The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-16
THE PETUL.Nr PISTOL.
The Porter or the Democrat shot In Front
Of the sbfflce.


Yesterday, Mt about II .45 n. m, our pqua-
nimity was slightly disturbed by what APP
peared to be the explosion of two flre-erackers
on the sidewalk opposite the DEMOCRAT
office. Presently two other reports we're
heard. but these nearer. clearer, deadlier than
before right in the alley-way, as we rightly
thought. at Is II sr' we exclaimed, "the
pistols opening roar!'' and anxious to see the
fun, we slid down stairs In less time as Cha
teaubriand says, than it would take an old
Sachem the oracle Of his tribe, to settle dis
pute between two respectable matruns. What
that is, we admit we have no idea OF; we
simply use the smile because the author has
the reputation Of being first class writer
and witha, q poet.
Upon landing breathless Of the bottom Of
the stairs we found out that our porter had
had an UNDERSTANDINGS with n colored friend
II seems that there is a girl or something
al the bottom Of it, and that some converse
Lional epgrams had been repeated by a ml-
t,ial friend. as mutual friends will generally
do. This led to the publication Of q card In
porting to BIO Independent in all things, ncu-
trail I'm nothing
We have read the card and admit that its
language Is rather strong and that If is as
good piece Of invectivs as could be got up
within short notice We understand how
William Richardson got mad, but he has evil
IDENTIFY let his angry passions run away with
him TO All extent that may bring him ulti-
| mattel to grief. With o borrowed pistol he
lay In walt for our porter, and as that tried
servant appeared ON the sidewalk he, without
any admonition, pulled out his weapon and
opened fire.
Our porter who was unarmed. reiterated in
good order toward the office In search OF u
defensive weapon, but still defiautly facing
the enemy, followed by the murderously-in-
clined Richardson, who all the while was
petulantly popping at him with his pugna-
cious pistol. and even fired ut him In the
| DEMOCRATS very hallway, one of the balls
taking effect in Williams left arm. The fel.
| low Richardson was arrested, his pistol
taken away from him and he was taken to
pistol was arrested afterwards, and charges
were preferred against the former for shoot
ing with intent to commit murder, and against
the latter for being accessory before and after
the fact. Judge Smith, before whom they
were arraigned, placed each under $1,000
bonds to, appear on the 10Th inst Before him.
As We have stated before upon several occa-
sions. we have no objections TO parties lighting
and riddling each other with bullets. II is an
old and respectable tradition that people must
fight, and the thing, really ought to be en-
| Outraged. But we unreservedly object to
promiscuous firing on the streets, and be-
lieve that the man who shoots pistol in a
absolute self-defense, ought to be severely
punished. If people want to fight there f.
many n lonely place 10 our suburbs where the
luxury can be INDUCED in without detriment
to the public but firing pistol on the street
and In private office, where it is O providen
tial dispensation if tho erring balls do nc
harm, Is crime that tho law ought to visit
1 with the severest punishment. AS it is a good
| man Ia now disabled for several weeks, and
the lives Of many have been put in jeopardy