New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-05

VI "Eli5slay evening our Citizens were Startled
~ Ene intelligence that Mr. VIM. w, Smith, one OF
the Oldest and most respectable merchants 81 the
place, had been deliberately shot down in the streets
murdered IN broad daylight in the very centre OF
business. hT- Smith was passing from the water
house, on Milan street, where be had hem dirscfin
some repairs being made to the Eunaps to ma
rear entrance to bis store and az he sterred acro
the alley leading from Market 70 Edu4aEds sfrasss
was Waylald by a man named EIdred Ward and srot
Ward had d0uolebaTTel shotgun the eontentss ~
both barrels were lodged III Mr. Smith ia 9rsf ts
king effect in his side the second in the upper nor
tiOn of the head. Mr.. Smith fell dead vgitE65t
ing q word Ward Immediately mounted a hoTse and
fed and although pursued by several gentlemen. ~
fected his escape. 1t appears that there had been no
angry words or quarTehng between the parties. M
Smith was known as one Of the most quiet and unas-
suming gentlemen in the community. He has been
for many years engaged in mercantile Business and
enjoyed the confidence and patronage 81 numerous
planters 70 this parish, Bossier, and Desoto, az well
as throughout eastern Texas. He was a native Of
Shelbyyilie, Kentucky. Mr.. John w. Smith immedi-
ately offered reward Of fifteen hundred dollars for
the apprehension Of Ward, and an additional reward
OF $500, on the part Of the State and corporation
vas guaranteed By responsible gentlemen
In the evening meeting Of the citizens was held
| and resolutions adopted requesting the Mayor and
Board of Trustees to offer reward Of $500 for the
arrest of the murderer and the Governor Of the State
offer reward OF $1,000 for the same purpose The
Caddo Gazette Of Saturday last says that Ward was
arrested on the previous Sunday evening near Wood
Vlle, 10 jackson parish. The Gazette gives the
following interesting account Of the affair:
Attes Ward had murdered Smith be eluded bis
pursuefs, ana was not seen except near Summer
Grove, until he reached Pleasant Hill! IN M 500
parish. Here he vas met and rscognzea II, tbe Pc
hr. Dockery this induced him I'd change bis re,ts
He crossed Red river above Grand Fsre and arrived
on sunday evening at the house Of Henry Tatum
three miles north of Woodville, in jackson parish
where he stopped for the night. Abogt o'clock I
negro boy rode over to Mr.. Tatuns with a note cons
veyng the intelligence that the stranger was e. Ward
the murderer of w. " Smith and that there 1ysq q
reward Of $780, as stated in the handbiIls for bis
| apprehension Wards suspicious were aroused bv
| this note, having supposed that some persons had
recognized him on the road. Mr. Tatum tried TO
1 aLay his fears by telling him shat the bow BELONGED
to him, and had returned from hunting stock. This
did not satisfy Ward and Tatum was forced to tell
him that he was murderer, and should not leave
tne room. lie mad taken she preeautioh to guard the
| windows and doors.
As soon as party Of ten men #ere assembled he
| approached the door with his doublebarreI gun
cooked and asked Ward to come out and surrender
himself assuring him that he should not be hurt and
moreover, II he would prove his innocence be would
protect him. Ward stated that his name was Wright
and that he was from Red river county Texas. that
| ne was innocent and unaFIned. Being thus thrown
| on their guard they opened the door and had en-
tered the room with light when Ward who was
/ standing near the fireplace with a Derrineer ia
1 each hand, fired them in quick succession shoot
| ing John r. Barnes through the heart, and John
f. Walker through the neck; springiug towards the
! side door he was shot down by Henry Tatum Five
| guns had been discharged at Ward and he received
only one buck.shot from pistol which entered his
left shoulder. The light was extjngushed in The ma
ee and Mr. Tatum dragged one III hs friends r If
| the reach Of Ward, and ordered lights.
Inc scene was too terrible for description the floor
was Hooded with human blood, they say :" there was
| fully half bnsheln ]. F. Barnes was dead j. a.
/ Walker, an officer of the law was dangeFo1sl,
wounded, and Ward was Frustrated Ward begged
Iatum not to shoot him; he acknowledged that he
upon him for protection Tatum ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
spared his life although be had killed and yIa
two Of bis best friends and neighbors.
Lt H. rsacnery o. tne man was displayed in deny
more ~ liz iao mc enabled am e add two
were manifested when upon asking whom he 9s- bsd
killed. and being informed that it Was Barnes he ~
| claimed great God thongbt had kiIio5 a. ~ -
who had informed on me and had come n iSan ,t,s
me- Barnes and Walker were in the room sta;
on the right and left Of Mr. Tatum. Ward held his
pistols behind him until be could distinguish them,
man about Nh. ysa, f arnes Is young
nhont tbrs,ei1 rsa,s ~ 80 n asS. HaIAsE y
children The hall bavn rasd I @to "Iu nve
Of his neck ana Iod a5 IL az li- - - ri; pglllpt
will in ali rrnhabiIifIS dc 49, D-A u Ai9 heau' Ae
AZ soon aq II 1I,as'' lr rie1 .r,4 .L, ,,
captured and bronabt bae bs ns 1 was
ment peryaded ali ranks Of society. Crowds weTa
assembled in the street leading to the ferry and i'm
Heueu tn5 Progress OF tae carnage which conveyed
tG Plisohet' 9ouie OF our Oldest and most
citizens were IN favor OF hanging Ward
.3i"J olt ne ate Slau thaG better counses pre-
Eaeu' h :t aH atteApt Deen made to violate the
t%1 :" ns!lS Mouiu nave ensued. The party
tb Ell paitsH "eLe [eso5Veu 70 deiend ward to
stt 'o, ttI re HIa saleIy deposlted IN jail Our
eutre popdlation were on tue streets, and large
crowd around the Jail until the desperate
vocat f,r @ IL, sLe Gage Aith9ngh an ad
~ .i te seVeIles OF the law yet We
S, f9ueu tias uo violent demonstration was made
~: ~ t h Inc supremacy OF the