The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-10
DlXON'S DEATH.
An Eyewitness Story Of the Kill
ing.
The Circumstances Which Led Up to
It--Bad Talk About Barksdale and
His sister-Bloody Incidents
in the Career Of
Mr.. Dixon.
[Cincinnati Enquirer.1

NEW YORK, Sept. Ga gentleman wei
known In railroad circles, who was In Yazo,
and saw the shooting OF Dixon, said to-day t,
Sun reporter:
Henry Dixon was a friend Of mine liz
was native OF Virginia. He came to Yazoc
during the war as O sutler In the Union army
After the war he married lady who owned
three plantations and had 100000 In money
When Dixon died one Of these plantations
was all that was left. This had q mortgage
against Ii for all Ii was worth Henry Dixon's
business Tor years was gambling. He dealt
faro In O bank in Yazoo. / don't think that
Dixon ran a skin game, for the reason that
don't think be knew enough. He was will.
ing enough to take advantage Of his custom
ers at any kind OF game, but he lacked the
shrewdness. lie had no ability except In
reckless daring and bravado. He had always
been q leader lii the Democratic party Of Yazoo
county. No one eyer took more prominent
part In sbulldozing' negroes or 'intimidating'
white Republicans than he did.
Three years ago the sheriff of the county
was d Republican. A number Of the gamblers
81 Yazoo was Indicted, among them Dixon.
Into another county. A deputy sheriff named
Mitchell went after the gamblers and arrested
some Of them. The sheriff Of the county and
Deputy Mitchell became very obnoxious to
Dixon and others, and they determined to
drive the officers out Of the county or put
them out OF the way. Al d political meeting
held at that time Mitchell was present. The
meeting was hot one, and Dixon was the
most prominent actor In It. During the ex-
element Deputy Sheriff Mitchell was shot
dead. The circumstances under which he
was killed led to Dixon being credited with
the murder Dixon never denied it, and no
one In Yazoo believed that any one else killed
Mitchell.
AT the beginning of the campaign 1t was
James Barksdale's intention to try for the
Democratic nomination for sheriff Of the
county. Dixon went to him. Jimmy he
said, you don't want TO be Q candidate against
sheriff Ii / scan.' Barksdale consented to
withdraw his name as candidate for sheriff,
and accepted the nomination for chancery
clerk. This Office 10 almost as good as sheriff.
peaceably for time. Finally It transpired
that the presence Of Barksdale on the Demo-
cratic ticket was strengthening that ticket
throughout. Then Dixon began his tactics
to weaken Barksdale He set ailoat many
damaging stories, and capped them BY charg
Ing Barksdale with maintaining Illicit rela-
tions with bis own sister. This SO enraged
BaEksdale that he sent word to Dixon that he
must look out for himself when they met.
ION the day of the shooting Barksdae was
standing In the principal street of Yazoo.
There is only one business street, and 1t runs
clear through the place. Barksdale had
shotgun, Tor he was likely to meet Dixon at
any time. He was talking to some friends
WHICH lJ1ACH tttIJ5 h3Wu bUb 6II6tb. w U6H
Barksdale saw him be cried out, Henry de-
fend yourself y Henry Immediately drew
his revolver from his pocket. Barksdale
fired. Dixon ran TO 9 hallway on the opposite
side OF the street. Barksdale fired his other
barrel. Dixon returned the fire five times
with his revolver. Barksdale's first shot had
been the fatal one. Dixon fell In the hallway
From this same hallway, about three years
ago, Henry M. Dixon shot and killed Samuel
Harrison, an amateur detective. The county
treaSurerS Office had been robbed and Dixon
was generally believed to have been the ring
leader In the crime. Harrison took upon him
self thel dangerous task Of shadowing Dixon
Tor the purpose OF procuring evidence against
into the hallway, and rs he passed shot him |
down -