The Home advocate. (Farmerville, La.) 1885-1???, 1885-04-10


Knocked Cherry loose from me
He struck Cherry IL second time
knocking him to his hands an'!
knees, anG then. struck him 4 third
lick Oh the back Of the head. |
then spoke to Billy and told him
not to strike him anymore. At
the third lick Cherry sank down
on his face and knees Billy drop
ped the stick as soon as | spoke
to him, ana turning to me inquired
Where and how severely was
hurt: he asked me to let him see
where he bullet holes were. |
told him that l had been shot
through the ann. and that | be.
lieved had also been shot TIN cough
the lungs, but could not vt that
time tell how badly was hurt.
, Billy wanted 70 examine my
won ds, but | said "no. le1'S 20
oEt Of the yald." We went II
orCc ont of the yard. carrying the
| pistol and gun hich We picked
! up as We started.
did rot know that Mr. Cherry
was killed, ana 50 far as nay tell
ing Billy 10 go back and strike
! Cherry again after he had been
knocked down, that is nos true,
nor was there anything OF that
ki..l said. 1t is not true :hat Mrs.
Cherry was knocl1e;. down during
the difficulty, although | think
she received IN accidental lick
from Billy o. he wrested the stick
from her hands. Em. jackson was
not at any time during the difficult
ty nearer than her own yard, some
30 or - yards distant.
When | left home that morning
for the purpose of working the
road, had no thought of y diff
Guilty with Mr., Cherry. ! had 10
desire to harm him, anil even after
the trouble commenced | h;I no
other desire than to preserve my
own life. The entire difficulty WAS
a momentary transaction.
AS we were leaving the ya,A we
met Mr.. Rabun, and | told him of
the Il: tficulty. | also informed him
that desired 10 90 back into the
yard to see how badly Mr., Cherry
WAS hurt. He (Ra'ntn). thought |
that had best not go back into |
the yard, and ! did not 60, Mr.. !
Byram had just gone in to see Mr.. !
Cherry and as he came Oh. ask. !,
cd him how ~: .r,y tir. {. was
nult, and where be (Eyram) WAS
going. lie sad ts,at he w;ss going !
ai;cr the doctor. ! requested him |
to bring the doctor as quickly AZ
possible. then went home and
dressed my wounds.
told Mr.. Rabun that it was my
intention to go to Town and stand
my trial, but Oh after consideration
knowing that no disintercstcd wit
nesscs we're present at the time of
the difficulty: also believing that
evidence would nc manufactured
against me, and my means being
limited, thought it best to leave
the country, ana did so, but eX-
pected to return ard stand my
trial.
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM MELTON.
The above statement made by
my father is true and correct.
What did in striking Mr.. Cherry
the death licks WAS under the be-
lief that it was in defense of my
fathers life. ! saw that my father
had been wounded l'y pistol
shot, and was satisfied that Mr..
Cherry was attempting to get Ills
gun. Al the time Mr. Cherry shot
ny father first, | had left the
patch gate and gone some Is or 20
yards up the road, and it was only
after / discovered that my father
was wounded that l had anything
to do With the difficulty. had no
malice toward Mr.. Cherry and had
no desire to harm him. although
my feelings had been somewhat