The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-02-17
ATTEMPT TO AssAsSINATE GOV.
PACKARD,

to take the life OF Governor aCAaiu
was made this week, by man giving
his name as William Henry Weldon,
of Philadelphia, but recently
from Mobile. Weldon applied for ad-
mission to the State House about noon
of Thursday, representing himself as
correspondent of a Philadelphia pa
per DESTROYS of an interview with the
Governor, sending in card bearing
the name of Joseph Huttle. Two men,
one of whom had but one arm, ac-
companied him to the door of the ex-
ecutive office, but did not enter. Well
don was admitted, and found Gov.
Packard in conversation with Judge
Boarman of Caddo, who was seated at
the Governors right. Approaching
from the left, Weldon said to Mr..
Packard, When can see you" and
the latter, turning to reply, found
revolver presented at his head. He
struck the weapon down as quick as
thought, and the act saved his life,
for the would be assassin had pulled
the trigger, and the ball intended for
the Governors brain struck him on
the right knee, infiicting only a slight
flesh wound. A sudden blow from
Mr.. Packard's brawny fist sent We'll
don staggering back, and shot fred
by some bystander made an ugly
wound in his arm. Several parties
present attacked him, and would GER
tainly have made him pay the penalty
of his life for his rash and infamous
act, but for the interference of Gov.
Packard, who insisted that no further
harm should be done him.
Weldon is in custody at the State
House, and makes no pretense of de-
nying that he intended to kill Me-
Packard, assembling his desire to mo-
tives of "patriotism," he being an
ardent Democrat. He has promised
to make IA full confession which will
implicate several other parties, who
| agreed to assist him in accomplish
ment of the nefarious design buI
backed out at the last moment. The
one armed man who accompanied
Weldon to the door was arrested and
gave his name rs Joseph Huttie, for
merly "a member of Capt. Bascom'
company of U. S. Infantry he los
his arm while assisting in firing sa
lutte at Bayou Sara, just after new
was received of the death of ex- Presl
dent Andrew johnson. He said tina
he knew nothing of Weldon and hat
merely accompanied him by reques
to point out the Governors office
Weldon's second companion escaped
| A peddler named Philip Stem. VIII
keeps small store in the city, ha
made affidavit that he saw Weldon i
a beer saloon with Huttle about a.
hour previous to the attempted assas
| sination; that Weldon said he wants
;. to buy pistol, and that he was :" GO
ing to see Packard" with whom Ia
had particular business, adding = l.
fix him, the damned rascal" Til
keeper Of the saloon corroborates til
peddler's statement.
The news of this deadly assault VI
on Mr.. Packard created intense ez
element in political circles at VAST
ington, and despite the fact that a
the respectable Democrats of the Stat
will deplore aud denounce the deed
as Gov. Nichols has already done,
will add to the otoriety which Louis
ana seems fated to maintain as so
8 of political Hades, and will not |
without it's effect upon the pendin
question of federal recognition of OF
or the other of our State government
We are glad to know that Weldon
, not Louisianian; that he had n
| been in the State twenty -four hou
t when he attempted to murder prom
), inent and useful citizen, whose polit
J cal opinions Glanced to differ fro
those of an obscure assassin. And
are glad to believe that it will be
I very small and very disreputable n
nority of the Louisiana Democrat
which will openly or secretly applal
: the eowardly act and fiendish purpo
;. of this infamous carpet-bagger, WI
comes among us as the disciple of a
Q Gent Brutus and modern John Wilk
Z | ponth