The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-21
0ashrille anloa.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER Il, 1895.



F'on the Detroit Free Press. 18Th.
Bloody TragedY--TeTrible Sequel e
an Inhuman Outrage--A Youthful
AvenEer--Was Shot by the Brother
Of His Yictim--The Boy then Gives
Himself into NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Of the Tragic Affair.
Rumor was biisy or our streets yesterday
morning vi h accounts Of 8 tragic affair
which happened about nine o'clock on Fri
day even .ng in the quiet village Of Lexing-
ton. i vas stated that Captain John 4
Ward, Of this city, had been fatally shot BY
q brother OF Ida Fsrman, the girl upoa
whom be wss charged with having com
mitted rape. TIE facts Of The case are
ready fresh In the minds Of our reade S.
The girls own testimony had been taken on
the legal examination, and Friday was the
day ser apart for hearing the defense. -Four
witnesses were examined, snd we are as
sured by gentleman who was present that
the testimony OF these four Witnesses was
more damaging 10 the prisoner than the tes-
timony Of toe girl herself They testified
relative - the Circumstances which trans
pired upon the boat, both before and sitter
Ehe crime was committed, cOrTObOrating in
every respect the statement Of the girl.
Thus the crime with which he was charged
seemed to have been fastened upon him,
without even a Todeeming feature in the
whole transaction. Il is said that the testi-
mouv Of his own witnesses would have in
sured his conviction. Ii Is worthy Of notice
that DO witnesses were introduced for the
purpose Of damaging the character Of the
girl. Not the slightest syllable was breathed
derogaiory 20 her reputation. If it had been
prsc icabis 70 pursue such a / ne Of defense
be would bsve been the last TO neglect il
About uiue O'Clock on Friday evening the
Court adjourned unta morning. Il is not
known whether the defense had any more
witnesses 10 introduce or not; but it was
understood that their testimony was nearly
OF quite closed.
Captain John p. Ward was himself pres
snt az the examination. Young Earmau,
she brother OF the girl, q boy said 70 be
shout fifteen years old, though small Of his
age, was also present During the whole ex-
amiuatiou his ewes were fastened upon Ward
with an iutentness that attracted the atten-
tion Of the latter, who became nervous in
consequences, aud remarked to friend that
be did not know What the boy was watch
ing him 30 narrowly tor. But II subsequent
~ passed from his mind, and before the
examination was closed he bad apparently
forgotten al about it.
after the Court had adjourned, the crowd
passed out upon the street, aud Ward also,
In company with two friends. Il appears
that the boy, Cor such he is in appearance il
not IN age, followed him, and when about a
hundrec yards down the street, drew re-
volyer and fired. Ward wac but few feet
IN advance a. the time, and the ball took
eject. entering about the small Of the back,
and passing Qua just below The low,r rib.
BE Immediately staggered and fell, when
furmGn Gred tao more shots, which took
efioct, one entering or passing through the
AZ j. Y a \
ing outward, inhicting severe and painful
aesh wound. IL was reported that a fourth
shot Was cred, which did not take effect
bat whether this was really 90, d was inn
possible 30 learn In the midst Of the ex-
element which Immediately thereafter pre-
vailed
Farman Immediately turned about, walk
81 into the court RON, where several persons
were still remaining, and gave himself into
custody. So far as We lid learn, nothing
vas said by him, either at the time Of the
shooting OF when be delivered himself up.
Ward was Immediately conveyed 70 his
hotel, and the bost medicsl assistance IN
the town summoned 10 his bedside. Il was
decided, upon a surgical examination, that
she bali which entered the small Of the
back severed the spinal cord, a. paraly-
els Of the lower extremities Immediately
ensued, 10 which case the wound must
prove fatal. The ball which entered the
lungs produced Internal bleeding. but il
was rot decided whether this wound was OF
. fatal character OF not. The other ball
produced merely a flesh wound, which was
not Of self serious, though painful.
Al present writing, Ward is supposed "a
b. alive, although 10 ia considered impOssi-
Die for him 30 live a great while, and intel.
hgence e his death is looked for by his
friends al any moment. His father and
brother len for the scene Of the tragedy
yesterday morning.
The greatest excitement prevailed IA Lex
iugton o. intelligence OF the bloody trnus-
action ran through the town. The indig-
nation against Ward IL that locality has
been very great, and as q consequence, the
popular feeling did not condemn the boy
iQr he act. Tho affair WAS much discussed
upon the streou OF our city yesterday, the
inquiry being principally Tor she particulars
ai ihe t-rliplo affair.
Since The above was 10 type, the steamer
Reindeer arrived, ah nj % 0clock on Satur-
day evening, al MOcre's dock, having on
blatd the body OF the injured man. lie
was immediately transferred 10 the resi-
deuce ot his father, where the best medical
attendance which could be procured was
brought into rcquisitiou- Al the latest nc-
counts be was still alive, but faint hopes
were eutertsined of his recovery. The low
~ 2 rtion a his body is completely par
alyred, and the ball which entered his
lungs has produced internal bleeding. DR..
Brown. tus of his medical attendants, ex-
presses the beliefthni he cannot survive.