The union Democrat., 1870-09-24
Che Union pemorrat.
Iki,i,.s Of John n. Ward.

The following acco1nt Of the killing of this
man tasen from the Memph:s Ledger of Au-
gust 23rd. will be read with interest By many
who formerly knew him in Tuolumne County.
lie figured extensively ia the early days OF
Sonora and Columbia, was possessed Of great
vitality, active and full Of energy. Ugly
stories were sometimes circulated as TO what
he bud done before coming u California and he
was looked upon as vindictise and danger
Gus man when provoked.
The death Of John II. Ward at the hands
Of Dr. D. Is. Knoie, at Hot Springs, last
"Wednesday, was the result. Indirectly. Of a
deliberate and celd. blooded attempt made hy
Ward, some weeks ago, to take the life OF his
own-son-in-law. w. a. Ammons. OF this city.
The Ward-Ammons family history has been
decidedly cventiul and ahundan.ly unp.eas-
ant. Ward is Keu,uckian by birth. though
lie has lived in Tennessee, Arkansas, New
York and California and various other places.
lie has been desperate man, always in diff
cultiee, generally killed his man, and always
managed to get clear, so be boasted. lie is
said 20 have killed eleven men in his day.
she lives at Helena, Arkansas. Some time
bsfore the war he borght 1900 acres o!
land around Hot Springs. A Mr.. Barnes, OF
Shreveport, alleged that he advanced the
money to buy the land on speculation, ard
was 20 have been an equal partner. The
deeds, however, were ia Ward's name, ard
Barnes was the loser in leng. unsuccessful
lawsuit. Ward went ~ CALIFORNIA; and is
said 10 have heen cnnspicious on the Nigi-
lance Comnlttce in the early history of that
State. Bnt he came back, probably, during
the war.
Az Hot Springs he found his young wife
teachin, sc.ool under the name of Mrs.
Jones. from her first husband. Her father,
John Ill Ward was also there. looking after
his band and wherstnne quarry interest. He
and his Gaughter had alwava been on good
terms. bnt he WIS only slightly acquainted
with h;s soa-in-aw. il seems. They met on
the street. nnd merely fnr three davs bowed.
Ammons was not knnwn tn the public the
husband Of Mrs. Jones. lie remained NJ the
guest nf DIR. Knode. On the rurth day Ward
was verv cordial. lie desired to effect re-
conclstio1. he said, between his daughter
and son-in-law, mud, af,era longta.k. induced
Ammoas to write kind letter to Mrs
.lones proposing to forget the past. and live
together as man an.l wife should. Ward
carried the letter himself, but brought no re-
ply.
On Sunday. ak weeks ago to-day. Ward
invited his son.in-law to take walk. and
was unusually gracious. lie said '.Jennie
has been sick. bit will reply in n day or two.
and can assure you that it will he favora-
ble. AMI then all these hills" pointing to Lie
whetstene ridges in sight, "will be yours and
ry~1s IL. L.
had property enough already, hut if "Jen-
nis' would come back he wonld buy her o
nice home in Hot Springs or Memphis. and
treat her well. They separated in the most
friendly hmnner.
His daughter, Miss Jennie Ward, was
married. about the breaking out ofthe war, to
Lewis Jones, Of Summarville. Tennessee n
young man Of wealthy and highly respectable
connections. They removed to Prairie coun-
". Arkansas. where they had large property
in land Jones and his wife's brother young
Ward, belonged to some Confederate COM
mand, hut operated chiefly near aome
Abnu'.. or during The wear lS64 n band Of
Cnnicierates called one evening and stayed
all night. Next mnrniag their horses were
mss,ng. They suspected Jones. and forced
hun IL IA confession. aud Ia take them To the
woods. whore they fund Warl holding the
torses. They hung Jones aul Ward both
on the srot. This double tragedy was soon
slmost forgotten amid the stirring events hf
the war, aud the young widow Jones return
Cd to her mother. who was Keeping mill
merry store in Helena. being well educated
and very Intelligent. Mrs. Jones supported
herself comfortably for some time forward ly
tearhing school.
Two or three years ago Ammons. n well-to
do widower of fifty. removed irom St. Joseph.
Mo-. 10 Helena. 4, went iato business, ard
was reported quite wealthy. He was ma
tive of Virginia. had lived in California. was
intelligent-par,cularly in business matters
had two boys, and was doubtless consider
cd by the yonng widow jones and her
shrewed old mother n good ''catch."
lie was caught, or she was, or both were.
for the name Of Jenes wns soon merged intn
tba; If Ammons. AMI their two hearts were
supposed Ia he heating with one-harse pnwer.
They removed to Forrest Hill, handsome
piece ot property un the Mcm,his L Charles
ton railroad. eighteen miles from Memphis.
which Ammons hourat, hat did not make
over To his darling little wife. ~ she insisted
he should. They lived together there over u
year, but not as happy as two turtle doves.
They discovered somehow that thew bad NOT
struck their respective "affinities," and af-
fairs grew unpleasant. Forrest Illl was
sold. Mrs. Ammons went to visit her motl,-
er at Helena. ANN ons went To Forest CITY,
on the Memphis {; Little Rock Railroad.
Then he came back last Spring, with his TWO
boys, nearly grown now, and settled in his
present residence, on Allen avenue, where
he owns several houses. Having amasSed
sufhcient means, he desired to settle down
and spend Lis remaining days'in peace and
quiet.
Seven weeks ago he went to Hot Strings
in charge tf DR.. Knode's two little daush-
ters, who had been at ST. Agnes, and Mrs.
Smith, DIR. IS sister-in-aw. Ammons and
DIR. knode having been friends for the last
twenty years.
On Menday morning about Il o'clock, as
Ammons was returning from visit to a sick
man, he SAW Ward step into house and
came out with daahe-harrellei gun; when
he came in front of the house. Ward raisei
the gnn, and Ammons hoksi in an nnno-
site direction to see what he was rnin. 70
shoas at. At that instant the yum was fired
aud ammons felt his arm fall nawer'eSs by
his s'ae. III" tr,se far IL. Knade's ot6ee. n
hnadred yards "iF. and Ward tried to head
him nH. ard fira1 the o,har h,.r.l -. L..