Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-26
A SAD AFFAIR.
Mr. Adlai II. Proudit Fatally Shoots
Swede Near the DesOt0 Oil Mills
Yesterday.
The Full Details Of the Case and the
Statements on Both Sides Collected
by the Appeal.

Yesterday afternoon the city vas con-
ide:ably startled by the report that Adlai
d. ProudGt had killed man at the Desoto
Dill Works, on Tennessee and Hulipg streets.
Young Proudfit Is book-keeper at the oil
works and is well-kroHn in the city as
member of the Chickassw Guards. AS soon
IA the rumor had been substa initiated an
APPEAL reporter set about collecting the
particulars. He fret visited the station
louse, where he found A. III. Proudft and
ais brother James. The former had been
arrested and the charge Of murder placed
opposite his name on the statioDhouse docket.
rhe young man was accused of having killed
l laboring man named Axel Winberg.
PRoUDFiT REFUSES TO TALK.
The reporter approached Proudfit and
stated that he desired to do him full justice
IN the matter, and wished to get statement
from him as TO his eide of the case. The
youDg man was very heartsick about the SD
and whenever any allusion was
made to it the tears sprang to his eyes.
~ would prefer TO make no statement" he
said, "about the matter. / regret it very
much, but it was simply a question as to
which OF US should die. Ii had not killed
him sm satisfied that would now be a
dead man. was compelled 10 defend my
self. can't tell you how badly 1 feel about
il. My lawyers have asked me to make no
10 the newspapers, and / would
prefer that you see them"
james Proudft also refused TO say any
hing about the matter.
THE ATTORNEYS SPEAK.
The reporter first found Mr.. B. B. Barnes,
oue OF the lawyers employed in the case.
Later on he called at the Office of Messrs
CAN'T & Patterson. The statements made by
Col. Patterson and Mr.. Barnes were virtually
the same. They were as follows:
Several months ago Axel Winberg worked
at the Desoto Oil Works, but his time ex.
piring he was compelled to look for work
elsewhere. He did not like the Proudft
boys, and declared that he would get even
with them. For some reason or other he
a grudge against them. 1t is
said he made threats that he would some
day have a settlement; that he would "6x"
The boys. Winberg, with his wife and chill
iren, occupied little house adjacent to the
office OF the Desoto Oil Works. About noon
yesterday James PIoudft, who ia a clerk at
The oil works, came out Of the Office to go to
dinner. Winberg was standing in front of
mis- house, and remarked: "You thought /
could not make living without you"
THE TROUBLE BEGINS.
"No," said Jim. az know that any able
bodied man can make living in Memphis.
have nothing against you"
swell; you take that" said Winberg,
'lapping Jim in the face.
Jim was very much angered at this, and
rushing into the Office where his brother
Adlai was, said that he had been struck and
grossly insulted by Winberg, and he in
ended killing him. The night-watchman
lad left his pistol, six-shooter, in the office.
Jim snatched this up and ran for the door.
Adlai dashed after his brother, seized the
pistol and told him he must not do anything
If the kind. Jim ran out of the door, picked
Up brick, and
DASHED INTO AxEL's HOUSE.
Seeing the latter with his wife and children,
ne began to back out, not caring 10 fight
here. Winberg came toward him with an
X in his hand, saying he would settle with
him there. Adlai, who had followed his
brother 10 restrain him, cried out ALook
mt, Jim, he has got an AK"
Jim, seeing that Winberg was aiming at
lin, rushed in upon him and the handle of
he az fell upon his hesd, stunning him and
elling him to the earth. Winberg, thinking
ne had finished jim, now dashed for Adlai,
81 will kill you now, you 81 Of
l b."
Adlai began to run, crying out: $50 back; ;
don't want TO hurt you. 1t is not my
Iuarrel."
SHOT IN THE LUNGS.
Winberg followed him with the az, and
Adlai called out three tines to 90 back, as
he did not want TO hurt MIN. They ran along
he sidewalk, across the street, and when
hey got to tree near by, Adlai, seeing that
lis life was in danger, pulled the pistol from
lis pocket and shot Winberg in the chest,
iear the neck. Alter he had fired the shot,
he wounded man threw the ak at him,
ushed forward, picked it up, and walking
Jack into bis house fell dead upon the floor.
The friends of the Preudfts state that Win
'erg was a very desperate man, and that he
'eat up cripple some time ago 10 very
lnproyoked way.
The other Side.
In accordance with the old motto, shear
he other side" the reporter took car and
vent to the home of the man who was killed.
number of curious people were collected
here, and several little children were I'M
oncernedly playing in the vicinity. The
epoEter was admitted into the humble
which consisted of two rooms.
e' eral weeping women and number OF SYM
friends were present. Ga the floor
n the principal room lay the dead man, his
eel tied together and his head covered with
cloth. There was a pool of blood on the
DOR. The children of the deceased man
'ere in the room. They were 80 young that
hey could not, of course, understand the
erious nature OF the event. A kind hearted
Id lady was soothing Winbsrg's youngest
hid, a babe, apparently
ONLY FEW MONTHS OLD,
q her arms.
Winberg had evidently been shot in such
way that the ball penetrated his lungs.
he blood had surged upward, passed
trough his nose and mouth, and had matted
q his face in such way that he appeared
} have been shot twice. This, however,
Tss not the case. Only one shot was fred
y Proud6t. Mrs. Winberg was in the other
DOM, but came out at the request of the re-
orter. She was the chief witness in the
ase, her husband having been killed before
er eyes. She is a comedy looking woman,
18th an honest face, and the death of her
usbsnd affected her 30 that her statement
'ss very pathetic indeed. In answer TO the
sporter's inquiry she said:
THE WIDOWS STATEMENT.
"My husband was standing at the door,
hen Mr.. James Proudit came out of the
flee and began to talk with him. He said
nat Mr.. Winberg had been spreading bad
eports about his father. My husband re-
lied that he had done nothing of the kind.
lie said that he did not care for Mr.. Proud
either way, that while he did not like
hn ha1 ~
ever said anything against him. Proudfit
,sisted that he had spoken badly about his
lther. The two got into scuffie, and Proud
t said he would get his brother Adlai
TO KILL MY HUSBAND.
Ir. Winberg came into the house, and
,ort time afterward, looking out The win
ow, I saw Adlai and Jim Proud6t coming
ward the house. l told my husband, and
e ran out to keep them out; ran after
I'm. Jim Proudft came first, and my hus-
and pushed the door in his face. Jim
lshed halfway iu, and my husband went
1t in order to throw him out Of the house.
dlai Proud6t was doing most of the talk
&. He had pistol and, calling my hus-
and id s. of a b., told him to come
1t and he would kill him. When Mr.. Win
srg had thrown Jim Proud6t off, Adlai
.gan to fire with his pistol. went 10 get
y husband in the house, but it was too late;
, had been shot go that he died almost in
mute"
AN AFFECTING INTERVIEW.
ibid your husband have an ax?'
"Not that saw. ! am confident that he |
i'd nothing in his had at all. If he did 1 |
d not see it."
"How old was your husband?" asked the |
porter.
"He was about thirty-fve years old. He
me from Sweden about ten years ago, and
as good husband to me-"
"HoW long have you been maEried%