The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-05
A FATAL RENC0NTRE.
Two Weli-KnOwn Citizens Become In
volved in Dfdiculty About
Business Matters.
Mr.. w. d. HardI6an, Of the Firm Of
Frestidge, Graham Il Co., Shot
and Mortally Wounded.

1t 10 with regret that We have to chronicle an
other item in the chapter of blood lately written
in the record Of our clty's history. What occa :
stoned the sad differences We have no foundation
for saying but that the rencontre last night
will have dispiriting effect upon those in cotto
circles can not be gainsaid.
About a quarter to o'clock last night the re-
port Of pistol was distinctly heard, coming
from the direction Of the corner OF Carondelet and
Perdido streets. Officer Wilson who was stand
ing at the corner of Poydras and Carondeet
streets. Immediately ran in the direction from
whence the sound Of tho shot seemed to come,
and on arriving at the corner of Perdido and
Carondelet streets, saw several citizens looking
through the window into the Office of Messrs.
Prestidge, Graham & Co., No. 63 Carondelet
street, corner Of Perdido.
The officer looked in, and at that moment saw
q man fall on the floor, and saw another party
making his Kit through the Perdido street en-
trance. This party came out on the street and
was arrested by the officer. He was found to be
Mr.. James 8. Prestidge, the senior partner Of
the firm Of Prestidge, Graham 4 Co. The officer
brought him to the Central Station.
Several other officers came up after the arrest
of Mr.. Prestidge, and entered the Office and
found Mr.. w. d. Hardiman, the junior partner,
lying on the floor, suffering from wound in the
left side Of the abdomen.
DR.. Brickel was Immediately summoned and.
attended the wounded man, and did what he
could, under the circumstances, for his relief.
He examined the wound, but refused to give an
opinion regarding its probable result. Mr.. Har-
diman was placed in cab and conveyed to his
residence, 267 Josephine street. -
Mr.. Presudge, on arriving at the Stations rs
found to be suffering from wounds in the head.
These wounds were examined by DR.. Schuppert,
who had him taken to the Charity Hospital in
the custody Of an officer, his opinion being that
the wounds were Of such serious nature AZ to
require immediate attention.
Ihe difficulty between these two gentlemen,
both members Of the same hrm had Its origin in
some business transaction. From what can be
learned Of the tragic affair, from outside partiee,
it appears that Messrs. Prestidge and Hardiman
had been quarreling 10 the Office all day about
business matters, the nature Of which could not
be ascertained. They met at the Office about
half an hour before the affair happened, when
the difficulty was renewed. Mr.. Hartman
asked Mr.. Prestidge was it going to be peace or
war, and when the matter was going to end. Mr..
Prestidge replied that he didn't care d which;
it was all the same to him. :
Thereupon Hardiman picked up tumbler and
threw it at MIR. Prestidge, striking him in the
head. They both clinched and fight ensued,
which it Is stated lasted fully fifteen minutes, IN
which Mr.. Prestidge was again cut in the head
with piece OF broken tumbler. Mr.. Prestidge
then moved back into the corner Of the Office,
pulled out his revolver and fired two shots, one
of the balls taking effect as above stated.
MIR. 9. e. Black, another partner in the firm.
was present, and saw everything that TRANSFERRED.
Mr.. Black refused to make any statement in
reference to the affair.
Our reporter interviewed Messrs. Prestidge
and Hardiman, and they also refused to make
any statement in reference to the difficulty. Mr..
Prestidge was searched at the Central Station
before being conveyed to the hospital, and no
weapon was found on his person.
MI. Prestidge was escorted to the Hospital,
but DIR. Smyt the refused to admit him, as in his
opinion his wounds amounted to nothing, and he
(Nr. Prestidge) was sent back to the Central
Station, where he was locked up. Mr.. Prestidge's
friends called on Superintendent Loan and asked
that he be sent to his residence and an officer
left in charge, but Col. Loan refused to comply
with the request. He stated that if he was not q
ft subject for the hospital his place was in the