The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-08

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Saturday evening, ut about half past 7
O'Clock, there were present In the office
Richardson, Mr.. Wilson and myself.
Mr.. Prestidge, Major Hardeman and
myself retired to the cotton room to
have a conversation in 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..
Presttdge to go to the country Mr. Har-
deman and myself.) Mr.. Prestidge said
that he was partner In the firm and
that we should not dictate to him
when he should 20 as he was the best
Judge of that himself. Mai. Hardeman
still insisted that it wasjhis duty, as he
was paid to go.
Mr.. Prestidge said that he did not
belong to Prestidge, Graham II Co.,
but was partner in the firm and had
right, to say when he, would go; After
which Major Hardeman said il he
wanted war hel could have 1t; and Mr..
Prestidge asked him what he would do,
and Mr.. Hardeman replied that he
would publish the dissolution OF the
firm. Mr.. Prestidge said he dared not
do 1t. Mr. Hardeman advanced a
step toward him with his hands
in the armholes OF his vest,
and said that he would do it, Mr. Pres
tidge put his hand behind him as
though to put It In the hind pocket Of
his pants. i cpught him by the arm
pistols or arms there, as this was ques-
tion OF business; that we were there to
discuss business and not for personal
difficulties. Major Hardeman ad-
vanced u step and said, II am
not afraid of you or your pistol
his hands in about the same
position as previously stated, or folded
| over his breast, and as Mr.. Hardeman
advanced towards Mr. Prestidge, he
pulled his pistol from his behind pocket
and fired at Mr.. Hardeman. No blows
were passed; they were only few feet
apart. After the shot. was fired Mr..
Hartieman retreated through the door
going into the Office to his desk and got
large ruler. / am not sure but that
Mr.. Hardeman threw O tumblcr at Mr..
Prestidge from the water cooler before
going into the office. / am not sure
whether 1t was before or after, as was
very excited at the time. A second shot
was fired when Mr.. Hardeman was stand
ing near the cooler. Mr.: Hardeman
walked to and fro about sixty feet from
the time that the first shot was fired to
the time Of the seconds After the second
shot he advanced on Mr.. Prestidge
think Mr.. Prestidge threw one pistol
or both at Mr.. Hardeman as he ad
vanced, and then they clinched and Mr.
Hardeman struck Mr.. Prestidge with a
ruler, which broke they continued their
fight, trying to separate them, but as
fast as would take one off they would
throw me off and clinch again they
being both strong men was unable to
do anything and no one in the Office but
| mt ha lnnnrnfnd
Hardeman IL he was hurt, and he told
me he was shot. l took him i'm the
front Office. and laid him on the sofa. I
halloed for help; the front door was
open and the crowd was coming In. l
would recognize the pistols IL they were
shown to me : they were breech-loading
Derringers. After laying Mr.. Harde-
man on the sofa l saw that he was bleed
ing from his side. Meantime Mr.. Pres
tween the Office and cotton room,
and the policeman came and asked me
who done the shooting, and pointed to
Mr.. Prestidge as the gentleman.
The next witnesses placed on the
stand were Mr.. Z. X. Richard and w.
G.. Wilson, Jr. Their testimony had no
bearing on the case, they not being in
the Office until after the firing Of the
pistols.
Mr.. Wilson, on being interrogated by
the Coroner as to why he did not go
back and see what the matter WAS after
he had heard the report Of the pistol in
the adjoining room, and to have used
his endeavors to separate the com
batants, Wilson answered by stating
that he was afraid Of being shot by a
stray ball.
The following is the verdict of the
COroner's jury:
After viewing the body OF w. y.
Hardeman, lying dead at No. 267 jose
phine street, and after an autopsy being
held by Drs. Samuel Chopin and +. s.
Drew, and on inquest and examination
being held, and with the evi-
the deceased came to his death from
a gunshot wound, inflicted in the left Of
the hypochondriac region, passing
through the stomach and liver, produc-
ing internal hemorrhage and death, as
per certificate hereuntO attached. The
said shooting took place on Saturday |
evening at about half-past seven |
o'clock, March A, 1875, ut So Carondelet |
street, corner Perdido, the said pistol or |
pistols being in the hands Of one James
s. Prestidge, now IN custody. =,
Clark, p A. Herbst, z. Foley.
1 New ORLEANS, March S, 1876
We do hereby certify that upon in
quest and post mortem examination
held this 5th day OF March, 1875, at S
o'clock Pm, at No. 267 Josephine
street, On@the body of William ID.
Hardeman, aged forty two years, a ma
tive of Tennessee, and q resident OF New
Orleans for the last three years. We
found him lying dead then and there,
with pistol shot wound which pene-
trated the body, the ball entering two
inches to the left OF the medium line OF
the body, at the lower margin OF the
first floating rib. The ball passed
through the particles Of the abdo-
men, ranging obliqaely down.
wards to the right, passing
through the upper curvature
OF the stomach to the right OF the car
diac oritice. It passed out OF the stom-
ach about three inches from entrance,
ranging to the right, perforating the
right lobe OF the liver and fracturing
the lower margin OF the ninth rib, lodg
ing in the muscular structure between
rib and skin, thereby producing profuse
internal hemorrhage, which was the i'm
mediate cause OF death.
We also certify that in the internal
portion Of the lower part Of the upper
third Of the right arm We found contu-
sion or ecchymosis, about one inch in
circumference.
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