New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-02-17
GOVERNOR PACKARD THE VICTIM
THE PLOT HAPPILY FRUSTRATED
AND THE ASSASSIN SHOT
THE GOVERNOR SLIGHTLY WOUNDED


AT thirty-tive minutes past eleven o'clock
Thursday morning, while the Governors
room was crowded with prominent Repub-
lieans and Governor Packard was engaged
in conversation with Hon. Alex Bo wman,
a young man, who subsequently gave his
name as Weldon, walked quietly into the
room, up to the desk, placed his hat on it,
and called the Governors attention by
asking when he could see him, and at the
same time put revolver to his face.
The Governor struck the revolver with
one hand, knocking it down, and with the
other striking him in the face.
At the came moment the pistol went off
and wounded Governor Packard slightly
in the right knee.
At almost the same moment another shot
was fired and the assassin wounded in the
left arm.
OF course all was confusion in an instant.
The blow of the Governor knocked Weldon
back, and he at the same time caught him
by the throat.
Several others attacked him, striking and |
endeavoring to shoot him.
Others, cooler, prevented this, and Gov
ernor Packard, finding he was compare
lively unwouuded, interfered and COM
manded all to leave him alone.
Several were so excited that it required
two or three others to restrain them.
The life of the assassin was saved by
Governor Packard, who stood directly be-
tween him and those who with drawn re-
volvers would have filed him with bullets
Matters we're quieted after little, and
the Governor left his office and retired up
stairs. 1t was found that he was slightly
grszed by the ball, and he received with
his usual calmness the warm congTatula.
tions of his friends.
The assassin was laid on the floor Of the
Governors Office, an overturned chair sup
porting his head. DR.. A. w. Smyth ex-
amined him, and at first discovered his
pulse almost gone. After his wound was
| dressed and he was given some stimulant
he revived somewhat, and gave several diff
| ferent accounts of himself
! He said his name is William II. Willdon,
| aud that he belonged in Philadelphia. He
| first stated that he came direct from there,
bat afterward that he had been about three
months in Mobile, clerk in Peppers dry
goods store.
Being asked what was his motive,lb said
"only patriotism" that he was Democrat,
and had come on purpose and did not care
| whether he escaped or not.
To some he stated there were others-twO,
| three and four-with him. He also said the
rest had backed out. He had only been iu
New Orleans twenty feur hours.
He was told that Governor Packard had
saved his life, and at this he seemed to
break down, saying with gulp. did
Governor Packard save my life3 l should
like to see him. Tell him l want to see
him."
He was nicely dressed good intelligent
Face cleanly shaven. lie wore large, and
evidently new, Masonic badge.
The man was evidently a stranger The
marks on his clothing indicated the truth
of his statement concerning his name, as
did also papers in his pocket.
The assassin gained admission to the
Governors parlor by representing himself
to be correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press
On the person of the assassin was found
letter from Charles H. Schwartz, Bethle-
hem, Pennsylvanis, September 49, 1868,
recommending William Weldon as having
been pupil in his school; another, dated
at the same place, February l6, 1867,
recommending Weldon as an energetic
business man of good moral habits; an
other dated Cincinnati, Ohio, April 90,
1872, recommending w. H. Weldon es an
honest, careful business man, and signed G.
NJ. Brown, formerly Brown & Coleman,
Springfield, Illinois.
One of his comrades, who was watching
intently, with very pale face, at the outer
door of the Governors rooms at the time OF
the shooting, made his escape before the af
fair was known by those at the dOer.
Another a one-armed mar, was arrested.
He stated his name was Joseph Huttel that
he knew nothing of Weldon or his purpose
but that he had accompanied him to the
State House to see Governor Packard, at his
request. He was locked up separately from
Weldon.
1t was soon learned that Weldon had
been seen with one-legged man, a peddler
He was found, and gave a statement Of
what he had seen, which was afterward re-
duced to an affidavit and sworn to by him
There are other clues to Weldon's move
ments here and in Mobile which may lead
, to something more important.
Friday Weldon was arraigned on the fol
: lowing affidavit:
: State of Louisiana, parish OF Orleans
/, William +. Loan, being duly sworn, says
that on the fifteenth of February A. ID
! 1877, in the Second Municipal District o.
the city Of New Orleans, State of Louisiana
upon Stephen B. Packard, Governor of the
State, of his malice aforethOught, felOnious
, | ly did make an assault, armed with dead
| " weapon, to wit: Rstol; with intent
! him, the said Stephen sB. Packard, to Kill
and murder, contrary to the form OF the
. statute in such cases, made and provided
and agaiDst the peace and dignity OF thu
State of Louisiana-wherefore, ETC., sworI
! to and subscribed before Eagene Staes
Judge of the Second Municipal Police Court
3 On this being read to him he pleaded
:, guilty in firm, clear voice.
; The following affidavit was fled in th'
= | case: