Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-31
AsON's REVENGE.
A Hand-Cuffsd Murderer Killed by
His Victims Son.
Startling Tragedy In New Or.
Ila rr leans.
Picayuns, %.

~AhOaN HAAANN KalN y y NAuNh hAAN
urday morning the denizens in the
neighborhood of the corner Of Ram.
part and Cont streets we're startled by
the sharp report OF pistol shot.
A crowd Immediately oongregated
in front OF the barroom from whence
the report sounded, Upon reaching
the place their gaze was met by the
corpse Of the notoriousneero murderer
AL Gosset lying on the sidewalk bleed.
ing from bullet in the head. The
person who did the killing was John
Coffey, who was taken 10 custody and
conveyed to the Third Precinct Stas
ton, where he was locked up.
About 3 o'clock 10 the morning
Deputy Sheritfs John Dominick and
Louis TOUGHER had lett the Parish
prison, having in their custody AL
Gossett and James Wedlock, whom
they were conveying to the Criminal
Court to be acknowledgment for the
murder Of police officer John Coffey,
for which he had been found guilty
without capital punishment. Wedloek
was to be sentenced for having assisted
the notorious Eliza Riddell in robbing
a stranger Of $500.
[ As they passed the bar room at the
corner Of Cont and Rampant streets a
ipistol shot was heard aud Gossett was
seen toreel and fall TO the sidewalk,
dying 10 few minutesaiterward. The
officers on turning around discovered
young Cotfey in the rear Of them with
a smoking revolver in his hand, Depu.
ty Sheriff DOminick ard Officer Wei
gand then placed OOffsy under arrest,
and took him to the station. Gossett
was placed on q stretcher and also
taken to the Third Precinct station,
where it was discovered that he had
bsep shot behind the left ear, the bull
let entering the brain and producing
almost instant death.
As Gossett fell his companion, Wed
! lock, who was handcuffed with him,
was dragged down by his weight to his
knees, Deputy Sheriff Dominick
rushed to his assistance, and held him
up while TOUGHER took the weapon
from Coffey's hand. The next thing
in order was the unlocking of the iron
bracelets, which we're unelasped as
quickly as possible.
The information Of the tragedy was
Immediately sent to the parish prison
by TOUGHER, when Deputy Sheriff Bru>
neau responded and took charge of the
body OF Gossett and had it conveyed TO
the Third Precinct station.
The Deputies state that at the time
they we're not aware Of the presence
OF Cottey as he was not seen until he
rushed up from around the corner be-
4 tween them aud the prisoners and fred
the fatal shot.
Deputy Coroner Archinard held an
autopsy on the body, found that death
was caused by conclusion Of the brain
from hemorrhage, the result of gun.
shot wound. The bullet having en-.
tered the skull about an inch behind
the lett ear, broke number of pieces
Of bone from the skull, which were
driven againt the brain itself, ana res
manned buried among the fragments O!
broken bones. The lateral sinus was
wounded, and from it came the greater
part Of the blood causing the compress
sion.
The remains were taken in charge
OF by the members of club Of which
the deceased was a member an d re.
moved to their club room on Basin,
between Cont and st. Louis streets
where it was visited by a number oil
people.
Officer Fred Weigand, who assisted
IN making the arrest, stated that he
was standing at the corner of Cont
and Bergundy streets when he heard
, the shot fired, which seemed to come
from Rampant street, He saw a
crowd OF people in that direction and
ran out there Upon his arriving, he
saw four men together, one Of them
fallen, and the two Deputy Sheriffs
having hold Of John Uofey. He
then took hold of Coffey
and went with him to the station.
While going to the station the prison.
er remarked: well, Fred, | have
revenged my fathers death and don't
feel sorry at all now | am satisfied -
Cofey in the cell at the station sta.
ted that he had watched his father
murderer for long time, and finally
got his chance Saturday morning. He
had laid of from work, aud was walk
ing out Cont street, when he saw
TOUGHER with Gossett, and inspired Al
the sight, he walked up and shot him.
lie was subsequently brought before
Recorder Ford, where he was arraign.
ed and remanded 10 the Parish Prison
without bail to answer the charge Of
murder.
Tho deed which cost the negro des.
perado and burglar his life was the
murder Of Police Officer Coffey on the
morning Of the 22d Of last A pril at tho
corner OF Franklin and Custombouss
streets. He was tried for the crime
and the jury had rendered a verdict Of
guilty without capital punishment
This would have remauded the muir,
derer 10 the custody OF Messrs. s. L,
James q Go. for levee work, where
the opportunities for escape are read.
lily taken advantage OF.
Young Codey is carpenter by oc.
cupation, and 70 years OF age. He was
employed at Lhote's sash factory. on
the Old Basin. lie is considered an
industrious aad hard working boy By
his employers. y
He isthe chiefsupport of the Widow
voftey and her large family Of chill.
Ladies and all sufferers ffom neuralgia
hysteria, and all kindred complaints, mn
ind without a riyil Browns Iron Bitter.