The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-06-09
THE HOPE VILLA HOMICIDE.

Before Parish Judge Sherburn OF
East Baton Rouge an examination
was held on Wednesday of last week
of the case of the State as. Saml. II.
Fields, who shot and killed his SON.
in law, Ed. Phillips, at Booths store,
Hope Villa, on Friday, the 25th of
May. After the testimony of a large
number of witnesses had been heard
and a brief resume of the case made
by counsel for the prosecution and
accused, the Judge decided that the
killing had been done in self-defense,
and ordered the release of the pris-
oner.
We are indebted to the Baton Rouge
Adrooate for the following account of
the circumstances attending rhe sad
affair, as gathered from the testimony
of the witnesses:
1t seems that Mr.. Phillips had married Mr..
Fields daughter and that at the death of
Mrs. Phillips, some months since, she left
two small children that by mutual consent
Mr.. Fields had taken charge of the child
rem that after the death OF his wife Phillips
had taken to habits of dissipation and Mr..
Fields determined to keep the children III
his charge unless they were taken from him
by law. Phillips became angered at Fields
and frequently threatened to kill him. On
one occasion he had written challenge to
Fields, but the young man he gave it to, to
carry to Fields, did not do SO for the reason
that Phillips was under the influence of
liquor at the time and not thought to be in
q condition to know what he was doing.
Time wore on and Phillips continued his hos
tility towards Fields until the trouble ended
at Hope Villa ON the 25th ult 1t was shown
by the evidence that Phillips left his home
armed with shotgun that morning, went
to Fields house and secreted hims elf for
some time in the bushes within gunshot of
the yard not seeing Fields he left, went up
to the ferry at Hope Villa, crossed the bayou
md at Booths store found FIELDS sitting i'll
front of the store talking to another party.
He passed them and went into the store,
laid his gun across the counter and sat down
by it. A short time after this Fields went
into the store to buy some meat and while
the clerk was weighing the meat Phillips
took his shotgun from the counter, cooked
it and commenced saying in a loud, bragga-
docio manner that he was the g best little
man in the house," and that he was better
man than Que that was there. Seeing that
Phillips was determined to bring their trouble
to an issue Fields watched his opportunity
and attempted to rush upon Phillips, and as
soon as Phillips saw him lcyeled his gun to
fire, when Fields struck the gun to one side
and Just as he did so the gun was discharged
and the contents struck MIR. Fred SniZer, o
clerk in the store, dangerously wOunding
him. Mr.. Fields Immediately fired at Phil
lips with pistol and then elinched, and in
the scuffle Fields struck Phillips several
blows on the head with his pistol. Mr. Booth,
who was i'll an adjoining room ut work with
his boOk-keeper, Immediately upon hearing
the noise rushed in and separated the parties
and finding that Phillips was wounded,
conveyed him to 10 bed in an adjoining room
and summoned medical attendance for him
and for Mr. Smizer Mr.. Smizrr was found
to have received very serious wound in
the side and Mr.. Phillips in the abdomen
and on the head. The wound in the abdo-
men was made by the pisto oil shot and those,
two IN number on the head were caused by
blows inflicted by Fields during the scuff1e.
Those ON the head were not serious, but the
fatal wound WIS the one received in. the
abdomen. Mr.. Phillips lived about twenty
four hours. Upon his death the Coroner.
DR.. +. NJ. Brooks, was summoned, and in
company with Sheriff Booth. went to Hope
Villa and held an inquest and made return
in accordance with the verdict rendered by
the jury. Before the termination of the in
quest Mr.. Fields came forward voluntarily
and surrendered himself to Sheriff Booth
and requested an examination of the case.
1t may be added that Mr.. Smizer,
the young clerk who was 20 unfortu-
nate as to receive the charge from
Phillips gun, is doing well under
skilful medical treatment and bids
fair to be mp and about very soon.