The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-01
ATRAGIO AFFAIR.
pIardI Gras Festivities,


inc ut half,past six o'clock, were interrupted
Inv the sharp report of pistol shots, in rapid
sEccossion, at the corner of st. Charles and
Common streets, and in response thereto
Times reporter, en- hurrying to the scene,
saw Sell Howell, the general Southern agent
of the Piedmont Air Line connection of the
jackson railroad, staggering into Reese
shoe store, No. 1856 Common street, where
he fell dead behind the counter.
b. T. Townsend a lawyer of Cofeeville,
Miss, was running haltless across the
street, when Aid McDonough seized him
and gave him in charge of policeman.
Meantime, Ed. Howell, Sells brother,
was at McCown's corner, on the northeast
side of the street, levelling two Tranter
revolvers, and exclaiming, stand back, or
I'll shoot the first man who attacks me-"
Aid McDonougb, nevertheless, ran to-
ward Ed. who fired both pistols Intellectually
at him, and on approaching HIM seized him
by the wrists. Ed Howell, on recognizing
the aid, exclaimed, Il didn't know that it
was you, Mac; l surrender"
Ed. was therefore taken in charge, and
with Townsend brought to the central sta
ton and there incarcerated'
Meantime man was seen to run through
the Common street entrance and followed
into the store fronting No. "a St. Charles
street, where he fell, was approached by n
man who said, 81 am your friend, give me
YOUR pistol, whereupon the wounded per-
son, who it subsequently TRANSFERRED, was
A. Il. Wimberley merchant of Coffeeville,
Miss, surrendered his pistol.
Mr.. Chas. Bush, the proprietor of the
establishment over No. 81 st Charles street,
ON realizing the condition of affairs brought
down shutter, on which Wimberly was
placed and by Aids Dave Hennessey and
A. Picora aud Special Mike Hennessey
conveyed to the Charity Hospital.
In the distance, DIR. Fred King, of
Georgia, was seen limping off, as it after
wards transpired, wounded in the heel by
chance shot. This was the condition of
affairs when a Times reporter reached the
scene. and at once set about learning the
particulars of the tragic affair.
1t aprears, during the course of his in
vestigation, that Ed Howell, Sells brother
who is a sleeping car conductor on the
Jackson railroad. on his way to the city
day OF two ago, had among his passengers
Wimberly and another man, who violated
the rules of the road by putting their feet
on the seat
Ed Howell expostulated with him, when
they used rough language to him, but
finally yielded to his request to take their
feet off the cushions
Howell then went to the platform of the
car and Kimberley followed and struck
him.
Howell however, fully approaching his
situation as conductor, and being in duty
bound not to create disturbance, did not
retaliate, and thus the matter ended for the
time being.
Yesterday morning, OH ST. Charles street,
opposite the hotel, Ed Howell met VIM
berey, and recalling the circumstances and
how Kimberley took advantage of him,
declared his determination to have satisfac.
ton, which Wimberly avoided by running
into the hotel among the crowd, and thus
escaped.
At half>past o'clock, as Sell Howell and
his brother Ed. unfortunately for them,
went into Redwitz saloon. 'fhey met
kimberley, accompanied by B. +. Town
send, also of Coffeeville, and an attorney
at law.
Sell, according to Townsend's statement,
to his brother. '.Here is the
man who insulted YOU" and thereupon
pulled his pistol and commenced firing.
The first shot did not take effect, although,
as Mr.. Townsend's face shows, the pistol
was fired at such close quarters that the
powder singed Townsends face, burning
him quite severely. Townsend thereupon
ran from the saloon, and knows nothing of
the subsequent occurrences.
From other sources, however, it is learned
that, on all parties gaining the street, some
twelve shots We're exchanged between the
Howells and Wimberly, and that, as Sell
Howell ran into the shoe store, Winberly
fred the fatal shot which terminated his
existence. He then ran around the corner,
while Ed. Howell crossed the street, as
above stated.
On repairing to the hospital, Wimberiy
was visited and found to have wound in
the back, in the left lumber region and
penetrating the abdomen, which, in all
probability, will result fatally, another in
the front of the neck, at the ''Adam's
apple, and still another in the right ear.
Both of these, however, are but slight.
In an interview he stated that he was in
the saloon with some friends when Sell and
his brother entered. Sell said, There is
the s-of a b-who insulted you, and
Immediately began firing.
He endeavored to draw his pistol, bnt
finding that he was too weak to do SC, he
ran from the saloon, and while running he
was shot in the back. He denies firing
shot and sarcastically alluded to his friends.
who ran at first fire.
OF Howelrs wound it was i'm .ossible 10 |
learn the exact nature. Deputy Coroner
Donovan was on hand, when the body was
brought to the station, but on failing to |
elicit response from the city physician,
when asked to hold an autopsy, he conclud-
ed that it it would be be better to wait until
the doctors arrival.
The body was given in charge of HowelIs
friends, who removed it to the undertake 10
of Mr.. f. johnson on Mag
lzine street between st. J seph and Julia
streets. The inquest will be held to-day.
Ed Howell is charged with shooting with
intent to commit murder, and Townsend
with being an accessory to tho murder of
Sell Howell
Near midnight it was reported that VIM
berry was dying, and thereupon Judge She
han and his chief clerk, Mr.. A.. D. Henriques,
were summoned by Chief Boylan to the
hospital to take Wimberly's dying declara-
ton. On his arrival, Judge Sheehan inter
rogated Wimberly, who said he did not feel
that he was going TO die, and therefore
could not make declaration
Al Il