The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-27
THE STRANTZ SHOOTING.
The Trial of the Accused Parties
Before Judge Whitaker.
Bourges After Being Acquitted Takes
tho Stand md Swears that Ho
Did the Shooting.

u,
evening Of the first of March 1879.
The state was ably represented by Distrlc
Attorney Finney while II. G. Oastelanos nm,
Anatole Kerr defended tho two accused.
The prosecuting witness in THIS case. after h,
was shot, was removed 10 the Charity Hospital
and although he was considered by his phys
clans to be MORALLY wounded, and lay Mt deRths
door for several days and nights but. marvel
GUS to say. he recovered sufficiently to be per
mited to walk about the streets.
After u lapse of few weeks. hls wound
again gave him trouble, and he was forced to
return to his bed. His ptystcianR. this time
we're forced to open hts sidn and cut of Dor
ton OF the rib that bad been fractured. Ths
operation again placed him on the very verge
OF the grave: but. being possessed OF u spien
did constitution hn recovered. and yesterday
appeared In tho Superior Criminal Court to
prosecute the men charged With the shooting.
After the shooting occurred the two men,
Gtbson and Buurges, who were soon to leave tho
sceue we're charged with being the parties who
did the deed, and, IA they both Disappeared. the
conclueion was drawn That they were The guilty
ones. On the day following the shooting Glib
son was arrested ard charged rs ono OF the
principals. Afer lapse OF some weeks
Bourgea. who had left the city. returned and
surrendered.
The first witness placed on the stand was
VALERIE ~ sTRANTz.
Direct examination by the district attorney:
Questton--Iour name is StrantE2
Answer Yes. sir.
Q-Yalarie ID. Strantz?
Ayes. sir.
Q-Aro you tho person alleged 10 have boen
shot on the first Of March last in this city
A. Yes. sir
Q,-Do you known tho prisoners Mr.. Gibson
Ayes. know Mr.. Gibson.
Q.-no you know Mr.. Bourges
A.-No. sir. do not
Q.-They are charged with having shot you !?
,A.-Yes. sir. Hero In the right side. Witness
showing the place.
IA .b.>o "a, t,l-
A.-No ~ Carpndelet street near Canal
OIL the First District
Q.-uf ths city?
Q.-When did It happen?
.A.-on the first q March. about $50 o'clock In
Ill want you u tell those gentlemen trefer-
ring q thu, jury what took place Ia connection
A, Well. was standing In the alley In the
back yard.
Q.Mhat back yard?
Carondelet street. was In tho alley. near tho
post. The first report attracted my attontlon
] dld n9t . snow Va n.t hurt. }nst ~ soon A.
about two or three feet or from me: the other
Q.-How many shots we're fred
Adhere were two shots fred. After the
second shot Was hred felt the blood running
from me, hought dropped down: don't
know, though, Afterwards | woke up Id the
hospital; that was about half-past - that same
night.
Q.--Had YOU seen these persons III there DO
fore the shootiHR2
Al don't remember.
Dwell, what WA the cause OF this shooting?
A.--Tbat don't know.
Q.-Had you hai u fuss or difficulty In the
house before you went into the yard3
A.-Not 1T all.
Q,-WhHt part OF tile yard were you tn when
Al VA near the alley-way In the alley
m ~ tb,t i i. r1a ,yorly
A.-Nnt very, ten feet by ten, ~ ora or less.
Q.-Where was this alleyway that YOU speak
A.-WeIl. It IL iuet Oh this side Of the yard :
the alleyway leads into the yard from Caronde
let street The nnyway opens On CarOnaalet
street. There y another alieyway that leads
U.~Weli. how did these men gct III there?
A.-That i cannot tell YOU.
Odd you tlnd them there. or did they come
there after you did?
Al don't knw how. whether found hem
there or whether they come there after did.
Q.-Do you know who fired the shot?
ADDISON was the man.
Q.-How DO you know that?
A. He was the man on my right side He
was standing on my right
Q-Did YOU see the gun?
A. No. didn't sec the gun.
Ale was standing on my front Bourges
was on my left
A.-les, on my right side, about three feet
away. Bourges was distant from mo about
three feet | should Judge II was about that.
Q.-Had you had auy words?
A.-Not as | remember Of
Q.-Why don't you remember
A Because was drunk. We never had any
words before the shooting took place. We might
have had. but don't believe Il.
Q.-Who else Was about the place at that time2
Was there anybody else present
A.-Not then: there were only these two men
present.
Q.-Was there ybody In the saloon
- In ba | mr. hat hpr
ANYBODY Yves in there or not.
Q.-What became of Gibson
A.-When WAS falling Just saw them walk
ing off. Gibson was going down the alley-way;
that Is ~ small alley opening on Carondelet
street; saw Il BISON going down the alley way.
sQ.-You said there WAS another alley way
where Is that?
A.-Well, that Ia Just back of the house; it
opens on Canal street.
Q,-Was it open?
A.-No; 1t was closed at that time but the
office was open.
A..That was the Office of the coal men. He
bert i Rooa.
Other office is on Csrondelet street?
A.-Yes. sir; 1t is on Oarondelet street: you
have to go through their office to get to this al
ley way. Their flee opens into It.
Q.-Now. where Is this aey-way you speak of?
Alt is No. Carondelet street.
Q.-How do You get into that place.
Although the door on Carondelet street.
Q.-What want to understand Is, how you
ger into this al eyway. which you say is back of
this coal office?
A.-WeIl. this alloy touches the back part of
the office. You have to so through their office
In order 10 set to the alleyway.
Dwell. If l wanted to go into this alleyway
back OF the coal office which way would goY
A.-You would have to gothrough the office on
Osrondelet street. That alleyway eonnec's with
the house next door to IL Carondelet street.
Q-You don't have 10 go through Ia Caron-
delet street to get to It:
A.-No, sir.
Q.-Can you get into this coal office without
passing through the bar room?
Ayes but you have 10 go out back through
the alleyway.
Q.-,Well. do you know whether you were
struck more than once?
Al found out next day was.
Q.-Where We're you struck?
Al was struck here pointing 10 the grOinl.
1t was just Il scratch,
OIL want to know If there were any marks
on your clothes:
Ayes. my pantaloons are marked they will
show it.
Ely MR. CAsTELLANos.
Q-Where are your clothes2
Al have them here.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
Q.-Now. you say two shots were tlred3
AYES sir.
n'-Tn what rOsitinn wara Won yChan tha Hre.