deputy Marshall, and another brother Marshall of Bryson City.”