The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-06-30
Testimony Before the Jury Of Inquest

Testimony Before the Jury Of Inquest.
The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion. of the 10th
publishes the full particulars OF the recent
Iamentable tragedy in that city, which
grew out Of the official act of Mayor Crane,
the deceased, in ordering the seizure OF
the personal property--a piano-of Mr..
Yerger. in satisfaction for arrears of taxes.
The Clarion proceeds
When this property was attached, e. NJ.
Yerger was in Memphis. On his return,
Tuesday morning, he sent several messages
to Col Crane, the purport of which was an
invitation to meet him on the street, d.
vested of his official character, in order to
give him satisfaction for what he esteemed
to be all affront. We are informed that
DR.. Harrington, who after repeated solicit
tatlons bore one of these communications,
finally consented to do so, with purpose
IN his mind, when explaining to Crane
the intent of Yerser, to advise him not to |
60 upon the streets, and that he did so, |
stating that yerger was armed and that his |
passions were greatly intensified by liquor.
tuClC 10 III hSiuk WibiCcS VI
this fact. But it is the statement of DR.. |
Harrington, who is truthful, kind hearted
generous man of peace, and would be the
last person on earth to produce dissension
and the first to save fellow mortal from
the sorrors of such death us overlook the
deceased. Chief of Police Isler, Is will be
seen from the testimony, gave the same
advice which DR.. Harrington had given
but unfortunately it was not taken.
Strange enough the deceased did not, as a
conservator of the peace. order the arrest
of Yerger, notwithstanding his billigerent
message, from the streets, nor did he pre-
pare himself with arms for q deadly COM
bat, nor still did he keep out of harms
way.
From the testimony elected before the
Coropers's jury, we use the subjoined
statements
ROBERT IsLER, SwonN.-Was at Mr..
Cranes Office in the forenoon; Geo Yerger
came to the Office, called Crane out into
the hall heard them talking; heard Crane
say he would not leave his Office to see any
one some time after George Yerger left
DR.. Harrington came down to the Office !;
: witnessed introduced him to Col Crane !;
sat talking few minutes Harrington
asked Crane if he had private Office
j., Crane replied that he had not, but would
: have one as soon as the new clerks g
Office was fixed up; Dr.. Harrington said
; he wanted to see Crane privately; Crane
, took him into the United States Clerk g
Office they stayed there some time. when
! Harrington left and Crane came back into
l his office and said Yerger wanted him Crane
9 to meet him on the street; witness told
Col. Crane not to go on the street j; Wit.
]. ness thinking there might be difficulty
f put on his pistol; Crane told him that he
a was excitabIe, that there was going to be
;, no trouble.
Crane sat down to write letter, saying
n that he was going to headquai ters as soon
: as he got through that lie also had to
get bottle of Jamaica ginger for man
d who was sick, Witness stayed at the
e Mayors office until pretty nigh one O'Clock
d when he went home to his dinner
e While at dinner, was Informed that Col
3 Crane had been killed by Yerger. Wen
up to Yerger's house and arrested him
r. went with him to headquarters from ther'
q Yerger was taken to camp by soldiers:
!, Witness was informed that John X
Yerser had the knife with which Gran
had been killed was told by some one h
ought to get it /; went after it; met Georg
~ erser and went with him to Johu K
- Yerger George Yerger told john K
Yerger that he might us we'll give th
-. knife up, which he did: Witness produce
=, :, the knife before the jury.
~ HARRIS BARKsDALE swoRN.-Came out {
1e Clarion office and met Crane; passed hiI
with usual salutatiOns, and went int
10 Green's bank while there, heard some on
es say" "You are damned puppy y ran GU
III with Mr.. Thomas Green and Georg
he Green saw Crane and K. NJ. Verge
standing near each other; Crane salt
Sd "You are drunk and had better go home
IN Mr.. Yerger said, 81 am not drunk, an
;h want to tell you that you are a damne
puppy ;" Crane said, al don't care for 20
lie and will not have anything to do with you
~ Yerger said, I telegraphed you not to tax
" advantage of me during my absence" {
l. the same time shaking his finger (don
b. know which handy in Cranes face Gran
O. said, II did not take advantage of you
or and made gesture with his hand Yerg'
&c, said, "'fake your hand out of my face, 70
g, damned cowardly son of a BITCH" at san
ay time striking Cranes hand down Crar
said. 81 don't know you aud don't wal
to have anything to do with you exec
officially" At this time witness notice
Or that Mr.. Yerger had his right hand in b
~, "e bosom. Crane turned his back to NJ
III, Us Yerger and took one step up street. M
=. Yerger pushed him and said, go. u
H.. J.. damned dog" Crane wheeled round al
iay struck MIR. Yerger with d. walking site
,as They then clinched, and Mr.. Yerger DIRE
a ,nu knife and commenced cutting at Gran
CIV ,,; Crane caught Mr.. Yerger's arm and held
AZ, AZ, awhile. They were still struggling. M
t 'a1 Yerger jirked his arm away and stru'
'a az Crane in the back. At this time Graz
VI backed into Browns store. The parti
vas struggled just inside the door. Witne
~ could see nothing but the arms Of the p;
Ia ties. Crane fell, and Yerger stepped o
U.s. and threw the, knife at Crane, saying.
=, "Now, you damned dog, you struck me
"a "a or, "What did yon strike ME for w
ea mes could not identify the ktife--did not 8
-, it, except in Yerger's hands. At the iii
I'd. thought it was a"tbug" knife.
md
Ger That's Wor THo'T.-K few days sim
on says a Michigan paper, one specimen
in humanity, chuck full of fashionable drir
L.. = l. - r Il