New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-14
LETTER FROM sHREvEPORr.

LETTER FROM sHREvEPORT,
~reat Exc1eemQpt-Horrid Marder d
hreaa OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Shot
gun Uscd-One Killed, Another Nor.
tally Wounded-Youmg Murderer Can.
tared-Another Murder the Canse-Ex.
pectea Appointments Of Mayer, Etc.
kivers-Rates Of Freight-Enterprtse
81 Flavtlla Owners-Advice to Red
River Packet Csmpany.
lspeciai Correspondence of the Republican,
SHREVEPORT, April 8, 1871.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,: :.
Our usually quiet, very orderly and law
aoiding city was thrown into great excite
ment to-day, about dinner time, by the dis
charge OF two shots from q double-barreled
shotgun in the hands Of wild young man,
eighteen years Of age, named Martin
IAiley, Jr., on Market street, about a square
from the Brooks House. Coming from an
alley. he approached very near without
speaking word to his victim. Mr.. Elias
ONeil, OF Boesier parish, and fired one bar
rel into his face, killing him instantly; but
after Mr.. O'Neil fell, put the gun to his
head and discharged the other barrel,
charged with buckshot, completely tearing
his head to pieces. By the first shot he, it
is feared, also mortally wounded DR.. L. S.
Fisher. who was conversing with Mr.. O'Neil,
blowing 'out one eye and horribly disfgur-
ing him. DR.. Fisher has recently moved
here, and is not as. well known as Mr..
VNe'l, who was about lorty-five years of
age, and long a resident Of the neighboripg
parish.
Mr.. O'Neil, last August, near the same
place where he was murdered, killed the
father of his murderer in a gambling diff
Guilty, and thus retribution has come to him.
Young Talley attempted to escape, but was
captured at once and conveyed to prison.
1t is sad event, viewed from any point.
either as it affects the families of the parties
or the community; especially is it sad in
regard to DR.. Fisher, who was innocent in
every respect, and it is to be most sincerely
hoped he may recover. When the investiga-
ton takes place, if any new developments
are made known We shall inform yodr
readers.
1t is considered by all here with whom
we have cOnversed as a cOli-blOoded mur-
der. We were not far from the parties, and
heard the discharges of the gun distinctly,
and one followed the other. very quickly.
But we turn from the sad scene produced
by these shots, and will speak Of other mat
ters.
Several parties, thought to be posted,
have, 80 far, been disappointed in their pre-
dictions relative to the appointments of
mayor and administrators for Shreveport
by the Governor under our new charter
We could, were it proper, give number Of
rumored appointees, but we prefer to wait
the pleasure Of the Governor, feeling sat
isfed he will appoint coed men.
At last dates, by arrivals yesterday at
Barsetown from upper Red river. We learn
that stream is falling as low down as White
Oak Shoals, and stationary at points below
and in the lakes. The steamer Flavilla,
Captain Scovell. arrived to-day from Last
Chance, few miles this side of Bargetown,
with S3l bales Of cotton, brought from up
per Red river by the steamers Hamilton and
Lightest. The Lightest came from Gar
rett's Bluff, 600 miles above the raft. She
reports plenty of cotton, at good rates of
freight, if the water does not falls Besides
these two boats, we have two others, the
George and Frank Morgan, running above
the raft. The owners Of the Flavilla,
Messrs. Sale e. Murphy, of this city, in or
der to make connections with these boats,
have cut, just above Koun's canal, pas
sage through the swamps and lake to a
point above the raft, and are making a very
handsome thing by their enterprise, as they
get three dollars per bale for bringing cot
ton from Bargetown, only eighty miles,
whereas the boats have been taking cotton
from here to New Orleans, seven hundred
miles, for one dollar per bale, and some
times fifty cents.
But we do hope this "cut-throat" policy on
the part Of the boats will cease. There is
no reason in the world why the boats should
not get living rates of freight, if they will
only stick to the eSrates they fix on. Now,
our advice to our good friends, the man
ayers of the New Orleans and Red River
Packet Company, is to let their rates. which
are by all admitted to be very reasonable,
remain fixed, no matter how many and what
kind of boats attempt to compete with them.
They have good boats, we'll oficered and
managed, and have no reason to fear any
opposition so long as they continue to sup
ply the wants of the public, and are accomS
as they have been.
Let them fix their days of departure from
here, as well as New Orleans. and then 60,
40 matter what boat is in port, and they
will find the public will learn to depend on
hem; and they will, at paying rates, COM
nand the freight. The trouble here, as it
las often been in New Orleans, is that the
BOATS do not 60 as advertised, but lie over
% compete with some outside boat, and cut
lown prices. Let this be reformed, let US
nave punctual line Of boats, and the great
public, if not every little shipper, will be
,atisfied and willing to pay fair rates OF
.reight and passage. But of this subject
more another time. LIBEKI4.
sunday school institute and Conventions.
We learn from Rev. j. C, Hartzell, pastor
# Ames Methodist Episcopal church, that