The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-03
THE HENNEssEY HOMICIDE.
The Crescent Reporters Interview with
Arthur Guerin-The Latter's
Statement.

The local of the CRESCENT called yesterday at
the Parish Prison and had an interview with Mr..
Arthur Guerin, who is there confined, charged
with having killed Special Officer David Hen
Messy, of the police.
Mr.. Guerin appeared perfectly reconciled to the
situation in which he is placed. and confident that
an impartial and intelligent jury will declare him
to have acted in immediate, urgent defense OF his
life. He informed his visitor that he can produce
fifteen or twenty witnesses to testify that Hennes-
sey, for month previously to his death, had con-
stsntly been declaring his resolution to kill Guerin.
The term used by the deceased in speaking OF
him was, generally, " Guerin is my meat" Mr..
g. states that the day Of the occurrence he and
Hennessey were both sober; that he felt q
disinclination to be in HIS company on
account of the threats which had
reached his ears. That Hennessey in
company with two other men came up to him on
Orleans street. and asked him what he looked at
him for That he replied he had right to look at
any person he thought proper to look at. That
Hennessey then said he was as good man 40
anybody and was afraid Of no man on earth. 1t
was then that friend of Mr.. G.'s stepped up and
in an off hand way called all the parties to take
drink and to cease quarreling. They all drank
and G. and II. shook hands. G. left the party
after second drink, saying he had business down
town. That Hennessey followed him and called
to him on the court alley, and asked him to
accompany him to q cOfsehouse at the
corner Of Oumaine and Levee streets. That he
(G.) then said mo- can't go there; it is too far;
but if you insist on drinking, let's go into the
Court House cofeehouse." Thither, accordingly,
they did 90. Inside the cofIeehouse, besides the
bsrkeeper and his tumbler swssher, there were
only themselves, Mr.. James Brooks and another
person, who Joined in a drink. After the drinks
had been called for, and whilst the barkeeper was
prenarinc them, Hennessey made a motion with
his right hand to his pantaoons pocket, remark
ing, ct the same time, "Fve got you now just
where want you.' 1t was then the fatal occur
renee took place.
Mr.. Guern also states that the account pub.
lished in the Picayune with regard to his having
killed, or been accessory to the killing Of eight
or nine men is entirely gratuitous and unjust. He
remarked further that the simple fact of Heanes-
sey having a deringar in each pocket Of his
trousers, q revolver at bis back, and an open
clasp knife stuck, ready for instant use, In the
front of his waistband, was proof strong as holy
writ that Hennessey's intention was to Kill him,
and to kill without premOnition, just as he is
asserted to have killed the lsmented Fred Gru
Der, and exactly in the same way whilst socially
engaged in conversation.
The writer of this has known Mr.. Guerin for
many years, and has always known him as fear
less and adventurous Unauthorized in his friend.
ships TO the peril of his life-but turning away
from no one who sought to quarrel with him. He
ia perfectly frank and unsssumng in his language
and demeanor, and expresses his deep regret that
he should have been forced to kill man who was
memorable in bis determination, as expressed on
divers occasions, to kill him.