The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-03-02
"The Catahoula Vendetta"
SHREVEPORr

ton oil the dSSdooIIut4Oh VI NNh ~"
Col Charles Jones and his two sons. We give the fol-
lowing account of the affair from the New Orleans
Picsyune of the 10th, and also a statement from the
Times:
By the arrival of the New Orleans and Camden
packet St. Marys, Capt. T. @. Sweeney, at our levee
last evening, the sad intelligence is brought Us of the
killing of Gen. St. John Liddei, Of CatahouIa parish.
Gen. Liddell, it appears, was assassinated on board OF
the steamboat St. Marys, Monday, the 14th inst, at
the hour of 2 o'clock, while at dinner, the boat then
being at Jones Landing, on Black river.
He was killed by Col. Charles Jones and his two
sons, Cutbbert and William, Of the same parish, be-
tween whom and the deceased there had existed a ieud.
of long standing, which it is said had lately been re-
newed in some way, by the recent plantation sale, IN
connection with which Mr.. Nixon, of our city, met his
untimely death.
Gen. Liddell was on his way from his plantation
near Trinity to visit his daughter at West Baton Rouge.
As the boat touched the bank at CARROTS Landing,
one mile above Jones, the two young Jones came.9n
board, and when they discovered that Gen, Liddell was
on board, at once left, remouutad their horses and gal
Hoped down to their house below.
After the steamr left CARROTS, she next stopped at
Jones to take on cotton. At this j~uncture Col. Jones
and his two soas came on board, fully armed, and went
up into the cabin.
Gen. Lifdell was sitting at the table eating dinner
as they entered, but attempted to rise from his seat as
they approached. At this instant two shots were dis
Charged at him, one by Col. Jones, and the other by
one OF his sons, both supposed to have taken effect in
his breast. He fell, but while in the act of falling
drew his revolver and shot once at Col. Jones, who
was retreating out of the pantry gaDgway, the ball from
Gen. Liddell's pistol lodging in the ceiling over his
head.
The sons of Jones fred several shots at Gen. LiddeIl
after he had fallen, some of which took effect. Gen.
Liddell did not speak, and expired almost Immediately.
The passengers all fed from the cabin as soon as the
firing commenced. After the shooting, Col. Jones and
his sons went on shore, and the steamer returned to
Gen. Liddell's plantation with the body of the de-
ceased.
STATEMENT CT AN EYEWITNESS.
Having given the above statement, condensed hur-
riedly from various sources, we print below the de-
tailed statement of an eye witne So, furnished US on
board last night, from which our readers will see that
considerable additional light is thrown upon the hon.
icide:
The boat Was OH her way to New Orleans from Cam.
den, and was lying at CARROTS Landing, taking on cot.
ton, when Cuthbert and William Jones, sons of Col.
Charles Jones, came on board and said that their father
was to get on the boat at his landing, as he was going
to New Orleans with cotton. This came to Gen. Lid
dells ears, and he asked one of the clerks of the boat
to let Jones know that he Was on board, and that he
had better not come on. This was told to the two
young Jones, who went on shore and started for their
home about one mile below.
When the boat reached Jones Landing, Col. Jones
was seen on shore with his trunk ready, and having
some twenty bales or cotton to ship. The boat had
considerable trouble to make her landing. and Gen.
Liddeli, with Col. Morrison and a Mr.. Marbury, sat
down at the officers table, and commenced to dine.
Col. Jones came on board, and as he passed the table,
going aft, he looked at the General, who laid down his
knife and fork and rose in his seat.
Col. Morrison laid his hand on General Liddell,s
shoulder and said, Stop, General
When Col. Jones had passed about ten or fifteen
feet, he turned and fred directly at General Lidden,
who fell, and whilst falling drew his revolver and fired
at Jones, who again fred, the shot also apparently tax.
ing effect. The two sons each fred one or two shots.
