New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-08
Local Intelligence.

ANTE MoRTEM DEPOsIrIoN BY w. d.
HARDEnAN.-LAstS Sunday morning Mr.. w.
d. Hardemsa became aware that bic Lie
was near its end, which inlueed his friends
to send for Judge w. T. Houston for the
purpose of having . declaration made of
tho trouble between him (Hardemsn) and
Mr.. J. s. Prestidee, o. the evening Of the
first instant. Tho statement was kept pri-
vate until yesterday morning. when il was
given to the coroner's jury, and Il - fol-
lows:
Be it known, that on this fifth dsy Of
March, A. d. 1876, Sunday, as the hour Of
1915 A. H., I. w. T. Houstou. first justice
of the peace for the parish of Orleans, duly
elected, c0mmisaioned and sworn, proceeded
to take the dying declaratioa Of w. d,
HardemaD, of this city, now lying at Ne.
~ Josephine street, who, being In . CON-
soious condition. though sinking rapidly
and aware Of his approaching death, did
depose and ssy - follows:
That his nADe 10 w. D. Hardeman; that ho
il fo-ty.two years of age tho fifth of No
vember; that he feels that he 10 going to die;
that the doctor has told him 20, and that he
feels that some vital organ he's been struck;
that he does not know whether b will be able
to finish this statemeat. That james 8.
Preetidge had 6een acting badly shout col
lecting money. We were discussing that point
in tho cotton room, back Of the office,
seven o'clock last evening. Prestidge said
to me that he had done the best
he could, and was not going to 30 kicked
ont Of the firm. Charles e. Black, another
partner, present, I remarked to Prestidge
that if it was his idea Of doing business "
could not 60 On, and that would announce
dissolution Of the firm; lit now remains
to he son what ycu viii DO" With this
10 (Preetidgel put bic hand behind bic back
remarked to him that I was not afraid
of his pistol, but that had none. He
fred Ut mo and hit mo ON tho loft side, on
tho edge of tho RIBS. started towards
him, he drew another pistol; then turned
and ran towards the door, dividing the
Office from the salesroom. when he fred
the second time, hitting ny clothing but
. heavy hgnum Vita ruler, and I ap-
preached him with it when he throw both
Of his pistols ct me. l assaulted him with
the ruler, striking him several times on the
head, when the ruler broke. continued
the struggle Nth him with my hands until
separated BY the police and other parties.
l was brought to this point, ct M. Z. 81.
moEE . k0oSU00OF, OU OOO0Q0l00 0tk00CS Oc-
tween Camp and Chestnut streets, by one
policeman and some friends in . hack.
When Prestidge threw the pistols Ut me,
threw the tumblers as him from the water
cooler. and hit him with them. I wrote
some time ago to tho senior member of the
firm, tho man who has tho capital in it, that
Prestidge vas cross with me, and was carry
ing pistols there for ma, believed. there
fore determined to carry NO pistols there to
the meeting with him last evening. That 10
all. After having had this declaration read
over to me, I desire to add that the meeting
last evening with Prestidge was by nv ap-
pointment, TO discuss money matters. am
unable to sign from weakness.
deslre to make my cross.
w. D. ~ HARDEMAN.
mark
Witnesses: r. 81. MARI,
PERRY NUGENT.
Appended to the above are the usual legal
clauses.
Four witnesses were examined by DR..
Chastant, their statements, in . general
sense, agreeing with the above declaration.
The coroner will to-day mako IN affidavit
charging Mr.. Prestidge with murder.