The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-31
Fatal Shooting ARRAY.

Fatal Shooting ARRAY.
BIr. Il. j. Green Shot and Killed by Mr.
Benajah Gibson.
A deplorable tragedy was enacted upol
the streets Of Donaldsonville last We'd
nesday afternoon. Mr.. r. j. Green, mem
Der of the Town Council from the second
municipal ward, and recently appointed
Justice Of the Peace for the parochia,
ward formed by the limits of the tow1
Of Donaldsonvil and Mr.. Benajah Glib
son, member of the Police Jury from the
sixth ward, became involved in n shoot
ing ARRAY which resulted in the morta,
wounding of Green. For the present We
shall give only the leading and uncon
tested facts of the affair, deferring any
comment and statement of minor partic
ulars until after the preliminary exami
nation, which Judge Cheeyers will hold
to-day.
| As is we'll known in the community
Mr.. Gree:,, i'll his capacity of member Of
tho Town Council, has been the most &C.
tive opponent of the Police Jury's Sun
day ordinance, deeming it his duty as
an Alderman to champion the views q
the merchants and others who petitioned
the Council to take steps against the or
dinancc while Mr.. Gibson, as member
of the Police Jury, has consistently sus-
tanned the disputed measure. Out Of
this unfortunate difference of opinion
which has extended to all classes of oul
people and created much unnecessary
harsh feeling, grew the sad event Of
| Wednesday.
Nearly every body in town knew on
Wednesday morning that a difficulty was
imminent between Messrs. Green and
Frederick Dutfel, as the name Of the lat
ter had been given to Mr.. Green as the
author OF the advertisement appearing
in last weeks CHIEF over the signature
of Dennis Butler, Justice of the Peace
for this ward. Mr.. Green regarded the
allegation that lie was TN intruder into
the Office of Justice of the Peace, as d
personal a;|roilt and a reflection upon his
oharact.., and it sccsas that no amount
of argument on the part of friends, OF
even Of Lis legal adviser, was potent t,
disabuse his mind Of this conviction. HI
declared his intention Of calling Mr.. DUFF
fel to account, and hence it was that al
affray between that gentleman and Mr.
Green was looked for. However, they
met at the post-otfice while the mail
from New Orleans was being distributed
but no alteration occurred.
| Messrs. Gibson and Green also met al
the same place, and exchanged a pleas
| ant salutation, as was their usual habit
Mr.. Green left the post-offlce first, &C.
| companied by District Attorney Earhart
and stopped at the corner of Railroad
| Avenue and Attakapas street, near Mr.
| Auguste Bercegcay's residence, where
| Green talked excitedly about the Sunday
| law and the Justice Of the Peace imbrog-
lilo. When Gibson passed the corner, 60
ing towards lawyer PugRs office, Green
accosted him abruptly and after some
severe language on both sides and vain
attempt on the District Attorneys part
to prevent a resort to violence, revolvers
were drawn and tho men began firing at
each other. There is serious conflict in
the testimony adduccd before the Coro,
her as to which party fred first, some
witnesses contending that Gibson fired
two or three times before Green drew his
revolver, others declaring that the
weapons were drawn about simultane-
ously. Gibson fred rapidly, emptying
his revolver which is of the improved
self-cocking, Smith & Wesson pattern,
nickel plated. Green was somewhat
more deliberate in his aim and his weap-
on-a short, common docking revolver,
resembling a bulldog "-seems to have
snapped sYeral times. During the firing
the combstants advanced up Attakapas
street, Gibson on Bercegeay's sidewalk,
Green nearly in the middle of the street
and pushing" the fighting, AS Green
fired his last shot Gibson faced about and
ran as far as Pugh's Office; Green turned
and walked a few steps towards the
lower side Of the street and suddenly fell
forward OIL his face across the edge of
Hafele's banquette. He was presently
lifted up and carried into Mr.. Hafelc's
house, where DR.. Jno. E. Duffel, assisted
by Drs. Vandegriff and Claverie, rendered
the necessary medical assistance. It was
found that a ball had entered the pa
TENTS body on the right side near the
arm-pit, passing clear through and
emerging on the left side at spot some-
what lower than the point Of entrance.
The shooting occurred about quarter
past o'clock, P. NJ. the patient was re-
moved to his residence between 2 and 3,
and breathed his last at 4:30, three hours
and quarter after being shot. He re-
covered consciousness short time be-
fore death and was able to speak few