The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-08-26
The Assault on Colonel Richard
Ten Brock.
HIS EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE.

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Mr.. Richard Ten Brock, the vel
know Kentucky stock raiser, living
labout eight miles from the city, OF
the shelbyville pike, was shot anc
severely wounded by Gen. Walter
Whitaker, at Gilman's Point, five
miles from the city, Yesterday after
noon. The people Of Louisville were
greatly excited over an exaggerated
report Of the affair which reached the
city about dusk, to the effect that
Gen. Whitaker had shot Mr.. Ten
Brock three times, intiicting wounds
which caused his death short time
afterward. Such was, fortunately,
not the case; and a reporter Of the
Courie r-Journal, who went to the
scene Of the tragedy last night,
learned the following particulars of
the affair, which were ELECTED at the
examining trial Of Gen. Whitaker
last night:
Mr.. Whitaker lives near Linden
Station, about nine miles from this
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city, and practices his profession
here, going home in the afternoon,
sometimes on the accommodation and
sometimes on the Lexington train.
Yesterday he started home on the
latter, which left at $3.50 P. NJ. Mr..
Ten Brock was in the city on bust
ness, and left on the same train.
Messrs. Ten Brock and Whitaker
took seats near each other, and soon
after the train started, were engaged
in conversation. During the CONVEX
sation Mr.. Ten Brock made remark
concerning some family matters
which seemed greatly to offend Mr..
Whitaker, According to the state
ment Of witness, Mr.. Ten Brock
said to Mr. Whitaker: ''You know.I
brought your sister-in -law home from
New York" The allusion seemed to
be OF a delicate nature, and General
Whitaker, becoming instantly angry,
replied, ''You are damned liar!"'
Some angry words, on both sides then
ensued, and a fight between the par
ties on the train seemed imminent;
indeed, had it not been for the inter
ference of friends, bloody tragedy
might have been enacted in the car.
When the train reached the Fair
Grounds, Mr.. Ten Brock went into
another car, and nothing further oc-
Cured until the train reached Gil
mans Point, where Mr.. Ten Brock
stopped to meet an engagement.
Gen. Whitaker also left the train,
and meeting Mr.. Ten Brock On the
platform again, commenced to quar-
rel with him. Mr.. Charles A. Lewis
and Col. R. Fl. Crittenden, of Frank
fort, were witnesses to the scene that
followed, and testified in Whittaker's
examining trial before two county
magistrates. Mr.. Crittenden stated
that he saw Whitaker approach Ten
Brock in a hostile manner. Ten
Brock, waving both hands before his
face, told Whitaker repeatedly to go
away, that he didn't walt to have
anything more to do with him. If
any other words passed between the
parties, they were not heard by the
witnesses. Whitaker continued to
advance, and when within a few feet
of MIR. Ten Brock, drew a pistol and
fired twice at him, without effect.
The pistol was presented a third
time, when MI. Ten Brock, seeing
the only chance to save his life was to
get in close quarters with his antago-
mist, rushed towards him. Whitaker
fired third time, but again without
effect. Ten Brock closed in upon
his adversary, and "a struggle en-
sued, but the struggle was quickly
ended. Whitaker, releasing his
arm from Mr.. Ten Brooks grasp,
placed the muzzle of his pistol to the
old gentleman's forehead and fred.
Mr.. Ten Brock instantly fell insen-
sible, and as many. supposed dead,
upon the platform. After he was
down, Whitaker presented his pis-
tol and again attempted to fire at his
PROSTATE body, and was only pre-
vented from doing so by the crowd
which quickly gathered around. Sew
eral of the men who gathered on the
platform took up the apparently life
less form Of Mr.. Ten Brock and car
ried him to the tavern, about a hun
dred yards distant from the platform.
For some time Mr.. Ten Brock re-
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