The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-10-21
BLOODY ARRAY.
Deadly KcncOntre In charleston.
Miss sheriff AIcOrm Kills his

Deadly RcmcOntre In charleston.
Mi.s.- Sheriff AicOrn Kills his
Man.
The Charleston (Miss.) Ne,cs of the 10th
contains particulars of the tragic ARRAY in
that town, begun by Sheriff W. A.
Alcorn (white) aud a colored man named
Blackwell. The latter had charged Alcorn
with duplicity and double dealing, he
having made him promises that were
broken. To third party he said that
Acorn was ID liar. Blackwell said
this to Capt. j. W. Erwin, who asked
him II he would tell Alcorn what he
was saying. Blackwell replied
that he would. Erwin then asked him ii
he would stay where he was until Alcorn
came. that he had sent tor him: Black
well said he would. I'm short time Al
corn came up from his house. and to-
gether with Barnes. Stewart. Erwin and
some others, held meeting at or near
the courthouse fence Tor ten or twelve
minutes, Blackwell witnessing the meet
ing. Ihey then dispersed, and Captain
Erwin went over to Neeley's grocery.
where Blackwell was. and commenced
conversation with him. Blackwell rcit-
Grated what he had said about Alcorn.
In short time Stewart went over where
Blackwell was aud with his (Stew-
arts back to the front of Neelcy's
grocery, facing Blackwell, with his hand
Oh his pistol, stood for some time with.
out saying anything. Blackwell then
said he lBlackwelD was Republican. n
color liner Then turned to Stewart and
said. You know | am II Republican"
Stewart Immediately seized Bltckwe by
the beard and ordered him to give up his
stick. Blackwell said to Stewart, II sur
render TO you rs a peace otlicer.n and i'm
medlately gave up his stick when Stewart
drew his pistol and jobbed the muzLle
against his head. Blackwell then told
rs 4 peace officer" Stewart then
started with him oyer to the courthouse.
pushing him ahead of him: Stewart
caught Blackwell by the hair on the back
OF his head and nearly jcrked him down
| on hi, back, when Blackwell said, God
damn you, didn't ! tell you surrender
to yeu as peace officer" Then Stewart
struck him over the head with the stick
he had taken from Blackwell lie then
| jerked the stick from Stewart and struck
| him over the shoulder, who then stopped
down and drew his pistol out Of his boot
leg, and ordered Stewart, who had out
his pistol to stand back. In the meantime
Alcorn, Barnes, Bloodworth, Littlewort,
Wall and Nicholctts came running over.
Wall hallooing "shoot him, kill the ID
rascal" Barnes got very close to Black
well, when Blackwell ordered him to
stand back. Directly firing commenced;
two pistols fired almost simultaneously.
1t is not known which fired first, Alcorn
or Blackwell. After that the firing be-
came general, six men shooting As fast a,
they could cock and pull trigger. Black
well retreated to the rear of the Neps
Office and entered the back door. Acorn
following close behind, firing. Blackwell
passed out Of the front door and went up
to Ncclcy's. AS he came out the front
door Boisclair fired at him
from the corner of the house.
After Blackwell went into Neeley's
Acorn went in the front door and fired
on him twice, Blackwell returning the
fire, one of Alcorn's taking effect in
Blachwell's leg, breaking it. Blackwell
fell, and Alcorn advanced on him while
down. Blackwell fired on Alcorn when
he rctreated out of the house, asking how
many pistols he had.
when Blackwell was down and un-
armed Stewart went into the back room
where he was, and put his pistol close TO
his head and fired twice, one Of the shot,
striking him in the head, but not enter.
ing the skull. Mr.. II. ;. Boisclajr then
came up with adouble-barrellcd SHOTGUN
and was in the act Of shooting blackwell
when he was prevented by Necley. Evans
and Tanner, who told him that Blackwell
was about dead and not shoot him any
more. All the persons. engaged were
Radicals