The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-19
THE KILLING OF MAJOR
HARDEMAN. III
James s. Prestidge Sent Down,
Without Bail, to Appear
Before the Superior
Criminal Court.

The case of the State vs.. James S. Pres
tidge. of the firm OF Prestidge, Graham {
Co., charged by Coroner Chastant, from in
formation received, with shooting and killing
Msjor w. D. Hardeman, at their Office, No
63 Carondelet street, on the evening of tn
4th instant, was tried yesterday before Judg,
W. L Evans, of the First Municipal Court
Coroner Chastant was the first witnes
placed on the stand, and testified to hav
/ ing held an inquest on the body of the de
ceased, Hardeman.
Drs. Brickel, Drew snd Chopin were mex
called and examined.
DR.. Brickel testified to having attended
Major Hardeman, and Drs. Chopin ani
Drew to having held q post moytem.
Hon. W. T. Houston swore to having taker
down the dying declaration of Mr.. w. D. Harde-
man, as il Was spoken by him.
| Mr.. Charles E. Black am a partner in thu
firm Of Prestidge, Graham & Co., doing business
in this city, at the corner Of Perdido and Caronde
| let streets.
| On Saturday evening, at about 7:30, we wer.
| present in the office-Mr. Prestidge, Major Har
deman, Mr.. Richards n, Mr.. Wilson and myself
| Mr.. Prestidge, Major Hardeman and myself re-
tired to the cotton room to have conversation il
| regard to some disputed points in regard to the
management of our business.
| There were high words between Mr.. Prestidge
and Mr.. Hardeman. We wanted Mr.. Prestid ge
| to go into tbs country (air. Hardeman and my
self) Mr.. Pres:ldge said that he was partner
In the firm, and said that we should not dictate
| to HIM where he should 20, as he was the best
| Judge of that himself.
Major Hardeman still insisted that it was duty,
as he was paid to go. Mr.. Prestidge said that
he did not belong to Prestidge, Graham g. Co.,
but was partner in the firm, and had right to
say when he should co. after which 3, Major aar
Mr.. Prestidge asked him what he would do,
and Mr.. Hardeman replied that he would pub
lish the dissolution Of the firm. Mr.. Prestidge
said he dared not do it. Mr.. Hardeman ad-
vanced q step toward him with his hands in the
arm holes of his vest and said that he would do
it. Then MIR. Prestidge put his hand behind him
as though to the hind pocket Of his pants. l
caught him by the arm and told hum that he
must not use any pistols or arms there, as this
was question OF business that we were there
to discuss business and not personal difficulties.
Major Hardeman advanced q step. saying: 81
am not afraid of you or your pistol" his hands
in about the same position as previously stated,
or folded over his breast
As Mr.. Hardeman advanced towards Mr.. Pres
tidge he pulled his pistol from his hind pocket
and fired 1T Mr.. Hardeman. No blows were
passed. They were only few feet apart. After
the shot was fred Mr.. Hardeman re.reated
through the door, going into the Office to his
desk and got large ruler. I am not sure but
that Mr.. Hardeman threw lumber at Mr.. Pres
tidge from the water cooler before going into
the Office; am not sure whether it was before Or
after, as | was very much excited at the time. A
second shot was fired when Mr.. Hardeman was
standing near the cooler.
MIR. Hardeman walked, going to and fro about
sixty feet, from the time that the first shot was
fred to the time OF the second shot, After the
second shot he advanced on MIR. Prestidge.
think Mr.. PrestidGe threw one pistol or both at
Mr.. Hardeman asvhe advanced, and then they
clinched, and Mr.. Hardeman struck Mr.. Prestidge
with ruler. which broke. They continued their
fight, l trying to separate them but as fast as
would take one off they would throw me off and
clirch again. They being both strong men,
was unable to do anything, ard no one was in the
Office but myself. They finally separated, and
asked Hardeman if he was hurt, and he told me
he was shot.
the sofa. l called for help; the front door was
open and the crowd was coming in. I would re-
cOgnize the pistols if they were shown to me-
they were breech-loading DeriDgers. After lay
ing Mr.. Hardeman on the sofa saw that he was
bleeding from his ride. In the meantime Mr..
Prestidge remained in the passage way, between
ths Office and the cotton room; the policemen
cane and asked me who did the shooting;
pointed to MIR. Prestidge as the gentleman.
W. o. Wilson, Jr.-I am employed as cotton
On Saturday evening, between and TX O'Clock,
March 4, 1876, l was standing in the door, corner
OF Perdido and Oarondelet streets Mr.. Pres
tidge came in and bid me good evening I
walked in after him, called his attention to
bracket in the Office which needed fixing then I
went over, took off my coat and hat, sat down to
. desk and went to work by the window on Per-
dido street; was sitting there q few minutes
when Mr.. Black came in Major Hardemsn came
in after, took off his coat and hat and hung them
mn a6 m Nd Mr.
Richardson and myself, but made no remarks.
did NOT notice anything unusual, but saw
them get up and 60 into the cotton-room to-
gether (Mr. Prestidge, Mr.. Hardeman and Mr..
was not loud enough for me to hear the words;
don't know how long they were 10 there before l
heard the report OF . pistol; when heard it 1
jumped up and made some remark to Richard.
son and asked him what was that; then jumped
over the counter and went out Of the door: as I
was going out I heard the second shot; went
down the street few doors and did not cone
back until saw the crowd go up to the door.
AZ got to the door, two officers were carrying Mr..
Prestidge out; stepped back with the crowd as
he passed out; after they had passed stepped
in. closed the door, and put the latch on and asked
Mr.. Richardson to go for doctor, which he did;
1 then went back to the door, and refused ad-
mlttance to every one.
Thomas R. Richardson-I am bookkeeper for
the firm of Prestidge, Graham d Co.; on Satur-
1876, 1 arrived at the Office, as usual; at about
$40 1 saw Msjor Hardemsn come in did not
observe anything unusual in his manner; few
minutes before o'clock Col. Prestidee arrived;
observed nothing unu ual in his manner either;
did not observe Mr.. Black come in, being busiy
occupied; heard these three gentlemen so into
the ,tton room, the room adjoining the office;
there is glass partition between.
Heard them speak as If in consultation; did
not hear any Of the conversation, with the ex-
cepiion Of the remark by Major Hardeman: ct
amt so, it amt so, and can prove it." A few
minutes later was startled by the report of the
pistol coming from the direction Of the cotton
room, then followed what seemed to be scuffie, |
quickly followed by second similar report. |
then leaped over the counter, there being only |
q partition of glass between us, and going
towards the door, was about to go out on the |
street, when heard a crashing Of glass.
went down street about twenty-five yards, |
hen thinking had better go to the assistance |
d whoever was in danger, returned to the |
office and was met at the door by Mr.. W. G. Will
son, who told me to go and "get DR.. Chopin, |
or Gods sake I" Immediately went after him. |