The Van Buren press., 1876-06-06
HOT SPRINGS SHOOTING AFFRAY.
Deadly Eacountrs Between John c. Hale
and VIM. P. Walsh-Hale Killed.

Deadly Eacountre Between John G. Hale
and VIM. P. Walsh-Hale Killed.
The shooting affray at Hot Springs
which we mentioned in the Gazette of
Sunday, as rumored to have occurred,
proves to have been sad reality. OF
the parties to the terrible tragedy, aud
the facts. as they occurred, the Hot
Springs Telegraph says
The two parties to the transaction
which resulted so unfortunately for both
and for the good name CT the communi.
ty. were John c. Hale and William T
Walsh.
John Cyrus Hale was born in Hot
Springs, on the 25th OF May, 1858. ma
king him twenty three years of age on
Thursday last lie was a son of Cyrus
Hale. and grandson of John c. Hale.
for whom he was named. He was regar-
ded as quiet, inoffensive young man,
rarely exciting enmties, and spoken OF
by those who knew him best. in terms of
great endearment. He was married near.
ly two years ago to daughter Of Gov.
Brownlow, of Tennessee, and leaves a
bright boy seven months old. Mr.. Hale
lived mile out of town, in comforta.
BILE house built by himself, with very
pleasant surroundings.
w. P. Walsh, the other actor in the af-
fair, came here about 1867, and, at the
start, kept small grocery near the iron
spring. He is now proprietor of the
Western hotel. a fairly conducted house,
capable of accommodating considera
BILE number of people. Mr. Walsh has
been postmaster Of Hot Springs nearly
two years, and was an ardent politician.
He was more democrat in his sympa-
thies than a republican, when he first
came here, but, for several years. has
been one of the most tried and trusted
friends Of the Clayton regime, for the
last year or two allying himself more
particularly to the fortunes of Senator
Dorsey. He was elected delegate at
the Little Rock convention to Cincinnati
and is pronounced in his advocacy of
Senator Morton for the presidency His
great height has made him a prominent
figure as he walked through the streets,
and few guests or residents but knew him
by name, if not by acquaintance.
The trouble grew out of litigation
about lot of ground in the old Hale
claim at Hot Springs, on which Walsh
resides, and which he leased originally
from J. c Haze, the grandfather of his
victim. The old lease ran out few
months ago. The Hales state. and
Mr.. Walsh does not deny, that he has not
paid rents for several years, with the ex
ception of small sum paid to old Mr..
Hale. last year. On Friday Mr.. Walsh
made full arrangements for the com
mencement Of his new building next
morning. Promptly, at 7 O'Clock, Sat
urday morning, full complement Of
workmen, some white and some black,
started the foundation. The job was to
be by the day and not by contract. A
few were to be paid 90 per day, and some
S2.75. Between and 10 o'clock, Mrs.
Hale, the grandmother of the young man
on stepping to the window saw laborers
at work, and few minutes after, when
he came in, she called his attention to the
fact. He made no response, but instant
ly left the house. He repaired to the
battle-ground, and ordered the men to
desist from work. George Tanner, q
white man, and apparently in charge, told
him they were hired to work, and had to
obey orders. Mr.. Hale then seized a
large plcKax, and going to the corner Of
the floor nearest the drugstore, commen-
ced tearing up the flooring laid, when he
was hailed by Mr.. Walsh, the workmen
say, with command to clear out. At
the termination of the firing, Mr.. Hale,
covered with shot and blood, walked into
the drugstore, and, after going a few
steps, was about falling, when he was
caught in the arms Of Mr.. Daniels, a clerk
of Mr., Rockatellow's. He was carried
to the Hale house, and placed in bed in
one of the oms on the ground floor.
The direction of the shots in the drug
store strongly indicate that two persons
fred on Mr.. Hale Mr.. Hale's pistol was
a derringer Mr.. Walsh used shotgun,
aud denies the report that he used a pis-
tol. The other person firing on Hale, if
there were two. also used a shotgun.
DR. Barry stated that there were forty
four shots in Hale's left side, the back,
and the posterior part OF the lungs. Du-
ring Hale conscious intervals, he spoke
of the affair, admitted he fred
once, but not until Walsh had shot him
twice, and several times declared that
" Walsh actel cowardly.'
Mrs. Rockafellow testified that W p.
Walsh fired the first two shots, and John
c Hale the third shot, and James Z.
Walsh fired the fourth shot as Hale was
retreatin Mr. Riddsli testified to the
same fact. Two or three other witness
es sustained this testimony.
At u late hour the verdict of the coro
ner's juIy was rendered as follows: 1--WE
the coroner's jury agree that John C.
Hale, deceased came to his death from
gnn- shots, fired by W. p. Walsh and
James Walsh" Mr.. W. p. Walsh and
James Walsh we're Immediately put un.
der formal arrest by the sheriff, and the
following persons we're retained as access
sories: Geo Tanner, j. ID. Dawson, w.
Miller and James Frazier.
Mr. Hale was buried from the Hale
house, at half past 10 o'clock, Sunday
morning.
EF The Fort Smith Independent Of