New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-11-19
The ST. Charles Street Murder.
Examination of BIevins.
TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES.

some OF Wnlcn develops Tacts ana details |
not previously reported;
John williamson the evening Iof the |
fifth of November witness stopped at the |
corner of Gravier and st. Charles streets, |
attracted by a crowd across the street near |
tine cigar stand. Witness crossed over to |
see what was the matter; saw the deceased |
and was requested by him to take a gentle |
man named Mr.. Cohen to the station-house. |
The deceased at that lime had hold of the |
accused, William Blevlns. He (acCused) |
directed the deceased to let him go, that he |
was a gentleman and would walk to the
station with him. Witness and all the par
ties started. Witness in the lead, on the
left hand side OF the street going up, saw
the deceased and his prisoner crossing st.
Charles toward Union street. Witness con-
tinued on the same side OF st. Charles
street; he started on to walk toward the
station. When the deceased was about
Sans Saloon, witness heard shot.
Witness was then between the Phoenix
House and the st. Charles Theatre. Heard
second shot and saw the flash of the
pistol. Saw a person with pistol IN his
hand step across the gutter and continue
to cross the railroad track, still with pis-
tol in his hand. Witness recognized this
person as the accused. The accused turned
around and witness advanced toward him
and fred one shot. The accused then ran
down ST. Charles street Witness did not
see the deceased TALL, as be was keeping
his eye on the accused. Did not nouce
where the deceased stood when he saw the
flash of he second ire or shot. Witness can
not tell in what direction the shot came
from. The accused then ran down Union
| 4 ,f 1.ala
street, and when near Gravier street ac-
! cused fell. Witness then advanced and
took hold of the accused, VINO still had the
pistol in his hand. Witness would recog
| nize the pistol again. Witness recognized
| a Young man named Tom Houlihan, who is
an officer, and told MIN to take the pistol
away from the accused which he did Wit
ness then helped the accused to get up, and
walked along with hin TO the station in
| company with another man whom witness
don't know. Witness then had HIM locked
up. Witness recognized the pistol in court
as the one taken from the accused at the
| moment oil hls arrest. 1t had but Two shots
out, the other tubes beng capped.
| Michael Gavin - On the night OF the
shooting witness met Officer Gebhard, with
"a prisoner in charge, az the corner OF st.
Charles and Gravier streets. Witness be-
lieyes the prisoner was the accused there
was another gentleman with them; this was
on the river side OF ST. Charles street I; a
person whom witness thinks was friend of
The prisoner said; DON. put your hands
on that man he will 20 with you" This
occurred at the corner OF 81. Charles and
Grayier streets. When witness, Officer
Gebhard, the prisoner and the person re-
ierred to came up st. Charles street to
Commercial alley, or 6heredbout, they
crossed over the street, and when they had
arrived at about 80 st, Charles street The
person before mentioned made u mo-
ton as if whispering with the ac-
cused, and Immediately aiterWard said
This man will go no mrth r. Wit
ness answered he will, taking the prisoner
by the left arm. The person who said lhe
prisoner should 90 no further, took held OF
witness and showed hun into the door OF a
saloon. Witness then saw the prisoner
draw a revolver and heard shot, and
another Immediately afterward. Witness
is positive three shots were fired. The first
shot was from the neighborhood OF where
witness was. The second, witness thought
was from about where the prisoner was
standing Witness was still inside the door
Of the saloon, with a person having hold
on him. Witness hiuk it was about four
or five yards from him where the firing
took place. Witness then stepped out of
the door OF the saloon, and saw man
run down st. Charles street. Wit
ness pursued him, and thinks he
turned down Union street. Witness
came close to him midway b tween ST..
Charles and Carondelet streets, and the man
pointed pistol at him. Witness said,
"Don't shoo." He made a quick turn and
got away ain. Witness caught up to
MIN again, at the corner of Gravier and
Cdrondelet streets. The man again pointed
the pistol, and witness again made the same
exclamation. Witness caught the man by
the neck and he fell, the witness falling
over him. Witness is positive the man he
caugh, was runGing. He (witness) was
stupetied by the fall, and when witness re-
coyered the man had been taken away.
, Wien W tnrss first saw the man run, be
was across the railroad track from him, on
st. Charles street. The man was the same
one Officer Gebhard had in charge He
! saw him locked up, and thinks he is the
accused.
Thomas Houlihan, sworn-Said while
standing at the corner of st. Charles and
Gravier streets. on the evening in question
with Officer White, witness heard shooting
in the direction of Perdido street. Wit
ness and the officer went toward it, anC
saw a man running down Union street, iron
St. Charles pursued by Officer Gavin. Saw
the man point pistol at he officer. Their
was crowd on Union street. Witnes
ran after the man, and finally, at the cOrne
of Gravier and CarOndelet streets, uVertool
: him. The man had fallen down, au,
Il Officer Gavin Witness Is positive thi
:. man was Blevins, as he took the pisto
s. from his hand. Recognizes the pistol
court as the same one. He brought it
+ the station.
. W. II. White, Chief Of the Detectives, col
~ roborated the statement of the previou
, witness relative to their position. Whe
n witness reached the corner of st, Charlie
and Union Streets he saw crowd comm
from the direction of lie bank cryin
!. "stop him, stop him." Witness first dre'
his revolver, but concluded not 10 use
AS the man was passing witness put oil
IN his foot to trip him up. The man pointe
IL his pistol at witness and snapped it. Wi
40 ness missed the man with his foot; saw Il
~ man snap his pistol again in the middle
- the block; saw TWO men fall at the corn
w OF Gravier aud Carondelet streets; hea
some one cry out: Murder! murde
w 4 Mt kill meP When witness got up OF
Ger Houlihan was wrenching the pist
y, VI the prisoners hand. When the pr
ener got up he commenced hallooing, al
outy ceased when h recognized the W
to ness. After his arrest, in obedience
as the orders Of the superintendent
Fir the Police, witness with two 9th
We officers took the prisoner to