Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-10-01
BANG F! BANG /!
Tragedy on the
Sabbath Day.
A Difficulty at EStival Park
Ends in Blood.
Frank Wait Shot Twice by
Alexander Woodbridge.
Origin, Particulars and Various
Versions Of the Sad Affair.
Wait Still Alive with
Hopes of Recovery.
Woodbridge Not Arrested, but to be
Forthcoming when the Excite.
ment is Over.
Frank Wait Shot Twice by
Alexander Woodbridge.
Origin, Particulars and Various
Versions Of the Sad Affair.
Wait Still Alive with
Hopes of Recovery.

Yesterday being Sunday crowds of
citizens assembled on street corners, in
front OF hotels and at other prominent
points and engaged in conversation. 1t
was a pleasant day; the sun shone cut
brightly and nature seemed to smile upon
mankind. This scene of peace was
rudely broken in upon OF a quarter to
two o'clock by the sharp report of a pis-
toll shot, followed by a second shot, in
front Of the Peabody Hotel. The crowd
Of people on the sidewalks in front of
the Peabody and nesr by scattered and
ran in every direction, while from all dis
tant points crowds of men rushed toward
the scene of the trouble. Those who ar.
rived there in time saw Frank Wait, the
we'll known ice aud coal dealer, sitting
on the rim of and leaning against
the lamp post in front of the
Peabody. He was dressed in his
usual style, in pants and white
shirt, with red suspenders. His shirt on
the left side of his breast was torn
and powder burnt, and blood began to
appear and ssturate his clothing near
where the rent in his shirt appeared. He
gazed doggedly toward a darklooking
man, who was struggling with two other
men a few feet away, and said, you
have murdered me, God-d-n you. l
am murdered. 1t was a damn cowardly
thing" There is some difference of
opinion as to what he said, others who
we're near by giving different versions of
the expressions, but from the most au.
thentic account our reporter could hear
the above was the substance of the re.
mark, and probably the very words. 1t
turned out that Mr.. Wait had been shot
twice by Mr.. Alexander Woodbridge for
insults offered to himself and family.
H ORIGIY OF THE DIFFICULTY.
At the Estival Park reunion and bar.
becue Of the soldiers on Saturday, Mr..
Frank Wait was among the invited
guests, he being an ex-Federal soldier,
having belonged to a Kansas regiment
during the war. Mr.. Alexander Wool.
bridge was a member Of the committee
on supplies, etc and had been most &C.
tive in the performance OF bis duty,
During the day Mr.. Frank Wait seemed
to be enjoying himself exceedingly, but
was evidently drinking too much at the
bar. he became noisy, boisterous and
rough, both in conversation and manner,
but those who knew him well paid no
attention to this, because by nature he
seemed to be q kind Of rough diamond,
and prided himself on his loud style
of conversation, boisterous manner
and department. BE was not of a
bullying disposition, but either when
sober or when drinking, strangers
meeting him would be impressed
with the idea that he was a bully.
He bad an ugly habit Of speaking of
himself, his friends or even those whom
he did not like as SONS of b-s,"
"d-n bastards," etc. His best friends
checked him many a time as to this
offensive style Of rude and most insult
ing conversation. AT the park about 6
o'clock Mr.. Wait, al is mentioned above,
was under the influence of liquor and
was very noisy. He had ordered a col.
ored boy to bring him ssme barbecue,
and had paid the boy for so doing. He
then went in rear of the pavilion where
the barbecuing pits and meat tables we're
and commenced talking loudly about
having had to pay for barbecued meat.
He said it was the first id place of
the kind where be had to pay for meat,
etc. Mr.. Alex Woodbridge, who was zeal
by attending to his duty as a member Of
the supply committee, demonstrated with
Mr.. Wait, and told him that he must be
mistaken, that no charge was made for
meat, and ifany person had made him pay
for it, it was a violation Of the rules, and
that he would look into the matter and
have it stopped. Mr.. Wait seemed to
become incensed at being demonstrated
with in this manner, and he at once
called Mr.. Woodbridge a damned liar and
other offensive names, and then suddenly
slapped him in the face and cuffed him
several times. Mr.. Wait is a very large
man, Of powerful frame, and weighs over
two hundred pounds, while Mr.. Alex.
Woodbridge is a smalLsized man Of light
frame, aud does not probably weigh over
one hundred ard thirty pounds. RecoS.
ering from the attack and stung by the
insult to his manhood, Mr.. Woodbridge
Immediately drew a pistol and present.
ing it at Mr.. Waits breast pulled the
trigger. Fortunately the cap snapped
and the weapon failed to explode, and
Mr.. Woodbridge was prevented from
attempting to fce a second time
by a number of gentlemen who
rushed between him and Mr.. Wait.
Mr.. Wait continued to use the most of.
fensive and insulting LANGUAGE toward