The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-02-16
The Attempted Assassination OF Pack.
ard, the Louisiana usurper, by
a Phlladclphlan.
He Meant Business, Had Nerve
But Was Not Quick
Enough.
Packard, After Receiving a Wound in the
Cap of the Knee, Masters His WouId.be
Assassin, Who During the Skuffe
Is Shot in the Shoulder by the
Friends Of the Usurper.

NEW ORLEANS, February Is. An
attempt to assassinate Packard, the
rump governor, was essayed, at hal {
past eleven, while seated In his chair
surrounded by half.a dozen callers.
An eye witness says: Shortly before
the occurrence two men, one Of them,
the wounded man, who gave his name
as Joseph Huttle, but whose real name
from papers found in his possession is
ascertained to be w. ii. Weldon, and
asllm one armed man, who gave no
name, called at the door OF the State
capital AID asked To see Mr.. Packard.
There was some demur about
admitting them, when one pro-
claimed himself to be- an ex-
Federal officer and the other dis
charged soldier. They were brought
to the head of the stairs, where Weldon
represented that he was correspon-
dent of the Philadelphia Press and de-
sired to see the Governor. A card
with the name of Joseph Huttle was
sent In, but the one.armed man de-
olined to enter. Weldon reached the
executive office, where he found Mr..
Packard seated at desk talking to
Judge Boarman, OF Caddo, who occu-
pied chair on his right. Weldon sat
down in the vacant chair Immediately
on Packard's left, and after an in
slant, somewhat nharply asked,
"When eau | see your Packard
turned and found pistol aimed at his
head. He Immediately struck 1t down
and the weapon discharged its ball,
striking him In the right knee cap.
and only inIlicting slight wound.
Packard Immediately dealt the man
heavy blow with his fist, striking him
between the eyes and knocking him
down. Several parties in the room
drew pistols and fired, wounding the
would-be assassin seriously, but not
fatally. or course, n scene of intense
excitement immediately followed.
The one'armed man was arrested and
conveyed to the office of the
superintendent of police, and Weldon
kept close prisoner in the executive
Office. Packard was taken to his private
apartment on the second floor of the
building, where the wound was exam
ined by DIR. A. w, Smythe. 1t is not
of u serious character, but might prove
30 If not carefully tended, and will
lame him for several days.
The statement of the man who tried
to kill Packard says his name Is
William Henry Weldon, and his home
Is in Philadelphia. He says, further,
he has mother and sisters living
there With regard to his attempt to
kill Packard, he says there were four
others with him who were to have
assisted him in the undertaking, but
on reaching the door of the State house
they refused to 90 In, and left him to
carry out the plan alone. Weldon, II
such DO his name, Is not, as it turns
out, very seriously hurt, the ball which
struck him entering on the left below
the shoulder, and seems to have come
out at the elbow. 1t was thought at
first that he was killed, but 1t seems he
was only stunned and faint from the
loss of blood. AT half.past II he was
so much revived as to converse with
those about him.
PHILADELPHIA, February 15.--Tn-
quiries made at the Office OF the Phila-
delphia Press, disclosed the fact that
VIM. II. Weldon, the person who
gained admission to the executive
mansion at New Orleans to-day, upon
the pretence that he was correspond
ent of that journal and then commit.
ted personal assault upon Governor
Packard, is an imposter, he having no
connection whatever with the Press.
Nothing known OF him at the Office of
that paper.
New ORLEANS, February 15.-No
blood was drawn by the bullet said TO
have been fred at Packard, only
slight biulse. Weldon clsims to be
the son of lutheran minister, In
Pennsylvania. Being asked his mo-
tive for shootlnS at Packard, replied:
"Only patriotism I" He had only been
In New orleans twenty. four hours.
Meeting OF Southern state q, editors.
New YORK, February l5.-The COM
mittee Of bankers appointed to
enter into arrangements for the settle
ment OF the debts of several Southern
States had private meetings last eve
ming, and the subject considered at
most length was the debt OF Virginia.
The feeling Of the committee from the
first was | oteably, that of sympathy,
and desire was evinced to be liberal
as possible with this State, az well as
with all others, which will In the
future be included In the committees
elaboration. The discussion to some
extent included other States, but
Virginia alone was treated Mt
length. No conclusion was reached
when the committee adjourned.