The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-11-26
NEWMAN'S NARRATIVE.
A HISTORY or THE sT. WARY PARISH
SHOOTING AFFRAY.

q n. M Newman, the clerk Of tho Distric
court for the parish of St Mary, reached tn
city on last Saturday. The blood and thunde
story Of Mr. Newman was narrated in q lette
tn the editor of the Now Orleans Observe,
and was subsequently published In yeste1
DAYS Times yet it may be we'll to state brief
Iy the occurrences which have produced New
Enan's visit:
On the night of the eighth instant, after th'
votes had been complied, Newman locked "
The hallot-boxes taly sheets etG} e., p hoa,n tn'
During the night one Of his friends came t6
his house and informed him m attempt would
probably be made during the same night tc
obtain possession Of tho election records de-
posted in the courthouse. Acting Oh thla
Information Newman repaired to the court
house and after collecting oil the election pa
pers he could find he returned &c. his home.
IN the early hours OF the morning. OF tho
anmc nirht an entrance was effected into the
ooy,rt-hnlJse. and all the baliOt-boxes together
with whatever election documents could be
discovered, were taken outside the building
and elfeeillaly destroyed
The following night, Mt about midnight.
". K. WILSON. DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRO TEN,
called at Newman's house and informed him
fhat n telegram had beGn received from the
Attorney General aud Secretary of State, re-
uuesting him (Wilson) to ascertain what pa
pers had been destroyed the previous night
and what preserved. Wilson stated he
eamein in his official capacity and demanded
that Newman should at once go TO the court
house and prepare the certificate asked for by
the two State officials mentioned. Newman
declined this request. although assured by
Wilson he would not pc harmed Wilson.
finding his efforts frutless, took his leave.
but before doing so cautioned Newman not to
mention anything about the nocturnal re-
guest
The next morning Newman forwarded the
tally sheets TO this city, and they are now
said to be in safe hands. On tho night of the
nineteenth instant Newmans house was en-
tered by three men. who proceeded to New
mans bedroom. where tho latter and Lis wife
were sleeping.
fire Oh the seepors, and q great many shots
were fired. as shown by the bullet marks on
the walls and ceiling. At tho first shot Now-
man rolled off his bed on the side next the
ut Che attacking party tho first shot striking
one of the men in the hand The man 50
wounded is said to be W. k. Wilson.
Newman then made move for the door.
and whio so doing stumbled against a pros
trate body, With the instinct Of desperation
Newman pulled his trigger and tho second
shot took effect on the arm of the fallen man.
The man SO shot is supposed to have boon
Tom Wilson, brother to the district attorney
and the fact of his lying on the floor Is ac-
SHOT nY MISTAKE
by his own friends during the darkness and
excitement of the scene. At any rate, besides
the gunshot wound In the arm q pistol ball
was found In his head and this ball could only
have been fired by his own party, they being
armed with revolvers.
Newman succeeded In elfeeting his escape
and took refuge in neighbours house. At q
favorable moment he took his way to Morgan
City by land. and arrived here, as stated
above. on Saturday
Tom Wilson was carried to his mothers
house and laid upon the front porch, where
short time afterward he breathed his last.
THE ABOVE ACCOUNT
represents Newman's account Of the affray. |
and Is offered without comment.
Il A DEMOCRAT reporter found Newman yes
Aerday afternoon in the very basement Of the |
Uuatom- House, and In company with O. g. |
Antoine end r. M. Hebert, the lately defeated
Third 5siitIlI plstrict' tpt ''pe N'''' :" ''o
Newman is, small, very black, and with
slight moustache. His eyes had hai1- quee-
tioning and uneasy look, and his whole bear |
ing seemed apprehensive and disturbed. In |
he Is, very particular IN his
ally. He informed the reporter that the state
ments made In his letter to Mr.. Ruby were
about correct, although at the time OF writing
ne was suffering from severe mental excite
ment, and was scarcely aware OF what he
wrote. He said that when writing this letter
he was In the woods. This statement was
not correct, as it Is well known ho was hiding
In a friends house.
.When questioned by the reporter he re-
nIcd he had received q letter from his wife, !
stating she had escaped with a few slight
bruises from the night attack, and was now
staying with her mother,
Newmans object In coming hero was TO get
District Attorney Leonard to accompany
him to Attorney General Ogden and Gov.
Nichols for the purpose of making his state
ment Of tho affair. He does not anticipate
getting relief from tho State authorities, as
the matter is one that can only be reached by
the local officials
Newman was elected clerk of tho District
Court in 1876, and his term will not expire un-
til 1880. He nevertheless, declares he is afraid
TO return to Franklin, as he considers his life
would be In danger by so doing.