Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-26
$40 FRAgRhf.
A Fatal Shooting ARRAY Yesters
day Afternoon.

A native ofSweden, named Achilles
Winberg, a labOring man about thirty
five years OF age, was shot and killed in
the presenceof bis wife and three little
ones, the youngest only four months Of
age, on yesterday afternoon. The
tragedy occurred near the home Of the
dead man, close by the DeSoto Oil
Company's works, situated at Huling
and Tennessee streets, and the trouble
began within the dOmiciI Of the de
ceased.
The son of our we'll known fellow
citizen, Mr.. W. P, Proud6t, Superin
tendent Of the DeSoto
Oil Company, AdIai H. Proud>
fit, was the unfortunate person
who did the killing. The circum
stances which led to the deed have
not been fully developed, and conflict.
ing statements are current, both of a
hear az description. as we'll as ofthose
who claim to have been eye witnesses
to the terrible deed.
At the inquest held over the body
Of Winberg, some time after the shoot
ing, in the humble residence of the
widow and her little ones, the jury
summoned by Squire Fleming, with
e. A. Yerger as foreman, returned a
verdict charging Adlai Il. Proudfl
to be guilty of unprovoked muir.
der. The accused was represented
during the proceedings by Colonel
Josiah Patterson, and the foreman
declared that though be has no doubt
but 10 the final trial Mr.. Proudft will
be acquitted, it was the unani-
nous opinion of the inquisitors, after
careful deliberation, that their verdict
was q proper one.
After the killing Mr.. Proud6t, ac-
conpanied by his brother james, who
had been in the melee with WiDberg,
vent to the police station on Adams
street and surrendered to Magistrate
MADDEN; that official released Mr..
Proud6t on $4,000, the sureties being
W. z. Proud6t and B. B. Barnes.
This was before the jury of inquest
had announced their verdict. The
jury also charged James ProudAt with
being an accessory to the murder.
The statement Of the widow, to the
jury was in substance that Mr.. James
Proudit accosted her husband while
the latter stood in his doorway charg.
ing him (Winberg) with having circu
lated derogatory stories about his
(PrOud6t's) father. This Winberg
denied A scufie ensued and James
Proudft went away. He soon re.
turned, accompanied by his brother
Adlai. Mrs. Winberg saw the young
men approaching, told her husband,
and the latter pushed the door shut
in James PrOudft's face. The latter
pushed himself partially in, and Mr..
Winberg attempted to force Lin out
A.,H. Proudft was near by, and when
Mr.. Winberg got clear OF James, the
brother fred, shooting Mr.. Winberg
in the breast, from the effects Of which
he died very soon.
Others say that the two young men
ran out of Winberg's hause, and we're
followed by the latter, and that he had
an axe with which he. was trying to
kill one Of them, that A. II. ProudRt
fred the pistol when right at Win.
berg. Still others say that Proudft
was a considerable distgnce away from
Winberg when the pistol was dis
charged. -
A correct statement Of the facts are
so difficult to ascertain, that it is
useless to go further than to say
Mr.. WinbeFg met his death at the
hands of Adlai Proudat. Whether or
not he was justified in the act can only
be determined by jury. The opinions
expressed yesterday and to. day vary
as wide as did the testimony of the
witnesses, reliable and otherwise, at
the inquest.
Considerable sympathy was mani
tested last evening for the distressed
widow aud har three orphans, SO sud.
denly left without a protector and with
out money. A person Of kindly heart
and a stranger to the family directed
that respectable burial be given to the
remains of Winberg, and that he would
be responsible for the expense of it,
The widow states that her husband
came to this country ten years ago.;
that he was a man Of cultivated mind,
a good husband and very industrious.
He formerly worked for the DeSoto
Oil Company, but owing to some diff.
ference with bis employers, he had
changed, and has recently been work.
ing for the Cotton Compress Company.
The poor widow was so crszed By
grief last evening that every one who
saw her was touched with sympathy
for her and her little family. The
beresved woman tried to end her
woes by suicide.:but was prevented.
This forenoon the case Of Mr..
Dro-def vyaa mn for nral;m;nary