The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-11
THE SHOOTING OF SHARPLES.
MR. WALTER II. WATSON sURREN-
DERs HIMSELF As THE MAN WHO
DID THE KILLING.
His Statement or the Affair.

| Mr.. Walter II. WATSON. son of Mr. J. B
Wasson. well-known stationer In this city
surrendered ut o'clock yesterday to the polio,
| authorities stating that he was tho party wbt
In defense Of his life was forced to shoot ant
kill John Sharples. who assaulted him on tn,
highway while he was eseorting q young Ind,
| to her home.
Mr.. WATSON was Immediately arraieued no.
fore Recorder Sheehan on an affidavit cbarp.
Ing him with manslauehter. and released on
$4,000 bonds, Major e. A. Palfrey becoming
his surety.
After he was released from custody he was
visited by DEMOCRAT reporter. to whom he
made the following statement:
While escorting lady from my house. cor
ner OF Chestnut and Pleasant streets 10 her
residence on Washington Avenue, on Friday
night March 7, at II :9o .. m. / noticed a man
stop In the middle Of the square. on Chestnut.
between Big nth and Harmony.
He waited until we passed. On reaching the
corner OF Eighth felt some uneasiness nj the
m ,I actions. glanced back and saw that he
ne ne distance OF across Eighth street from me-
HIS moyements so alarmed the lady that took
my nDeringer from my pocket.
nnued 70 follow. l turned out Seventh street
toward Camp, SO rs to avoid him. and stopped
H. u tne middle OF me square on plank crossing
the gutter. A lady and gentlemen were on the
opposite side Of the street. Just going In their
gate
stopped at q gate near Camp street, rafting It
and pretending be was going La.
We then retraced our steps toward Chestnut
street, when he continued to follow
Going down Chestnut street near Sixth. wa
were walking quite last, and he getting closer
al the time. then drew my police whistle and
blew 1t for one and a half squares.
soon as / commenced blowing IT, he said
several times: III fix you'
we had again turned out Of our course and
nj vi or H..
he was about six feet behind me- turned and
ordered him to halt at least dozen times He
Kept approaching. and 1 backing l noticed
tnguish what 1t was. The lady was continually
AFRAID ne was going to shoot ut me. At this
|l aIt iayeled my Deringer and ordered him to
70 assault me. saying ell the while his repaaie cd
threat. 'Pll fix you then pulled the trigger
and stepped over the gutter into the street The !
Dserlnger snapped: he jumped into the street |
ttter me, when L pulled once more, and this |
line II shot, stepped on the banuuette, when
ne again followed aad Immediately fell on his |
did not know the man. nor could imaen /
my cause for his threatening and attacking |
tently within sound Of the police whistle which
blew loud and long.
At that hour of Che night there are but few
persons on the street In that part OF the city. |
allied for assistance. which did not get or
Tered the man to desist from following me
which he did not heed n'0'
4 retreated from him az far as possibly
ould. Hearing his threats continually repeated
hat he would fix me. / had to protect the lady
lnder my escort as we'll as myself. and shot
Mr.. WATSON is young man who bears n most
reputation in this community, being
10Th Trustworthy and Industrious and m to |
he time of his encounter with the midnight
1arauder, .Sharples had never before had a
iffieulty with any one.
The young lady who was 30 unfortunate as to
aye been witness to the tragedy was visited
Z her parents residence by the reporter, where
he corroborated the statement of Mr. Wasson. !