New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-28


We copy the following account of a mos,
unfortunate affair from the Natchitochet
Republican of the eighteenth. Mr.. Black
stone was most popular and affable gen
tleman, sturdy and sincere, and had many
friends in this city who win sincerely re.
gret his death. He was at one time EN-.
ployed in the Customhouse in this city:
Last Saturday morning this community
was startled by the intelligence that Hon.
NJ. ?. Blackstone, representative to the
Legislature from this parish, was shot
through the head by MIR. Leon Vannier.
On repairing to the Firemen's Hall, on
Second street. we found Mr.. Blackstone ly.
ing on the floor, insensible, with a. pistol
ball wound in his head, little above and
to the right OF his right eye. Hundreds of
citizens, under the excitement Of the re-
port, came to the hall and gazed amazed
and sOrrow-stricken at the insensible form
Of him who, but short time before, was in
the vigor Of health and strength.
The testimony of witnesses to this
lamentable tragedy, herewith given, tells
how it occurred. So close was the pistol to
the head Of Mr.. Blackstone that his face
and right eye were tiled with grains of
powder, while the door, on the outside was
powder burned from the explosion of the
weapon.
He fingered until about fifteen min utes
to P. M, when his spirit departed
forever. Around him were a number of
bis heartsore and mourning friends, who
deeply realized the loss that had come upon
them, and the family Of the deceased.
Immediately after the occurrence Mr..
Leon Vannier voluntarily surrendered him.
self to the sheriff, and was examined be-
fore Judge H. c. Meyers, when the
testimony annexed was elicited. Mr.. Van
nier was released on his own bond to ap-
pear on Monday, April l3, for further trial,
when the accused was acquitted, on the
ground that the shooting was unintentiOnal.
The coroper's jury after close investiga-
ton OF the occurrence rendered a verdict
of accidental shooting
The body of Mr.. Blackstone was con-
signed to its final resting place on Sunday
afternoon, and was followed to the grave
by one of the largest corteges seen in this
place for many years. The Rev. Raford
Blunt conducted the funeral services, and
as his voice read the impressive service,
heads were bowed in grief, and tears
cOursed down the cheeks of MANY who
knew the deceased but to love him, and
thus testified their. sorrow at his untimely
fate.
The sudden death of Mr.. Blackstone can
yet scarcely be realized, and seems the
vision Of some disagreeable dream. This is
but another warning against the repre-
hensible and universal practice of not only
carrying concealed deadly weapons, but
also playing with, and handling them care
lessly. 1t is incOmprehensibIe WHY men
always have pistols or knives concealed
about their persons. Yet they 60 with
them to private gatherings. to public meet
ings, to places of worship, to balls and
as if this was an era of murder,
and even mans life was in jeopardy from
his fellow men.
If there is any law to put stop to this
with the utmost rigOr; then, perhaps, men
would be more careful and such lamentable
accidents as the one recorded would become
less frequent.
TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES.
Henry Burns swOrn-Was at the head of
the stairs as Vannier was coming up. Wit.
ness met him, and witness. extending bis
arms open, told him he couldn't come up.
Vannier threw his hand back of him and
pulling out his pistol, remarked, ''You see
ths!" meaning the pistol. Witness said.
That's nothing, its got no quits in it,"
meaning that it was not loaded. After
passing witness Vannier passed on to Black
stone, with whom be commenced playing
Saw Vannier pull out his pistol and present
it in the direction Of Blackstone. Being
too tar. witness did not hear what was said
by either party. After pulling the pistol
Vannier put it back in bis pocket, and as
Blackstone opened the door he pulled his
pistol QUE again and presented it, when it
was fred. Vannier said, "Lord have mercy
IN me, what have l dones" Witness went
April IL, 1874, in the town and parish of
Mr.. Vsnnier was at the time
aughing and in good humor.
Cross examined-Mr. Vannler. after pass
ng witness, put up his pistol; seemed, when
alking to Blackstone, in q good humor,
aughing and joking with him; Vannier
eemed much surprised and shocked at the
occurrence; Vannier and Blackstone were
'lways playing whom they met, and were
,oOd friends; Vannier gave witness the
password upon passing, and had right to
% in the hall; witness would not suppose
hat Vannier intended to shoot Blackstone;
vhen playing with witness Vannier cooked
he pistol; Mr. Blackstone was doorkeeper,
nd had charge OF the door.
Henry HertzOg, sworn, says:
Was in the Firemen's Hall with others;
lr. Blackstone was standing at the door ON
he inside of the hall; some one came to the |
Oor on the outside; Mr.. Blackstone had a |
tick in his hand, which he was thrustiDg |
trough the door at the person outside. |
bout and during that time pistol shot |
vas fired, the muzzle Of which witness saw |
rotruding through the door. Mr.. Black |
tone fell, the door was opened; witness |
oes not know by whom; the first who en-
cred Ewas the accused, Mr.. Vannier, who |
'ent to Mr.. Blackstone and placed his
numb on the wound; Mr.. Blackstone was
not through the head this occurred at |
wenty minutes to eleven o'clock this morn
lg. April III, 1874, in the parish of Natchi-
,ches.
Cross-examined-Did not hear Blackstone
liking to any one on the outside of the
oOr; Mr.. Blackstone was laughing and was
playful mood at the time he was shot;
itness knows of no i'll feeling existing be-
veen accused and Blackstone; they we're
ways very friendly; accused seemed sur
By the court-Did not hear the accused
y anything when he entered the room:
,cused seemed as if he was hurt; Mr..
lackst0ne said nothing after he was shot.
The testimony of T. Monette, L. Duplex
I'd j. j. Bossier corroborated the above.
ldge D. H. Boult, Jr., adds to the above
at he heard Blackstone say, in joking
amer. to the person outside of the door,
You can't come in," or something to that
feet. When accused came in he remarked,
ioOd God! What have dOne9" and placed
8 thumb on the wound. Accused seemed
regret very much what had occurred.
Eads and His Jetties.
The New York Tribune of the twenty
cond contains the following:
The Eads plan for improving the mouth