The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-12-29
Shooting on Commercial Place,
f. j. BYRD SHOT p. v. DCCROS-TIIE
WOUND BELIEVED TO BE MORTAL
ORIGIN OF THE DIFFICULTY.
From the N. o. Times, 18th inst.

From the N. O. Times, 18th inst.1
A difficulty occurred yesterday in
Commercial Alley, at ~ o'clock, be-
tween E. j. Byrd and P. V. Ducros,
| which resulted, as is supposed, in the
mortal wounding of the former.
The difficulty originated, according
to one account, in n hostile visit made
10y Byrd to the house of Ducros, on
Marigny street, at + or o'clock on
Thursday evening. At that time Du-
eros was not at home, but was told on
his arrival of the visit of Byrd, and his
threats ola hostile nature.
Nothing further occurred until yes
terday A. NJ, when, the friends of Mr..
Ducros state, he received letter from
Byrd to the effect that if he was gem
tleman, he would meet him at the cor
ner OF Commercial Alley and Camp ST.,
subsequently another patty came into
the Office, aud G.. Dncros. who was tire
Secretary OF the Knickerbocker Com
pany, was seen to leave the Office in
his company.
Ducros, after being absent for a few
minutes, then went to the corner with
the party in whose company lie had
left the Office, and appeared for the
space of minnie to he exchanging
words with Byrd. Byrd was next seen
to strike Dncros over the head with
his fist. Therenpnn Dncres drew re-
volver, and Immediately fred two shots
almost simultaneously. The first one
took effect on the left side, immediate
ly below the heart; Byrd thcreupon fell
to the ground, and remained ina half
fainting condition uutil carried to the
hospital. DR.. Segnin, the first ply
siciah who reached the scene, thought
that Byrd could not snrvivc. TaT
Immediately after the firing of the
the scene, and for half an. hour COM
pletely occupied the entrance to Com
mercial Alley. The fact that both of
the young men were of evident stand
ing and responsibility in the commune
nifty greatly added to the great excite
ment which naturally prevails and the
general ignorance of the. spectators as
to the names of tlie combatants and the
circumstances which had resulted SO
fatally without any premonition or
warning, but added to the deep inter
est which the scene called forth. 1t
was with the utmost difficulty that n
way could be forced through the crowd
with the body of tho dying man, and
that it could be conveyed tn ough the
alley to the wagon awaiting it on
Camp street. .r.,.
The ill-tetling which resulted in the
tragedy is said to have originated in a
GOODNESS of manner on the part of Mr..
Ducros. which subsequently went so
far as a refusal to speak when they met
Mr.. Ducros was soon after. arrested
and carried to the first District Station.
Orrin Byrd. father of the young man,
after several bloody affairs, was killed
in the year 1S5-by Matt Edwards, n
young lawyer, who was pursued across
the street by Byrd with knife. His
dead body was laid out in the brokers'
shop of Horace Bean, corner of Com
mon and Camp streets. He was very
handsome and elegant gentleman, per-
fectly fearless but always fought to the
death. His appearance was elegant
to cffeminacy, and when laid out in the
brokers' shop was dressed in the ex-
treme of the fashion. After this, his
brother, DR.. Byrd, of Baton Rouge,
killed a young DIR. Skillman, who at
tackled in revenge for wrong done to
a member of his family. Skillman fired
several shots and Byrd closed with him
and stabbed him to death. He escaped
from Baton Rouge, settled somewhere
in Alabama, and being assailed by a
man with cane, ran him through the
body with q sword drawn from his
cane; was tried, convicted and sen
fenced to long imprisonment, and
took prussic acid and died. q
Theodore Byrd, the youngest of the
| family, was killed in the Verandah bar
room by a Soung man who charged
him with seducing his wife. He was
stabbed to the heart.
The Byrds were from Hamburg, S.
lC.,-parents very respectable-they
were all well educated men of very
pleasing address. etc. Orlin Byrd, the
father of the young man shot, few
days after his marriage tonight duel
with Richard Hagan, on tile track OF
the Mexican Gulf Railroad. Both par
ties were wounded, Hagan SO seriously
that he lost a portion of his foot, and
ever afterwards had to go on crutches
LATER.-We learn Ducros has been
sent to the Parish Prison. The wound.
ed man was conveyed in a furniture
car to his home Oh Casacalvo street.
| WHAT CONSTITUTES AN EDITOR.-