The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-13


[Frena the Memphis Avalanche sh.l
The most melancholy tragedy which 1t has been
our duty to record in many months occurred yes
terday and threw the entire city into painful com.
motion. Early In the forenoon the report circu-
lated like wilddre that Capt. Ed. Whitfield, well
known commission merchant and highly esteemed
young citizen, had been killed The rumor was
soon confirmed and gleom was depicted on every
face.
After employing all the means at our command
to ascertain the particulars OF the sad Affair." we
have arrived at the following facts : Mr.. 8. A.
Doran, q man from Louisville formerly. rented q
suit Of rooms on Second street, between Exchange
and Market, ism Capt. Whitfield, some two
the rent recently. and day before yesterday Capt.
Whitfield obtained writ In one Of the courts to
eject Doran from the rooms. Late that afternoon
Mr.. Doran appeared at the Avalanche counting
room and asked for the insertion of the following
card as an advertisement:
t"MExPHIs, Tenn, Jan. Z, 1853.
"Francis Z. Whitfield and his son. Of the firm
of Moore Whitfield, hereby denounce, both,
ss thieves, liar5 and poltroons. s. A. DoRAN.D
At first it wei. rejected, IS be was personally
unknown at thIofice. He left a short time and
returned accompanied by well known citizen
who indorsed Tim as gentleman of response.
bIlty. The ca was then accepted and paid for
and was sent fdr publication through the regular
business chanHs In accordance with the custo
that has prevailed generally In the South.
The card APPEARED yesterday morning. aud at
an early hour Captain Whitfield visited our Office
alone and imputed II Mr.. Doran had been here.
de had some ecnversation with the business man.
sger, OF afriensy character, expressed himself
satisfied as to the Office, and then left. In CON-
pany with Mr.. Virgil Moore his business partner.
he repaired so95 after to Dorsn's rooms 10 de.
mand satlsfaclssn. The rooms are situated up
STAIRS IN q Two t1ory building on the corner of an
alley running between Exchange and Market
streets. r.
The two gentlemen assembled the stair ysy lead.
ing TO the rooms from the west side Of Second
street. and knocked at the first door, which was
opened by female in her night clothes. They
inquired for Dorm, and she told them that he
was 10 the next room. They Knocked at the next
door on the hail. and Doran opened it himself,
and he was also in his night clothes. Captain
whitfield Immediately entered. and Doran closed
and fastened tse door, leaving Mr. Moore on the
outside. Veryssoon firing commenced within, and
Mr; Moore being unable TO get in, ran down stairs
and gave the Elsrm. Some of the police an
swered his call, and when they ran up stairs Do.
ran opened the door with pistol in his hand aud
remarked that he did not want TO murder any
Dooy, or words TO that effect. Captain Whitfield
was sitting on trunk, with his head bowed and
blood triekling from his forehead. Mr. Moore
spraDg 10 bis support and begged him to speak |
and tell how he was hurt. He spoke once or |
twice feebly-said he was shot, and could not
live long. He vas taken down stairs aud put into
a hack, and started for the Peabody Hotel, but
expired on the way. The remains were carried |
into the hotel and laid out in No. 90 where the |
ioadNor auu iIIeuuS OF Inc deceased collected to /
pour out their tears Of anguish aud profound
sorrow.
In the meantime Capt. simons, of the 6rst
district, arrested Mr. Doran In his room. The bed
from which he bad arisen was still occupied by a
mistress of his, named sue Campbell fallen
woman OF great beauty and physical attractions,
formerly OF Lostsyille, KY. The room adjoining
was separated iaom this one by folding doors. and
was occupied by els er of Sue Campbell, lately
from Nashville, another nymph Of the pavement
Doran's pistol Fad three of the chamhers dis.
charged. Only one shot seemed to have entered
the left side, just below the heart, and came out
near the upper lumbar vertebre. When taken TO
The Adams street station-house Doran appeared
perfectly COOL and said that he acted ia aelf-de.
ense: lie only remained there half an hour and
vas then conveyed TO the county jail on the cor.
Ter OF Promenade aud American streets.
2Coroner san,elson was notified and held an in.
Iuest at the hotel. The jury rendered a verdict
hat the deceased came to his death from pistol
hot tred by s. "A. DOrsu. In the afternoon Capt
"hifeld's remains were removed to Mrs Shep.
nerds, on Vende street.