The ball from Gen. Liddell's pistol missed its aim and
lodged in the top of the cabin about twenty-five feet
from where the General fell. Gen. Liddell did not
speak after he was shot, but died Immediately.
upon examination 1t was found that he had been
struck three times, two of the balls entering very near
the nipple OF the left breast, and one in the neck.
There were four other bullet-holes found in the wood
work near where he fell. After the shooting Col. Jones
called on Col. Morrison to arrest him: but it appears
no actual steps to do so were taken by the gentleman
named. Col. Jones and his sons then went on shore,
and the boat returned to the LiddeIl plantation with
the body, where it was left in the charge of Col. Nor
rison.
From the Times of the 10th.
When the Camden packet St. Marys, Capt. Sweeney.
was on her way to this city, she received on board Gen.
LlddelI, at his plantation, near Trinity, who was
anxious to visit a daughter residing at Baton Rouge.
subsequently,, the boat touched at CARROTS Landing
near Jones', when two sons of Col. Charles Jones went
on board and saw Gen. Liddell. They rode home. and
shortly after, when the boat landed in front of Jones'
place to take on some cotton, Col. Jones and his two
sons went on board. They entered the saloon from
different sides, and passing Gen. L., who was seated at
the table, all three of the Joneses fred at him. The
General finding himself attacked, drew a pistol and
fired at the elder Jones, but without effect. The Gen.
eral received five bullets in all, and died almost imme.
dlately. The Joneses then left, and the boat returned
to Gen. LIS landing with the body. When the General
saw the young Jones at Garretts landing he expressed
tears OF an attack, a. d was much pleased to learn that
they had gone away without any demo- stration. as he
was most anxious to avoid a collision.
The New Orleans papers of the l7.h contain fill &C.
counts of the difficulties which resulted in the recent
terrible tragedy in Catahoula parish. 1t was simply
an assassination, as was the killing of Mr.. Nixon bv
Chas. Cammack at the Boston Club House a short time
since, with which affair it was intimately connected
The Times says that both Col. Jones and Gen, Liddeu
were in the Confederate service. Possibly it NAV he
wrong so far AS the former is concerned. AT all events
We are satisfied that for some time prior to the close
oil the war he was "A friend to both sides, the strength
OF his attachment being increased ar diminished in
proportion to the strength or weakness of the forces
!" "s immediate vicinity. Immediately after the close
Vi tne war he went into the mercantile business at this
place, occupying the house now owned by Messrs.
Hamilton & Co.
we mad the pleasure of meeting with Gen. Liddell
at the time he had command of the cavalry brigade in
this, the Trans-Mississippi Department, and bear willing {
testimony that We never knew a more quietly af,bIe
and elegantly unpretending gentleman. In manner !
he was gentle as a woman, while the chivalrv of his
nature shone from eyes dark and luStrous. In all these t
particulars he was the a~ntipodes, at least in appear l
ance, to the enemy at whose hands he has fallen. y
We append a history of this feud, condensed from
the New Orleans Times: =
The terrible tragedy, which occurred in Catalonia C
parish, on the steamboat St. Marys, is the sequel. We
trust, to an old teud, which has ragged in that parish for n
hiteen or twenty years. The two principals Colonel u
Charles Jones, and Gen. st. John LiddelI were nromi. :
heht planters and citizens of the parish. Col. Jones
q native, We believe, of Kentucky, and is abopt ffr
nSe years old. He married a Cincinnati lady of wealth y
a large plantation in Catahoula parish. which "
ne has cultivated for many years. Gen. LiddeIl is A
native OF Wilkinson county, Miss, was a cadet at West tt
rolnt, and we believe held a commission in the United a
states army. For the greater part of his manhood he "
nas oeen a planter In C~atahoula, where, and tbrouoh. p
out tbis State and Mississippi, lie had ACQUIRED the
strong friendship of a large circle Of friends and reIo. d
ives. Both gentlemen served in the late war on tho al
side, Gen. LiddelI commanding a fine hri. c,
sade, which he handled with great skill and palIantry
de was especially prominent in the operations aronnd II
hnhlH whom that nifp MA n,--I-a -