The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-22
SINGULAR TRAGEDY.
TWO VETERANS OF THE MEXICAN WAR INvoLy


A mysterious case of assault, which ms
II have fatal termination, was disclosed ye
r. terday afternoon. It seems that Anthony
:, Sutton and Samuel Ross both ex-generals I
. the United States army, and who served t.
Q eether in the Mexican and other wars, entere
into partnership some time ago, to condut
q billiard saloon in the west wing of th
= METROPOLITAN Hotel. For several weeks the
} have had carpenters and plasterers at work i
s rooms in an adjoining building, which the
: purposed to occupy as soon as they wer
ready.
About p NJ yesterday man was seen b
. the workmen crawling down the stairs int
the rooms, his head and face literally covere'
, with blood. He asked for water, which wa
given to him, and then, in response to lnqui
ries, he said that he had been assaulted in tn
building Detective McDevitt was summoned
! and to him the man said that his name wa
Gen. Sutton and that his assailant was Gen
Ross.
| GEN. ROSS ARRESTED.
Acting upon this information the detective
arrested Gen. Ross, whom he found in hi
room in the Metropolitan Hotel, he having
Just finished changing his clothing. There
| was cut on one OF the fingers of his righ
hand, which had but recently been wrapped
with clean linen cloth. On table was
cigar case and some papers stained with
blood.
The object of the visit was made known, al
which the general expressed great surprise,
and, on hearing the full statement OF the case
and the condition of the wounded man, Mrs.
Ross swooned away. After she had been re-
| stored to consciousness, the general was taken
| to police headquarters.
Meantime Gen. Sutton had recovered suf-
ficiently to be taken to headquarters also, and
| l,A hnr. 49,,
ence of Superintendent Richards, Chief
Detective Carvoe, Detective McDeyitt and
several others. He said that he and Ross had
been best Of friends for more than thirty
years, they having served together in the
Mexican war.
Recently Ross had fitted up the Metropoli-
tan Billiard Room, and he (Sutton) had in
vested. as partner So, 900 in cash. Yesterday
afternoon they had played friendly game Of
billiards, and at about 3 p. NJ, Ross asked
him to 60 with him and look at the rooms in
the new building, as he wanted to make an
estimate for furnishing them. He complied
with the request, and the two went from the
billiard room to the street, thence up stairs
into the new building, inspecting and meas
uring the several rooms, all the while talking
pleasantly.
THE ASSAULT.
When one Of the rear rooms in the fifth
story was reached they halted and talked as
they had done in the other rooms. Sutton
held in his hand a small piece Of paper and
lead pencil, with which he had been figuring,
ant as he turned to look out Of the window
toward the Seaton house, unsuspicious OF any |
danger, Ross dealt him a blow on the back of |
his head with q hammer. He turned instant |
~ and grappled his assailant, receiving Sec
ond severe blow. After that he does not re- |
ohap v1x,f1 hn
the room, and crawled down stairs to where |
the plasterers were at work.
During the recital of the story Ross stood |
by, an interested and attentive listener, and |
at its conclusion he remarked, with q voice |
which did not show the least tremor, that
+" the man was crazy. He had not seen him |
during the day." Subsequently the Assistant
District Attorney arrived, and to him Mr..
Sutton made formal charge Of assault and |
battery with intent to kill, which was duly
sworn. Sutton was then taken to Providence
Hospital in a dying condition.
The physician found nine separate wounds
On his head, either Of which, il is thought, is
enough to produce death. Ross was ques-
toned by tho detectives, but refused to say
lnythins further than to make positive and
emphatic denial of all knowledge of tie affair.
lie was then locked up to await judicial
ction.
An inspection Of the room where the as
ault was made showed conc,usiveiy that there
lad been bloody struggle. On the floor in
everal places were pools Of c!otted blood, and
he walls were smeared with blood.
THE TWO EX-GENERALs.
Gen. Sutton is about tifty-two years of age,
T medium stature, not very heavily built
lie served during the Mexican war as a pri-
ate and non-commissioned officer. Soon af-
er the breaking out Of the rebellion he was
and at the close Of the war
as placed on the retired list with the rank
colonel, since which time he has not been
ngaged in any business. He is spoken of by
nose who know him as man quiet in his
eneanor, and one Of the last to make an
lemy or provoke such an assault.
Gen. Ross, the accused, is about the same
e as Sutton. He is five feet ten inches in
eight, Of good build, gray hair and whis-
srs, and Ct quick, nervous temperament.
Q, too, is on the army retired list, with the
NIX Of general. He has not been engaged in
lslness for some time until his recent ven
ire in the billiard room, which was opened a
W weeks ago. He is quiet in manner, and
'oved by his demeanor yesterday that he is
man Of nerve.