New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-14
From the Atlanta Intelligencer,l
Outrageous Attempt at Murder Horses
Stolen.

On Sunday nightlast the most outrageous attempt
at murder was made by a desperate band Thieves
about three and half miles from this city, that
we have ever been called upon to notice. Not
long since, Col. F. w. Benteen, of the cloth Mis-
souri, cavalry and recently the federal comman-
dant of this post, purchased place on the old Nc
DonOugh road, with view ofmaking it his perma-
nent residence, and had encamped upon it until
he could erect suitable buildings for the aceommos
dation of his family. few nights previous to the
outrageous occurrence which we are now noticing
the colonel was Joined by his wife, Mrs. Benteen,
who had just arrived from st. Louis. At about 10
o'clock on the night referred to, while the colonel
was in his tent reading, and Mrs. Benteen writing
to her St. Louis friends, the firing of a gun was
heard in the vicinity of the tentat an clubhouse
cupied by one of the colonels domestics who had
charge of his horses then locked up in his stables.
This shot was fired, it was soon after ascertaned,
at this domestic, or servant of the colonel by one
of the robbers, and took effect in two places, the
back and head, intilcting, however, only slight
wounds. Selling pistol, and opening the door of
the tent the colonel stepped out to take an observ
alton, when he saw, protected by the trees,
three men approaching the tent-two directly in
| front, the third in an oblique direction.
! Then he challenged them on their approach by
crying out "who comes there? and no answer
being given he fired in the direction of the two
dlyesting himself, with much presence of mind,
Just before firing, by throwing them into the
bushes near, of large sum Of money and a
valuable watch, which he had upon his person.
This fire was Immediately returned by the rascals,
| VINO succeeded III severely WOuuul0g colonel
one shot taking effect in the right hip and another
in the left calf Four white men advanced then
rapidly and made him prisoner, demanding his
money and whatever was valuable supOn his
person, which, of course, they searched, taking
therefrom small deringer, pocket knife, and
the money belt which had only a minute before
been emptied of its contents. The robbers then
demanded Of Col. B. that he should accompany
them to his stables and deliver to them his horses
and fine saddle which it seems they knew he
had Defenseess and powerless though he was
the colonel in order to delay the rascals in theii
robbery conducted them to the wrong stables
but they soon discovered the ruse, and directly
finding an axe they proceeded to the stable
where the horses were, broke open the doors, and
with the stolen property rode off, taking the ole
McDonOugh road that crosses 'South river.'
While these outrages We're being enacted who car
imagine the anguish and terror of Mrs. Benteen
then left alone in the tent, powerless to rende
any aid to her husband?
Colonel Benteen thinks that there were only foul
men engaged in this desperate outrage, although
the negro who was shot thinks there were more il
the woods near by. These men admitted the.
were thieves come to plumber, and that at nj
D hazards Such an outrage as this has never befor
been perpetrated in this vicinity In audaCity anC
recklessness it exceeds any that we have hitherto
, been called upon to report. Coupled with it
: Others have recently occurred in this vicinity AM
city, which evidence plainly the existence OF
band of horse thieves than which Murrels clan
in days past were certainly neither holder no
mr. SurrpsSful.