The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-10-11
THE SLAYER OF D. K. McTNNTS
At MOSS POINT
RECICTO ARRESTS and IS Shot DEAD.
VERDICT OF THE COROXER'S JURY.

Very soon after The horrible assas
sination Of Mr., ID. X. McInms, a
Moss Point, on the 2nd lust, one !.
!, ID. Slarks, colored, was strongly sus
Eicioncd, and finding he had left in
boat down Pascagoula river, he wa
pursued by different parties, especial
ly by Mr.. Emile Ladhicr, white
and George Ladnier, colOred, search
ing along the waters west of Pasca'
goula river. Early Friday morning
they came upon Starks IN his boat a
West Point Chen, and ordered him tC
surrender. Instead of doing so raised
his shotgun and snapped it At his pur-
sucrs, but fortunately the gun failed
To fire aud both George and Emile
Ladnicr fired upon him with deadly
effect. Starks fell in his boat aud
died in a very short time. The boat
containing the corpse InmoYed was
brought to Scranton, and Mayor Del
mas summoned a jury OF inquest,
consisting of Mcssrs. Walter Gautier,
b. f. Pickett, II. Bilbo. III. G. Deas,
Jas. Smith and W, Il. Thomas, whose
verdict explains the nature of their
work in the premises as well "a their
conclusions, which were a. follows:
awe, The undersigned jury, cmpan-
nelcd and sworn to enquire concerning
the death of l.. ID. Starks, deceased,
would respectfully report that we
have examined nine witnesses and
from the evidence addnccd before us
find as follows: That said l.. ID.
Slarks was the party who on the night
of the 2nd of October, 1889, murdered
d. X. McInnis and shot and
wounded Nellie McIrnis aud Henry
Blunel. We further find said Starks
came to his death from wounds pro-
duccd by shrtguns in the hands of
Emile Lalnicr and George Ladnicr,
on the morning of The Alb of October,
1889. We further find from the evil
dance that SAID Emile and George
Ladnier were pursuing Starks with
lawful authority intending to arrest
him far the murder Of d. X. McInnis,
that they called on said Starks TO SUR
render, when said Starks drew his
gun and attempted 10 shoot said
George and Emile Ladnier, and that
they then fired the shots that caused
his death sin order to save themselves
from beng shot. We further find
from The evidence that the shooting of
said Starks In the manner Aforesaid,
was, In our opinion, entirely justifia-
bic, and done in absolute self-defense.
Respectfully submitted the 9th day of
October, \. d., 1889"
Starks was a medium-sized mulatto,
some s. or 60 years Of age. 1t seems
that he has been a preacher of the
colorpd Presbyterian Church, but was
recently handled and dismissed by his
nhurch in Mobile for causes we have
not learned. For some weeks lie has
been seer around Moss Point and
Grand Bay, Ala and recently oceu-
pving the old tolorcd Methodist
Church at Moss Point. Ii seems he
usually carried his gun with him, a
httlc short, old-fashioncd, dilapidatcd
muzzlc loading shotgun, which, at
the time of his death, contained a five
inch load of shot and slugs. On the
night of the firing into the lrcsbytc-
ran Church he was seen near the
church just before the shooting; he
was also seen leaving the church and
acting suspiciously after the shooting,
each time having his gun. The
peculiaritics Ia the shane of the track
near The church corrcspondcd with
those in The shape of his shoes, and
having fed and then resisted arrest il
is firmly believed that the old negro
committed the murder out of some
spirit Of dcviltry, or insane imaglh-
ings, il is hard to tell what, or wheth-
CIR he intended individual murder or a
reckless, general b%ombardmcnt Of the
house of worship.
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