Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-10-16
TRAGEDY AT SHREVEPORT.
The Chief OF Police Shoots and Kills the
District Court Cle2k and
his Brother.
4 Terrible Affray-POsse in Pursuit Of
HE Aurderer-A Memphis Mans
Part in II.

The Shreveport papers Of the eighth
instant are at hand, with lengthy de-
ralts OF horrible affair which took place
l5fth.
1t was after the reception, speaking
and general turnout that accompanied
the public reception Of Governor War
moth and the speakers with him. About
Ten O'Clock at NJ ght a number Of citi-
zens We're enjoying themselves on the
street mot making any more noise, -
the Southwestern SAYS, dthan has been
tolerated on previous oceasions.n send
ing up rockies, exploding fire-crackers.
etc A Mr.. o. i. Chamberlain was one
Of those thus engaged. A new police
man narIed Shepherd, lately from Men,
pms aloer some parley, partly in earn
est ana partly in jest, arrested Cham
peTialn and took him of to jail, against
the remOnstrances Of some Of the other
police and Of Chamberlainis friends.
Ane latter went in search Of the Chief of
Police, named Sherrod, to have a bond
drawn up for their friends release.
Among the party was Mr.. Richard ].
Wright, Clerk Of the District Court.
William y. Wright Ia younger broth
er Of Richard), a Deputy Sheriff, who
had had charge Of the Jail for several
years, was in another part Of the city
when he heard Of the arrest, and also
that Chamberlain's friends were going
TO get him out Of jail. He hastened
thither, and passing the party on their
way, he told them that they could not
obtain Chamberlain's release without a
bond; that they would have to walk
over his dead body to get Chamberlain
out unless they produced bond. They
replied that they were going to the iail
70 draw up the bond.
On arriving at the jail fence, William
y. Wright entered the building, Cham
0erlain's friends remained outside.
Presently SherrOd came up with Richard
J. Wright whom Sherrod had previ-
Ously agreed 70 accept on the bond.
Richard went in to bis brother.
The subsequent details are given con-
cisly by the Southwestern as follows:
Parties who were standing on the out
side heard Willie tell his brother Richard
that the bond for Chamberlain's release
would have to be fixed up before he
could turn him out Richard remarked
al right, and stepped to the door Of the
jail and called to the Chief Of Police.
SheITod, to come in and accept the bond.
SherrOd's reply was, I" Here / am. -
Wright repeated the cali, and Sherrod
returned the same answer. Wright kept
asking him 10 come in and draw up the
bond, but SherrOd stood outside about
fifteen feet from the fence gate, and
would not go in.
About one minute elapsed after
Wright first called Sherrod, and a shot
was fired. This shot it is alleged. was
fired by SherrOd, and he and his assist |
ant then began 10 fire at the party, rap
idly. Richard Wright turned and
called 10 his brother Willie, saying,
He has killed me.n Willie Wright |
stepped out on the sidewalk and said. !
'SherrOd have you shot my brother?n
These words had no sooner escaped his
lips than ne received two shots, one full
IN the breast, a out two inches below the
bottom Of the windpioe, and another in
the right side, which pierced his heart.
Willie Wright died without speaking.
while hs brother Richard lived some
twenty minutes, or probably longer. As
be lay upon the pavement be was an
preached by one Of his friends who went
10 jail with him 10 go on Chambrlainis
bond, if necessary. He called 70 him.
saying, "Dick, is that yOu?" gfe replied
Yes, and I'm dying" At Il ds iuncture
Shepherd cried out TO tbs friend of
Wnght's, a. he was bendir. AZ over him 10
see if he was MORALLY o. badly wound
ed: Throw up your har ,ds and get away
from there, or III XIII you.D Wnghtis
friend had to get s.wxy and leave him
mere because he Fad nothing by which
The shreveport Times has a slightly
different version.
DICK Why Mt passed out on the pave
HEaTH . 4 a
on nm, Wnen other shots were fired in
rapid sue sessiOn, first by Shernod and
ohepneF1, and afterward BY some Of
the tfif-nds Of Chamberlain, who were
slaF ding on the pavement. Both the
" night boys received mortal wounds,
William being SHOT in the breast and
fhoulder and Dick IN the breast. They
iell on the pavement a few steps from
where they were wounded, the former
dying almost instantly, and the latter
living about quarter OF an hour. Shep-
herd received q slight wound in the
back, and Tom Bayland q slight wound 1
in the arm. There is no evidence that
We have heard that either Of the Wright |
boys fred a shotn
The two brothers were very popular |
IN Shreveport, and the Indignation
created by their death was intense.
The policeman Shepherd was killed
by parties unknown two or three hours
after the finst affay, his body being
fOU nd riddled with bullets.
The Times SAYS:
"Sherrod had left the scene Of the
terrible tragedy 50 soon as he had emp
tied his pistol. Seeing a light in the
Times Office, he came up, in state Of
considerable excitement, gave an ac-
count Of the affair, but appeared not
10 know the result Of the shooting
IS the street was comparatively dark.
he then disappeared, and his where
abOuts was not known TO the
public until yesterday, when he
sent word 70 Sheriff Wslsh that
he would give himself up, asking to be
protected. Mr.. Walsh, At the head Of
seven or eight men, went down the
river 10 point near the residence Of
Mr.. Pobst, where they arrested him,
brunght him to the city, and committed
him to prison under q strong guard "
The brothers Wright leave mother
and two sisters: Richard, a widow.
Governor Warmoth appointed the re-
manning brother, Samuel {. Wright,
Clerk Of the District Court, to succeed
bis brother.