American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-06-22
A Trip to Arkansas.

.shortie again" Ch Monday, the Sd
rast.,- We left Csz1rtOu for Helena,
Ark. to BE Present ut the trial of
Harry q. Bos worth before the Phil>
lips county Cireait t'ourt, for the
killing of S}eorge A. Eeake, on the
22d of March hast. As the parties
to this homicide were both former
residents of Canton. We deem 1t not
inappropriate to give on readers a
statement Of the case as it was told
in Court, and afterwards related to
us by numerous citizens of the Old
Town neighborhood, where it oc
CURED. On the ODD Of March, Leake
and BoswOrth had a slight alterca =
ton, caused by derogatory remarks
of the former concerning the latter.
A fisticuff ensued, in which neither
was seriously hurt, but Bosworth
had a finger broken by club in the
hands of Leake. They were sepa
rated, and B., who thought the affair
concluded, started to the Office OF
DIR. Beynroth, two aud half miles
distant. At the house of II. w.
Cole, across the lake from the scene
of the rencOntfe, Bosworth sat down
to wait until a mule could be saddled
for him, and while waiting he was
informed that Leake had also Cross
ed the lake and was approaching
in a stealthy manner around the
garden, armed with q double barrel
ed gun. This he 1T first declined to
believe, ~ he considered the diffi~
Guilty trivial, and Leake knew he
WAS entirely unarmed. On being
convinced, though, that L was slip
ping up along the fence, keprOcured
= gun that was in Coles house, and
after three nmes warning Leake not
to approach, seeing that his nOni>
nitions were UNDECIDED, and bis as
sailant's gun cooked and presented
full towards him, b. fired,-the shot
Leake's left side, near and
ia tho heart, aud causing almost
instant death. BoswOrth surren>
iered to the nearest magistrate and
was released on the unanimous YER
Act of the coroner's jury that he
ared the fatal shot in self>defense.
Fhe people of the entire community
openly expressed their relief ut the
Heath of Leake, who WAS notorious
n q brawler, meddler, and constant
promoter Of strife-beiug almost
engaged in quarrels aud
. petty litigation With his neigh>
,ors, white and black, and had often |
pereons with his shotgun.
indeed, Bosworth was the only Man
hat was ever heard to express
'egret at his demise. Great surplis e
vas therefore felt when the deputy
'heri6 arrested Bosworth, on the
.lth ult. and carried him to Helena
70 answer an indictment for MUIR
Ter in the first degree purpOrting
o have been found by the grand
ury then in session. The prisoner
vas committed to Jail and the case
ct for hearing on 18th ult., on which
lay the defendant was ready and
ager for trial, but the State begged
continuance to November, owing
o the absence of one of their so.
allied Witnesses. This was opposed
y the defendants counsel, Hon. F.
;. Hsnly, lex Judge of the Supreme
)ourt of Arkansas and member of
he Confederate CoDgress,) assisted |
) g. d. Lewis, Esq. Judge Cypert.
granted delay until the
d inst, and again at the request Of
till the 4th, on which
lay the writer arrived at Helena,
nd found the Court engaged in
orming q jury. 1t was plain to all
resent, land was remarked by nu>
nerous persons who felt no such in.
crest in the prisoner as we did) that
he prosecution showed considerable
ancor and were anxious to delay
astice and remand the accused to
all in default of bail. as from the
overwhelming evidence in his favor
hey could not hope for conviction,
nd this was evident from their
hallenging several jurors simply
or beng acquainted with the de-
eased The jury having been filed,
he Distrit Attorney read the indict
rent ~ and found that it had nerer
cen signed by the foreman of the
rand jury. Judge Cypert dis
harged the jury, and proceeded TO
ear the 9, idence for the purpose of
ecidiug if the case was bsilable.
)nly Eve witnesses were heard, and
( these four were called by the
tate. They deposed to the facts
8 above stated, and 1t wss fur
her shown that between the time
{ the first rencOntre and that of the
illing, Leake had changed his hat
nd coat, supplied himself with