Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-01
SHOOTING AFFRAY.
Dinienlty Between Lawyers-M. ID.
Welch Shot by ID. Ii. Rarnes.

| 80 ~ N" ahu MaulbOn. III was soon
apparent that personal difficulty of
some character had occurred in DR..
Jones office in said building. Several
parties rushed up stairs, entered the
Office and found Mr.. NJ. b. Welch, a we'll
known lawyer, lying on the floor shot in
the head, he having been shot by Mr..
B. B. Barnes, another well known law
yer. At the time the shooting occurred
in DR.. Jones Office there we're present
Mr.. Ben Coleman, DIR. Jones, M. D..
Welch and B. B. Barnes.
THE ORIGIN OF THE DIFFICULTY.
Some days since, Mr.. WEIGH, who is a
candidate for the clerkship Of the Crimi-
nal Court, was informed that Mr.. Barnes
was circulating reports to his disad-
vantage with view to defeat him for
the Office. This we understand Mr..
Barnes denies). Last Monday morning
Mr.. Barnes was in his law office in the
Bethel block, when Mr.. Welch entered
and a conversation at once commenced,
with reference to the reports which
he had heard. What language was
used on either side is unknown, but
about that time DR.. Jones entered Mr..
Barnes Office and saw Mr. Welch stand
ing up at table, Mr.. Barnes occupying
the opposite side. Mr.. Welch drew two
derringers and offered one Of them to
Mr.. Barnes, saying he had come to settle
the difficulty. Mr. Barnes declined to
take the derringer, saying something to
the effect that he (Welch) could shoot
him while he was SO doing. just then
DR.. Jones laid his hand on Mr.. Welch's
shoulder and remarked, "This is no
way to settle this difficulty" and got Mr..
Welch out of the room.
Later in the day, Mr.. WEIGH and Mr..
Trezevant called at Mr.. Barnes Office,
and there met Mr. Barnes and Mr..
Coleman. After some discussion, Mr..
Welch asked Mr.. Barnes, do you hold
yourself responsible p Mr.. Barnes an
swered that he did" Mr.. Welch re-
Piled II have two pistols here; you
take one and we will settle it." (No
pistols were DRAWN. Mr.. Trezevant
interfered, and taking hold of Mr.. Welch
induced him to leave the Office. The
same day Mr.. Coleman met Mr.. Welch,
and it was proposed to have the difficulty |
settled Mr.. Welch stating that if Mr.. |
Barnes stopped talking about him he |
was willing to drop the matter"
Later in the day Mr.. Welch and Mr..
Irrelevant called at Mr.. Barnes Office to
discuss the matter, and there met Mr..
Barnes and Mr.. Coleman. Mr.. WEIGH
becoming excited at something said,
stated that he intended to hold him
(Barnes) responsible, and Mr.. Barnes
replied that he was always responsible. !
Messrs. Coleman and Trezevant seeing |
that difficulty appeared immiRent inter-
posed, and accompanied Mr.. Welch from |
Mr.. Barnes office.
THE SHOOTING TO-DAY.
Mr.. Barnes, it seems, understood that |
Mr.. Welch had said that he had offered |
to fight Barnes, and that he (Barnes) |
had refused, so he declined settling the
affair.
Mr.. Welch desired to leave it to DR..
Jones, who was present at the first inter
view, as detailed above. Mr.. Coleman
and Mr.. Welch went to DR.. Jones Office
at ten o'clock this morning, and Mr.. |
Barnes came into the Office Immediately |
afterward. Mr.. Coleman called to DR..
Jones, and was about to state the matter
when Mr.. Barnes said that he desired to
be present when the matter was being |
Investigated, so they all took seats. Mr..
Barnes and Mr.. WEIGH sat facing the
Main street windows; they were about
ten feet apart, but in line. On the left
of Mr.. Barnes there was a lounge and |
on this sat Dr. Jones and Mr.. Coleman.
Mr.. Welch moved his chair few feet to |
the left near the wall and faced Mr..
Barnes. Mr.. Welch appeared excited,
and rising remarked: II have come
here to settle this difficulty" Mr..
Barnes replied. l have, too; if you are
not satisfied, all right" Mr., Welch rose,
placing his hand in his pocket drawing
a derringer. Mr.. Barnes rising, said,
Don't draw that pistol" Mr. Coleman
leaped forward between them and faced
Mr.. Welch, who moved around as Mr..
Coleman stopped to avoid the shot. just
then Mr.. Barnes fred, and Mr.. Welch
reeled and fell Mr.. Barnes stood in
the room few minutes and walked out.
THE WOUND.
The ball was fred from a Smith &
Wesson cartridge pistol; it entered the
left temple about an inch from the corner
of the eye, and passing under the scalp,
came out through the left ear, cutting
the pima and passed into the wall in
rear of Mr.. WEIGH. The skull is slightly