The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-13
SHARPLES' HOMICIDE
THE CoRONER's JURY FIND THAT HE
CAME TO HIS DEATH AT THE HANDS
OF MIR. WALTZ n. WATSON.
The Testimony FIicIted et the Tpou

The Testimony Elected st the Inquest
The report published that the inquest II
the case of the death Of John sharples. who wa,
| killed by Mr., Walter r. Wasson on the night O
| the seventh instant, was to take place Mt moor
| yesterday. had the effect of drawing the usua
| number OF idiers about the eoroner's office
OF course, as this class Of Migrants have moth
ing to occupy their time they come early and
stay late. They heard there were some ladies'
who were to give their testimony. and 1t was
absolutely necessary. so they considered, &c
see who the ladies were just 80 they would have
something to talk about. They hung about the
doors Of the office until forced to take French
leave by the police officer on duty at the station
When the tramps on the outside had been
disposed Of the jury was impaneled, and the
following Witnesses were brought before them
and examined
MRS JANE BULL,
having been duly sworn. testified that on the
night OF the seventh instant she was sitting up
with sick friend on Sixth. between Coliseum
and Prytania, streets, when she heard shot
fired. On going TO the door she saw gentle
man walk off with q lady. who wore 4 white
nubia on her head. She did not recognize either
If the parties. On going to the corner she saw
the b dy Of a man lying ON the banauetts face
downward.
MRS. GUMPERT
testified that she heard the shot fired. but paid
no attention to 1t. Did not know anything
about the shooting.
MRS. sIEaEr.
residing on Sixth. between Coliseum and Pry-
tania streets, testified that on the night OF the
seventh instant. about Ii 80 O'Clock. she heard
q uoise outside followed by the sound of pis-
tol shot. and then police whistle On going
to the door she saw lady and gentleman walk
of toward Prytania street. she then walked TO
the corner, whore she saw the deceased lying
on the banquette, face down.
OFFICER sCHUMAKER
stated that he was with the deceased before he
left the Ninth Street Market.
OFFICER o'BoURKE
said he didn't know anything about the shoot.
ing.
p.J.MauRK,
On the night of the seventh inst mt was
awakened by my wife. who Informed me that
some one was knocking at the door. On going
to the door was accosted by a lady who said
There Is q man following u.s." asked her who
she Ineant by us. she answered. but too In
distinctly 70. be heard by me; A gentleman
then joined her at the door. He was tall and
well dressed and carried walking cane under
hts arm. she said to the gentleman. Did you
sh99t hm me reply was 81, ope 9n let us go
around Prytania street. then went Into the
house when | was again called out by Mrs.
Bull. who told me there had been 9. shooting
match. and proposed that we should go to the
corner and see the man who had been shot
We went to the corner and saw the man. There
was putty kpe ling pear the body and
IDENTIFY been at work, as his hands were full OF
paint. l stopped to see II the man was alive.
and heard him breathing hard. left the man
after remaining. with him about fifteen min
utes. He was alive when left him.
ALEX. sPINELLA
testified that be heard police whistle followed
by a pistol shot. He heard man say. You
will, will you p Witness didn't leave his house.
Mr. NORTH
testified that he was with Officer Flynn. corner
Df SavnUth and ut. GHurlpg ON KrtIav
night last He heard q pistol shot; Officer
Flynn ran up st. Charles street. and witness
went out Seventh street to Prytania where he
met man who was looking for a policeman.
MISS
testified that on the night OF the seventh in
slant Mr. Wasson was sseorting her from his
residence to her home. They had reached
Chestnut street and had gone about n block
and quarter when she saw a man leaning
against he fence In the middle OF the sdnHre,
between Harmony and Eighth streets. They
parsed him and hs did not speak. We had gone
down to Seven h street. / looked back ana
saw the man within q distance Of across the
street from as, aud following us. We turned
out Seventh street and stepped upon carriage
step In order 10 allow the man TO pass us.
There was lady and gentleman going into an
opposite house at the time. The man passed
two doors OF Camp street to the residence Of
Mr.. Flash. There he stopped and made an
offer to enter the gate We then left the plat
Ing no after us. looked back and saw The man
with glittering object In his hand which
us then. Mr.. Wasson took out police whistle
and blew 1t loudly and long. The man
was not more than ten feet from b t US
with YOUTH FIX you Mr.. WATSON made no
answer. but, kept on blowing the whistle. We
Sixth street turned out Coliseum. Tho man
followed. repeating his threats. We then
reached the corner OF Sixth and Coliseum, the
man not being more than four feet behind Us.
Mr.. WATSON then turned around and told the
man not to move step further. but to keep OH.
The man kept coming, Mr.. WATSON continuing
ba king away from the man. Mr.. Wasson told
me to go on ahead l then knocked at the door
Ct house s. On Sixth street, would could SEQ the
the street and the man follow him. Mr.. WATSON
had leyeled his pistol at the man before / left
h ae Of tn man asB me W %n G }4S
street the man rushed at him. | then saw Mr.
WATSON fire. After firing he Immediately
stepped on the banquette' the man making an
fall. A few seconds after that Mr.. WATSON came
up to where had Knocked at the door and We
walked towards home together.
The jury after hearing the above testimony,
returned the following verdict:
After viewing the body Of the said John
tant city physician. and after hearing the testi-
mony, found that he came to his death from a
gun shot wound In the region Of the heart. the
weapon being In the hands Of Walter Il. Was
son, now In custody.
AS there was no testimony for the State save
that given by the defense, Coroner Markey has
concluded to send the papers In the case before
the grand jury to-day and let that body PASS
upon them.
Although there was no testimony to show how
sharptes received the cuts about his head and
face. It was learned that the deceased attacked a
well known bar keeper In the Four b District
and friend OF the bar keeper struck Sharples
In the face with settler bottle,
From another source it was ascertained thai
Sharples started cut that Right with the inten-
uon OF doing SOM one bodily harm. The tables
were turned on him and be died as men of his
stripe generally die-in their boots.
An Accessory 10 a Murder.
Ynsterdav INF W IT Mappfpo AfS Mia