, 1874-01-29
THRILLING TRAGEDY,
4 Fcnrful Fsctribntinn in tho Criminal
C0lirt--i SON lklllH Ellis Fathers
III mriiErsr.

C0Mrts.A SON A1llN His Fathers
Murderer.
From the Galreason t7ts.} Ns,os, Jan. 25.
The majority Of the readers Of tho Ncps aro
doubtless familiar with tho terrible trngo.ly on
acted in this city on tho 9Th OF April, 1s73 in
which Oflccr John Ferguson, Of tho city poucc
forco, was fatally stabbcd and OfIicor Walter
Dcnsson and several citizens wonndod by y isnifo
IL the hauds of 4 man named James D. Helm, OF
Floyd County, Vn.
Tho first person assaulted by Holm on the
night in question, waB MIR. George N. Glenn
mons, who ut tho tina waa Hoatcd ut cnffce-
stall IN tho market. Holm then left tho markct-
htenss ana psoseoding aoross Ewent!eth atreet
Mehan nnon whom he inflicted n stab In the
bacls, n little below tho left shoulder about an
inch tleop and NJ, inch long. Holm, after stab-
bing Mol9n, ran up, Mechanio street, where ho
whom ho stabbed In tho baclt, below tho left
shoulder, inilioting Hor1oua wound. Tho mad
man then camc bacL to the south Bido Of Me-
ctanio street, aud at Lausen's hlaokamisl, shop,
John Movers, driver Of No. Engine, tic blado
Of the knife onteging about an incl. aud n lalf.
in close proximity to tho spine, and narrowly
missing tho kidneys
After stabbing Meyers, Holm passed down
Mechanic street, and, arriving at the corner
abovo tho cotton-pross. Was oyertakon by Oflicor
Ferguson, Of the police force. Helm Instantly
turned, aud before tho officer wns aware of his
intention stabbed him i'll tho brchst. Ho then
knocked ltn down with blow Of his fiat, md
him twico iu tho breast,
Tho cries Of Ferguson brought sorst Finn,
Ofllcor Donovan, and Mr. Doufson To the spot.
In tho struggle that onsuod Benson WIS sorious-
" stabbed, lis Afe having boon piaced III OK
treme jeopardy. Tho bloudy knifo was at laHt
wroBtod from tho Demons hantls by Officer Douu-
van, who proceeded with him to tho station
house,
Tr.o
aasassin snid TINT ho had belonged to the Fifty
fourth Virginia Regiment during tho last six
months of the war, that no was * renrs OF ago,
and that ho Ind an uncle, named Jacob s. Helm,
men Ind boon trying to kill linn for two days.
| aud that, II ho had had good knife he would
hnye lot 1t into several more Of them. At tho
following session of the Criminal District Court
Helm was arra'gncd for murder; hut, owing to
tho abscnco Of important Testimony for tho de-
fonse, BY which 1t was proposed to establish tho
insanity Of tho accused, tho case VAS continued
from term to term.
This nucA Is required bY way OF introducing
the reader to tho second tragedy Of the aorios,
which may bo termed o sequel to tho first. Yes
torary morning the casa Of the State Y. james B.
Helm was called Immediately after the opening
Of tho court, Alaj. I. n. Spencer, District AZ
torney, represented tho State, and Mai. Ed.
the witnesses, tho District Attorney announced
tho State ready for trial. Tho counsel for tho
| accused then arosn and asked for some furthor
indulgence to onable tic defense to soouro the
prosenee Of q material witness, who was sup
| posed to be in the city.
In the u,onrtlmo. Holn tue accused was
| seated near tho north end Of the attorneyB'
tabao, intentay listening to whnt was going on.
1Ie was dressed In rather tattcred garments, and
his face wore haggard look. At tho saule timo,
a ron OF the murdered policeman, John Forgu-
| son. about Is Or 16 years OF age was noticed to
enter the Courtroom, his faco pale and his on
! tire form lnirering with exoit.mont. After re-
| naming few moments lle loft tho room. aud
| subsequently, returned and hastily scatod hiul-
solf Immediately behind tho prisoner.
| After tho conclusion Of thn application for
delay, the part Of the dcfenso, and before tho
will or the Court could be madc known, young
Ferguson drew g Bsnh!i-Bizea pistol, and placing
1t near tho head Of Helm fred, the ball entering
| the back OF tho head.
The affair, Of course, created intanBe excite
| ment In tho courtroom. Young Ferguson was
promptly arrested by tho of1lcals of tho court
and removed to the adjaeent tail, while an OK
animation Of tho wound Of Helm, by medical
MEN who chauced to DO present, showed that 1t
was d fatal QUO.
The general theory appears to bo that young
Ferguson WAS driven to desperation. on account
Of previous failures to bring the slayor Of bis
! father to trial. aud. anticipating another con-
tinuance OF the case, resolved to take the law
into Ills own hands.