Vicksburg weekly herald., 1870-05-07
THE WEEKLY HERALD
TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1870.
AsHOoTIEG AFFAIRAHD BOLD
ATTEMPT AT ROWRERY,

, NNee A~sAe 'HAAaAAAAf
q man calling himself Peter Riley,
was shot ct Mrs. II. A. Brooks,
near the Bridgeport ferry crossing
Of Big Black river. The circum-
stances Of the case as elected upon
an examination held yesterday be-
fore Esquire Ulm, at Big Black
Bridge, are Ss follows: A man
named Foley came to Mrs. Brooks
house several days prior to the
shooting, aud through statements
made was permitted to remain a
short time being expected to leave
daily. On Friday, Foley met Riley,
who said he had walked from
Vicksburg that dsy, at the store
Of W. ]. Cowan & Co., about
two and o half miles from
the Brooks plantation. Both
proceeded together from the store,
to Mrs. Brooks house and both
were somew hat under the influence
Of liquor. At the house Of Mrs.
Brooks they asked and received din
ner and Foley laid down as If
10 sleep. Riley was exceedingly
troublesome, and endeavored to
force open the door of Mrs. Brooks
private room. Mr.. George Kelly, q
young man and q relative Of the
family, being present, caused Riley
todesist and to 90 into room at the
opposite end Of the house. At this
moment two other gentlemen, rela-
tives Of the family, rode up and all
entered the house. It was finally
suggested that some one had better
see what the two men were about,
and Mr. Kelly, on going out, found
Foley asleep, or pretending to be
30, in the room, and discovered
Riley making of through the yard
with his carpet-bag, with some
clothing of Mr.. A. G. Brooks stuffed
in it. He ordered him to halt, which
not being done, advanced after him
and finally fred, shooting Riley in
the face, making a slight wound.
Riley lay upon the grass and a
surgeon was sent for; the others
went TO the house. In the bag Of
Riley was found clothing to the
amount of seventy-tive dollars, be-
longing to Mr.. Brooks, which Riley
had just stolen from the room
where Foley was. In few minutes
Riley got up aud came into the
house in threatening manner and
Mr.. Kelly, who was the only per-
son hsving a weapon, went to him
and forced him from the house and
10 the endeavor to arrest him, and
in self-defence, was compelled to
shoot Riley, the balls taking effect
In the neck, the right forearm and
one through the left lung. After
being shot Riley managed to get
half a mile from the house IN his
endeavOr to escape, and was found
after dark in the bushes, car
ried to the house aud cared.
for. DR.. j. L. Hebron was called
and attended the wounded man.
From the testimony, which was
heard by reporter connected with
the HERALD, It would seem that FO.
ley and Riley had cOnspired to rob
Mrs. Brooks house. Their actions,
Especially Riley5,) were Of such
character as to create the impression
that they we're desperate and reck-
less men. There is usually no
white male person about there in
the day time, which Foley, who had
been staying there, we'll knew, and
Mr.. Brooks, the son, was in Vicks'
burg or at the store at the time OF
the affair. Probably nothing but
the presence OF the gentlemen who
CHANGED to be there, and the bold
and determined action Of Mr.. Kelly
prevented the success Of diabOli'
cal attempt at robbery. At the ex'
animation before Justice Ulm A
W. Brien, Esq, conducted the case
very ably for Mr.. Kelly and after d
full and complete heating Mr.. Kel'
ly was fully vindicated and dis
charged from custody. We should
mention here that the investigation
was held at the request of Mr.. Kelly
himself who after the shooting
promptly surrendered into Gus
tody. Warrants were issued agaius
Foley and Riley tor robbery and
conspiracy to rob, and we hopl
both, if found guilty will be mad,
to suffer. Our county and city i
infested with these villains ant
credit is due Justice Ulm for hi
promgtness in prosecuting thes,
matters.
--@ - .----
Hon. BENJANlN G. HARRls, NJ
C., announces himself as IN "ln
dependent candidate" Tor Con