Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-05
II uinn aud 9ispatfh.
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 3, 1867.
Largest Circulation in City and State.
TRAGEDY AT THE ST. CHARLES
From the n. o. Times. slsL

NtNm AAi6 N We AAAAiAalH .'Aa--r
One Of the most tragic events that has
occurred in New Orleans for many day,
startled the hdJifues Of the rotunda Of the
ST. Charles Hotel last evening, one man
being instantly killed, and another Sc
riously, perhaps MORALLY wounded, and
10Th men Of considerable mark in then
respective spheres Of life.
The affair took place about a quarter
before eight O'Clock, and the preceding cir
cumstances, a. related BY eyewitness and
friends Of the parties, we're a. follows:
Some time ago a gambler by the name Of
Brantley forged check for $1,000, upon a
Well-knOwn mercantile house of this city,
90 the members Of which firm Mr.. J. j..
Bryant keeper Of the extensive gambling
saloon over the Jackson saloon, on 81.
Charles street, between Canal and Common
streets, felt under deep obligations for their
kindnesses shown his son. Bryant became
engaged in a dispute with Judge Fred.
Tate, Of LaGrange, Texas, a well-known
criminal lawyer Of the Lone Star State,
whom he accused Of completely in the
sWindle. The quarrel appears 70 have
lasted some time, Bryant, who was nat
nrally Of hot temper becoming very ViO-
lent, and calling Tate Git is said, a thief,
swindler and coward. Tate acted quite
calmly, told Bryant that he had been
drinking, and endeavored 10 avoid diff
iculty.
II appears that by the Intervention Of
friends, Mr.. BRYANT was taken 10 one side,
after having said that the clerks Of the hstel
knew him CTate) to be a scoundrel. Tate
entered the Office, and asked one Of the
gentlemen which Of the number it was who
had spoken 80 disparagipgly of him, and
a. he could not, by this inquiry ascertain,
he was advised to ask Of Col. Bryant the
name Of the party.
Leaving the Office Of the hotel, Judge
Tate advanced to where Bryant was stand
ing, with several gentlemen, near the cen
tire Of the rotunda, and asked him the
question, in a concilatory tone of voice.
Col. Bryant pushed him violently away,
either catching him by the collar or the
throat in doing so.
And here the versions Of the difficulty
are at variance. Some parties assert that
at the moment Of pushing, Col. Bryant
drew his knife others that he did not
draw it until Judge Tate reached behind
him for his pistol. Judge Tate himself
says tina: Bryant lunged at him with the
knife at the moment Of pushing, but is not
certain whether the blow reached him I;
that the moment he Tate saw the knife
he drew his pistol and began to fire.
However, in less time than is taken to
record il, three shots were fred into Bry-
ants body, one passing through the heart,
one entering the right cheek and passing
through the head, and the third finding
lodgment we did not exactly learn where
Bryant fell dead instantly, clutching with
death grip the 7 shaped dagger with which
he had inflicted a serious stab in the right
side Of his opponent
The body Of Col. Bryant remained on the
marble floor, a CORY spectacle, for some con-
siderable time, an object Of curiosity 10 an
eager throng. One friend of Judge Tates,
however by main force, prevented the
weapon being taken from the hand Of the
corpse, or the body in any other way Sc
riously disturbed, until the police arrived
and took charge of il. The remains were
finally placed on a settee, and carried by
the police and two walters of the hotel to a
house on Gravier street, between Basin and
Franklin.
Mr.. J. J Bryant was about aixty-five
years OF age, but had the appearance of be-
ing much younger. He passed several
years in San Francisco, and Is said to have
spent between fifty and hundred thousand
dollars az an election for Mayor held IN that
city, in which be was a candidate. Mr.
Bryant leaves a wife, son and two daugh-
tiers One Of the latter We hear was re-
Gently married. His son was at one time
employed at the house of Given, Watts 4
Co, merchants of this city.
Ailer three shots had been fred by Mr..
Tate special officer Petrie, Of the hotel,
succeeded in taking away the weapon, and
the wounded man was conducted up stairs
TO his room. II was then found that he
was bleeding profusely, and medical as
sistance was at once sent for Neither DIR.
Stone nor DR.. Chopin could be found, but
DIR. John ID. Foster, who had been sent for,
al last appeared and examined the wound.
II was found TO be a straight thrust, but as
the patient was weakening rapidly from
loss of blood, and the hemorrhage had
ceased, it was considered best not to probe
the wound Il was not positively decided
whether the lung had been penetrated, and
consequently how dangerous the wound is
We are unable TO say.
Judge Tate expressed deep regret upon
learning that Bryant had expired and
stated that he had only shot in self-defense
that he respected the deceased as a man
very much. He hasa family in LaGrange
1 Texas
The deceased, Mr. Bryant, was fol
time a resident Of this city, many years
ago. Judge Tate went to Texas, from Hunts