Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-04-04
20 Me Editions OF Me Ne,p Orleans Ttopic

To The Editors Of The Ne,c Orleans Tropic:
The undersigned, passengers and officers of the
steamer ucaian, request publicity Of the fol-
lowing statement of recent melancholy transact
ton, which occurred on board the above mention
ed boat on her upward trip from this port 10 the
White River, (Ark.) not only in justice TO them.
selves, bur because diversity Of reports are i'm
circulation wholly false and derogatory 10 the
character OF the officers and passengers, and
Knowing as we do, that it is only necessary that
the public should be correctly informed of what
occurred, fully TO appreciate and understand the
object Of those who have assisted in circulating
these false and sanderous reports. The circum-
stances, then, are simply these: The steamboat
fucatan, Captain s. Burks. stopped atwood yard
belonging to William KiRheo on the Misss-
sippi river, 20 or 25 miles above Vicksburg, for
the purpose Of wooding; at FIRST only negro
man was at the yard, who stated to the Clerk,
w. Is. Richards, the amount of wood in a certain
pie. In the meantime, the owner, Knchelo, ar
rived at the yard. The Clerk stated to him what
the negro had said about the wood thereupon
knchelo flew into passion, and observed TO the
Clerk In an angry tone, +" If that's the way you
measure wood, don't want you to measure
any more at my yard The Clerk replied TO
him In these words: ave wish TO pay you for
every stick we get and no more lie then left
klnchelo and walked toward the boat. X fol-
lowed him up' using insulting language, intend
Ing. II was supposed, to provoke quarrel. The
Clerk turned around, and mildly asked him.
=" W ny do you talk TO me about it; there is the
Captain, speak tc him about it," Kincheo then
replied In most insulting manner, " Because
you have said that, that is not SO, and you know
It. Thus being provoked to the last extremity
the lie being given him without The smallest p.o-
vocation on his part-ihe Clerk, having "a very
light pine measuring stick in his hand, raised il
and struck him (knchelo) slight blow. The
suck having been previously cracked nearly in
two, broke entirely off. Whereupon, Kincheio
Cl,et n nix nj n1 d.,ii atol,
saot NE Clerk through tho breast, who expired
instantly and almost without groan. Knchelo
then dropping his pistol, begged in the most cow
| afdIy manner that his life might be spared, and
| requested The Captain to take him to Princeton,
where he said he could have trial. According
| ly his hands were tied, and at his own request,
he was conveyed TO Princeton, the Captain CIV
Ing him the privilege of taking with him any one
| or two of his friends; he also had the counsel
and advice Of a lawyer who was on board, Mr.
Paxton, from Vicksburg. The boat then pro-
ceeded on her way to Princeton, about rs miles
above the place where this tragic scene occurred.
showing to the prisoner every comfort the boat
| Afforded Arriving at the above place, the boat
was met by an armed mcb of about 40 or so men,
headed by one Jack penrce, armed with pistols,
! Dowie knives, guns, NC, who rushed on board,
reScuing the prisoner and turned him at once
| loose upon the community to shed the blood Of
.ne next man who may chance TO Cross his path.
MS man, whose character was given 10 us, is
that OF the most violent and dangerous kind, as
was indeed proved by the assassination Of Mr.
Richards, who is represented to us by those who
nave known him Tor many years, as having been
| oil the most peaceful! and ainiable character.
mother and several sisters, deprived of the pro-
tection OF son and brother, are left to mourn his
untImeiy death. His lonely grave is in the land
OF strangers, far from his native SOIL lie was
hurried un'imeIy into the presence of his God,
while his murderer walks the earth at large stain
ed with the life-bIood OF an innocent man. Blu,
vengeance Will not always sleep. The time will
come when the guilt of his bloody deed will fall
win It's iuil force upon his head. Mr. Richards,
we are or dItably informed, was the third victim
VINO had fallen by the hand of this murderer
within short time. Let no one, however, imi-
Pugn our motives in giving to the world these
facts. 1t is not done for the purpose of holding
up 10 the world guilty culprit, who has thus far
robbed justice of her due, but that discerning
community may see the matter in its true light.
mat innocent men, whose characters have been
unIusty aspersed, may be relieved from the foul
odnm which has been cast upon them. In short.
that the world may behold the affair in its true
light. The above occurred in January, 1914.
GREED FLOOD,
SAM'L BURKS,
J. ~. TYLER,
III. SYMMES.
Sworn TO and subscribed before me this 18th
February, 1914.
j. BALDWIN, Recorder
We. the undersigned, did not see the murder
committed. being on the boat at the time but can
state that the facts related above, after the pr-