Louisiana capitolian., 1881-10-08
THE DEATH or J. A. BICKHAM.
Unfimely End Of q Much beloved
Young Man.
Details Of the Tragedy at Mari
anna, Arkansas.

Al UlOUuy CuCVuuUcIs Will lIdSl(
results, occurred at Marianne, Lee
county, Ark, between II and Il
o'clock last Friday forenoon, and a
young man named James A. Bickham
fell a victim to the fracas.
The origin Of the trouble was an
innocent and worthy young lady Of
the place. A young farmer named
Thomas G.. Rogers, living four miles
from Mariana, o native of that Sec
ton and a rather undesirable charac-
ter, to revenge himself for some fan
cied slight, made slanderous remarks
regarding her. Mr.. Bickham, know
ing the lady to be above reproach,
espoused her cause, sought out Rog-
ers and gave him to understand he
must not repeat the slander. Upon
his doingthis day or two later Bick-
ham compelled Rogers to sign pa
per acknowledging himself a vile
falsifier.
This paper was exhibited to several
of his friends who knew Rogers, and
who merely remarked that man
mean enough to say as he had said,
to try to besmirch virtuOus lady's
name, was mean enough to sign any
thing, and they all thought that
would be an end of the matter.
Last Friday forenoon, a few days
after the foregoing event, Rogers ap-
peared in the town with several COM
panions, and was heard to boast that
he would compel Bickham to surren-
der the paper, or he would kill him.
Mr.. Bickham who was chief clerk
for johnson e. Co.. merchants, walk
ed down to the postofiice upon the ar
rival of the mail shortly after II
o'clock in the morning and was met
by Rogers near the door, the latter
carrying a large stick.
In reply to request from Rogers
that he wished to talk to him, Bick-
ham said, "You cannot talk to me,
SIR Rogers then said he wished to
discuss business matter. "Well,"
said Bickham, ''come over to the
store and see me about it there"
The two started together for john.
son & Co.'s store. After q few steps
had been traversed, Rogers, sudden
ly, and without warning, attacked
Bickham with his stick, striking three
violent blows. Then, as Bickham
began to draw pistol Rogers ran off.
His adversary pursued and opened
fire, emptying his revolver of the
FIVE shots it contained. Three shots
evidently missed their aim, while one
passed through the t1eshy part Of
both Rogers thighs and another went
through both arms, near the elbows,
breaking the bone of one. While the
fusilade was pouring into him, Rogers
did not confine his movements ex-
clusively to running.
He also drew a revolver and sent q
shot at his pursuer, striking a finger
Of his left hand. AS Rogers fell to the
ground from the effects of his wounds.
Bickham, standing neatly over him,
pointed his then empty pistol down
as if to shoot again, not knowing, in
the excitement OF the moment, that
the barrels were all empty. AS he
did this, Rogers turned upon his side
and with his disabled arm, fired his
second shot, driving a bullet through
the right thumb and obliquely up
ward through his stomach.
Knowing at once that his time had
come, and discovering his pistol emp
ty, Bickham quietly walked to his
room at the store, disrobed, lay down
on his couch, called his friends about
him, and quietly arranged his busi-
ness affairs, telling all that he had
but few moments to live; that
though native of New Orleans, vet
he loved Arkansas, where his warm
est and best friends resided, and he
wished his grave to be there where
his comrades could see it, aud think
of him in the years to come.
He gave directions calmly and like
a true hero sent kindly messages Of
regret at his untimely end to his