The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-12-13

OUR NEW ORLEANS LETTER.


OUR NEW ORLEANS LETTER.
The Murder of "Cap.. Murphy-One of
the Most Dastardly Grimes on Record
Preparing for the Exposition-Ag citation
among the Printers Deatl, of Col. w. M.
Smallwood.
NEW ORLEANS Nov. Z, 1881.
EDITOR CHIEF:
No event of recent date has provoked SO
much excitement as the murder Of A. H.
Murphy on Monday last. AS deputy
keeper of the city jail he was in charge of
a gang of prisoners engaged in clearing
out the drainage canal at the corner of
Claiborne and st. Philip streets. At about
o'clock in the afternoon, after giving di-i
rections about work he seated himself on
box steps on st. Philip streets, from which
he could overlook operations, and conversed
with his assistant james, Wing and. Street
Superintendent Michael Early. Looking
up the street towards the river Early re-
marked: There comes two of Ford's
court officers" Murphy looked up and
saw them; then three others, said to be Re-
corder Thomas B. Ford, his brother Pat
rick and lis brother-in law John Murphy,
police officer, came from around the cor
ner of Claiborne street. ALI were armed,
the two former with revolver in each
hand, and without word of warning they
opened fire on Murphy, who sprang to his
feet and faced them. Fleming, bystander,
was slightly wounded at the first fire. Muir
ply experienced some difficulty in getting
his weapon from his hip pocket, and walked
to the middle of the street, unbuttoning
his coat to get at his pistol. The five as
sailants approached him from opposite
sides. He fred at random, no shot taking
effect, and then ran mp Claiborne street
towards Dumaine. His pursuers gained
on him rapidly and continued their fire.
He turned out Dumaine. At the corner 1t
Ia said the brother Of Judge Ford took de-
liberate aim, fred, and mortally wounded
Murphy, who after few steps fell. Flem-
Ing and Rector, Negro, who came up,
say that after Murphy fell Judge Ford
stepped up. and fred two more shots into
his body. Then oil walked rapidly away.
The Chief Of Police arrived soon after, ar
rested tho Ferds, and court officers Cauf-
field, Bader and Buckley. From the home
Of his neither the funeral of Murphy was
conducted by Washington Fire Company
No. 20, of which he was grand marshal. AS
to the cause of this affair, some months
ago Murphy was brought before Recorder
Ford, who fined him for being drunk and
disturbing the peace, making also al entry
in the record book: "This is hoodlum,
dead beat and city official" Murphy
posted handbills all over the city denounc-
ing Ford as a coward, liar, thief and per-
iurer. He was arrested for criminal libel,
put under peace bonds, and the case came
ND last week, but was continued because of
an important murder case. Murphy declared
he would prove all he charged, employed
able lawyers and had host of witnesses.
The assassination of Murphy took place
in broad daylight, in the presence of per-
haps thirty witnesses, yet up to this writing
because of fear, completely, or desire to
avoid annoyance, not single one of the
assailants has been identified. Washing
ton Fire Co. No. 20, employed ex-Judge
Whitaker to assist District Attorney Adams,
and Jefferson Steam Fire Co. No. 20 ap-
propriates $50 for prosecution. Gov. Nc
Emery offers $1,000 reward, and the Mayor,
Chief of Police, and court officers are busy
with the case The fact that witnesses are
unobtainable, together with the connec-
ton of the alleged murderers to the city
| government is exasperating. Members OF
the Produce Exchange signed call for a
| meeting, but cooler heads, doubtless
| remembering the results OF similar move
ment recently in the city OF Cincinnati,
caused it to be suppressed. There is some
talk of organizing "a law and order league,
| but as this is on the same line with the sup
pressed call, tits not probable that it will
lead to anything extraordinary. The dis-
grace to the city is keenly felt, and the de-
mand that the murderers must be discov-
cred and punished is deep and intense.
! Major Burke is very busy man. Friends
say the overwork is aging him fast, in hur-
ryins forward the Exposition. There is a
daily arrival of exhibits, machinery is up,
and commissioners from everywhere are
coming in. There is an appreciahle in
crease of people on the streets, but our
business men report no material advance
| in trade.
There is some agitation among printers.
| The proprietors of several job Offices have
advertised for and are employing non
union printers. The new daily CONNER
cia1 Bulletin is manned by non-union men
and it is expected that proprietors of the
morning dailies will ask for a reduction in
rates. This proposition will probably be
consented to, as the conditions of all classes
of business require moderate and con.
ciliatory spirit on that line.
Yesterday afternoon Col. w. NJ. Small
wood, veteran commercial editor, once
upon the Times, but recently of the Pscu.
uu,,e, passed away to his eternal rest. Hi
was painstaking, valuable writer, ano
genial with his associates. The Produce
Exchange, of which he was leading or
ganizer and the secretary, accompanied hi
remains to Metairie cemetery this after
noon in a body. He was a native of Mis-
souri,. Colonel of Federal regiment dur
ing the war, secretary of the Democrati
State Committee of Louisiana on its reor
ganization, and Postmaster of New Or
leans under Andrew Johnson.
More anon. GENERAL OBSERVER.
| $50
II onpoarn that our friend T.. r. nantley n