The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1878-06-29
THOs. RYAN'S STATEMENT
Concerning the Difficulty Between John
Evans and Himself which resulted in
the killing Of Evans.

Gently convicted of the murder OF
John Evans and condemned to hard
labor in the penitentiary fur life, we
publish the following statement, pre-
pared at his instance and read In the
District Court on Wednesday, jsst
before the Judge passed sentence up
on the prisoner
Let 1t he understood in the first place,
that John Evans and myself had been work
lug together for few weeks previous TO eur
fatal quarrel, On the 18th OF June, III,
John Evans came to DonaldsORyille. The
following day came into town and repaired
to my usual lodgings, there meeting John
Evans: he wanted to know how much The
work amounted to. told him $36 30. had
invested at the outstart $50, for provisions,
cooking utensils, bedding, ETC.; the half OF
this amount to be returned BY him out OF
work done he acknowledged to me that he
was in NV debt $21 80, but begged me to
give him few dolla-s to start cut again,
which gave him he then started for the
ferry landing bag in hand. saw no more OF
him until O'Clock, when he came TO my
lodging bouse. finding me in bed, pulled me
out and asked me up to the bar to drink. He
GlfF6 called me I1OSb uuNMCA6lOnUOAS AAeSaAhCcs
knocked ME down and kicked me On the
ground. did not resist his insults. but got
out of his way. He then went away apd re-
turned again about O'clock. l was sitting
on a chair and leaning up against the wall.
He called me all manner of most Disgusting
names, knocked me of the Chair and kicked
me; went in the back department; he
went out laughing meeting Sam 81. Martin
he enanired where he could procure writ
for me as had made an assault upon him
being told where he could procure one, he
did SO. Shortly afterwards was served by
Sam st. Martin with writ for assault. and
on the Doth, lodged in Jail on the 2lst OF
June, 1877, was taken hefhre Justice Ev-
ans, charged with committing an assault
upon John Evans having waited some time
| asked Justice Evans II he would go with
me to get something to eat, as was hungry.
He locked the office aud went with me. On
| the way the Justice said that John Evans
| had said to him that, guilty or innocent ne
wanted me locked up for fifteen days.
| had something to eat and returned, waited
twenty minutes or so, when John Evans
came In and finding that he had no case,
said it was a matter of debt that he wished
| to settle with me. / then handed ny ae-
count to Justice Evans, who brought me In
John Evans debt 81 so, but he had given
John Evans credit for half the original
amount involved, $50, when really he had
not paid one cent oft. protested against
this, but seeing that he was about commit
tins me to Jail, paid the amount under
protest. then wanted TO procure war
rant against John Evans to keep the peace,
| as he had threatened me more than once.
The Justice being busy and not thinking il
of much importance did not give me one.
asked Sap st. Martin to go with me to the
Mayors Office that ! might procure one the
Mayor was sick and not III the ONCE; 80
that John Evans wac ct large. l then went
to dinner, il being then half past IL G'elack
After dinner called in az Mr., Gaudpal =
store, stayed there until about 4 O'Clock. /
then started to go to Parks store to get u
few necessary articles as was going out IA
work next morning. On my way, IN pass
ing Wiese's store was called in stayed
a short time and proceeded on my way.
Later in the evening ! went into Wless's
store again to pay o small bill owed, when
there ] called the company up to drink. Al
that time John Evans came in, took chair
and sat in the doorway with his back to
wards the atreet aud his faeis towards the
company, reusarking at the same time that
if had asked him to drink he would kill
me. stayed there longer than had intea'
ded, as Evans nat In the doorway and there
was no other way to get out. Shortly after
he rose to his fset and said you - little
-------, viii kill you auyhowi coming for.
ward toward me, one hand extended so az
to take hold Of me and an open kaite In the
Fother; jnmped from the counter over to
the wall and drew my revalver; when he
was within few feet of me told him to
| keep hack, he advanced and fired he tier
dropped the knifs-the knife was about 4
inches iong-I have had 1t in my hand
twenty times OF more. / hacked tawar ds
the door; then gave my revolver up to
John Devaney, who was there at the time
John Evans then reached over the counter
and got a tumbler and struck me in the face
endangering my life. He had made foot
i ball of me for nearly two days, and / am
Quito sure intended killing me then If he
could 30 that was compelled to defend
myself. fired only one shot, although
could have fired four, but / did not wish to
/ kill him, and would not have fired one if ]
could have got out.
here wish to say that Miss Wiese was
not in tho store at the time of tbs shooting
hut was waiting on D cust0mer in the next
apartment !; the report of the shot broughi
her into the saloon, and 1t was she who
gave the tuphler to Joha Evans when he
struck nae, She testified ct court that she
Jaw John Eyaus standing ut the door at
though he was going outi when Q MaI
standa in door with his face towapds the
inside and his hack towards tbs street, the
inference would he that be Was going d
again. 1t was stated that John Evans Wa
quietly sitting down at the table reading q
paper. now iGs Weil .KH0Wn 1act ina
John Evans never was known TO read q
paper or any thing else, supply because ht
could not read he has adMitted to nae
often that he did not know his alphabet, sc
that he could not have been reading. Again
it was impossible that he could have beer
sitting at the table, because there was but
one in the roam and that was in the middle
of the room, aud John Evans was at tht
door. So muoh for Miss Wiese's testimony
wish also TO say so1nething with refer
enee to Mr.. SuMmeryille's testimony. Ht
stated at coart that he met me between tht
hours of 10 and II o'clock on the morning O
the 2Ist, ct Marx Israei's store, when
told him that wanted to borrow revolver
to kill John Evana. Now this Ia utterly
falae, and he kaloics IL. cap prove by TIRES
officers of this town that was In their Gus
tody during those hours and afterwards
was in Sam st. Martins company uati
half past II that day, when ] went to din
per. ! positively deay meeting Mr.. Summer
vile at I'll that day. or ever speaking tt
him about q revolver. His statement Is /
base lie ali through, and nobody knows Il
better than himself.
With reference to my trial. can but sa,
that l have had anything but fair one
three of my most important Witnesses were
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