Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-09-14
THE END OF A ROUGH.
His Suicide to Escape Arrest


From the Poughkeepsie. N. y. Log Book
Friday afternoon last three individuals,
named espectively Walter S. Fuller,
Charles Davidson aud Aaron Ward, took
horse and wagon belonging to Mr.
Barringer, who resides on the Salt Point
road, about one mile and half from
this city, and proceeded to Hyde Park,
where they INDUCED in drinking, abused
the bartender at Jonse & Holmes hotel,
and left without paying their bill On
their way to Poughkeepsie they assaulted
three laborers, two of them named Percy
and the other Irving. One of the Percy 5
was hit on the head with stone and
badly injured. During the melee or
pursuit Aaron Ward fired revolver at
one of the laborers, the ball, however,
not taking effect The desperadoes then
fed, while the laborers went Immediately
to Hyde Park and placed the matter in
the hands of officer Manning, of that
place. On Saturday that officer came
to Poughkeepsie and arrested both David
son and Fuller and took them to Hyde
Park before Justice Dennis, who fined
them twenty-five dollars Not having
funds to pay the fine they were com
mtted to Jail in this city, and Pough-
. .keepsie officers sent in search Onward.
On Sunday, it was said, Ward had been
seen going towards Mr.. Barringer resi-
idence, which is on the Salt Point turn
pike, about mile and half In north
easterly direction from this city. car
riage was procured and officers Halstead
and Vandervort started for the place
shortly after noon, both well armed,
knowing that they had desperate char
acter to deal with.
In the meantime Ward was eating his
dinner very quietly at Mr.. Barringer $,
the family being present While the
meal was being consumed, one of Mr..
Barringer's family, looking out of the
window, exclaimed, there is whole
wagon load of men stopping here,
Ward Immediately arose from the table
and approached the window On seeing
the officers he darted out of the house
and proceeded to the barn. Previously
Ward had remarked, They will not
take me alive"
Soon after Ward reached the barn,
officers Halsted and Vandervort entered
the building and proceeded to the hay
NOW
There in one corner lay the headless
body of Aaron Ward, the sides of the
building covered with his brains and
spattered with blood, while above, hang
ing on a nail was part of the scalp and
skull of the suicide, which had been
blown there, the hair still hanging from
it. By the side of the body was double
barreled gun with one barrel discharged.
To all appearance he had placed the
muzzle of the gun in his mouth, and with
his right hand, which was blackened with
powder, pulled the trigger. 1t was in
deed a terrible sight All about the loft
were seen pieces of flesh and clots of
blood The entire face was gone. On
the lower floor of the building was
large pool of blood, which had dripped
down through the crevices of the floor.
He had fulfilled his promise never to be
taken alive.
Near the body of the unfortunate man
was found an envelope with the follow
ing on one side
shot myself, and don't think that
any one did it hut myself A. WARD.
On the other side these words were
visible:
And Linda take care. Of all my
things leave here"
Linda is a cousin of Wards Coroner
Haight held an inquest on the remains,
the Jury returning verdict in accord
ance with the facts, after which the body
was handed over to the friends.
Aaron Ward bore very bad reputa-
ton in Poughkeepsie. He was one of
class of roughs who have been, and are
now. a terror to the city.