The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1874-08-28
DESPERATE sCUFrLE FOR LIFE. .

Walter Bell, having stolen horse in
Franklin parish, was subsequently ar
rested by citizens of Catahoula. Bel
was turned over to the mail-ridcr whs
was going to Franklin, to be carried IL
Jail in Winnsborough. What occurred
is thus detailed by the mail-rider:
They asked me if I would carry hin
to Winnsborough; l said l would il
Bell said so, and he said he was more
than willing. l then told AIe\ey !
wanted to swear out q warrant, and
was sworn in as special constable. !
started for Winnsborough with Bell,
and had n gun l got from one of the
party who arrested him. Between Il
half and three quarters of Il mile dis
covered Bell fumhling ut his boots;
told him to get down and pull them off;
l says 81 believe you have Il pistol in
them;" says he, "all right" and got
down and asked which boot he should
pull off first; having got downand stood
within five feet of him said, 'the left
boot first and both Of them" He pull
ed them Off; catching them in his hand
as if to set them down, says l, 'sthrow
them boots to mes" he threw them be-
Stttt tH>, stt TIC ttthS ttt stt ftS,
my gun falling to shoot he grabbed the
gun. We then tussled some five min
utes, he trying to take the gun; he said,
"turn the gun loose; l want your horse,
and this gun, nnu the mail bags, and
what money Nou'v got, and you can
take the black horse and go to hill
with him." Said l to him; "after we
have had another scutlle I'll tell you
more about it, lie then hit me in
face with one hand still holding the
gun with the othcr,and hit him also, re
tanning hold Of the gun with the other.
lie tripped at me several times, trying
to throw me down, and then l tripped
at him and succeeded to throw him.
He fell with the gun across his breast,
and me on him. While holding him l
managed to get my knife out of my
right pocket, aud clutching the knife
against my leg l managed to open it,
and then l cut his neck vein; he OK
claimed to me, 'I am Il dead man,
l says to him, "you will be directly"
and cut tho other neck vein; then cut
his heart. l then got up Off of him,
left everything laying as the scutlle COM
mcnccd, got on my horse and went
back to Mc\ry's and told him that l
killed Bell. He summoned u jury and
went back where the body was, and
examined his boots, and shook II der
ringer out of them. They then held an
inquest over him, and after the Justice
released me, l proceed eel to Winnsbor-
ouGh with my mail nndNIac Scott's
horse.
This statement of Mr.. Watson cvry
body believes to bc, "thc whole truth
and nothing but The irIltl' nfthr affair.
Th" two men in size and strength We're
we'll matched, and nothing but his
courage and cooincss enabled Watson
to overcome his daring ass;,ilant. Bell
showed at times that he had good rails
ing, and letters to the postmaster here in
uuirinG about him, afforded proof that
he had relatives who had II strong so
licitudc for him. But there is no doubt
that he has for some time been inVOlv-
ell in the mcShcs of dissipation and has
sought occasions both here and else
where, to indulge in the ncf;sriou5 bus-
incSS of horsc-stcaling, and in the pur
suit Of which he was caught and lost his
life.