The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-07-06

he proprietor, VINO WuS ~, | =
Of mine. As we were sai. y
m . Rensleman came 10 and said 70
Inc proprietor Il am going East, anu
would IKE 70 take last look NJ ina.
room, there's the key said my I
friend. throwing 1t across the coun'eI.
watch that man when he comes dowD:
He has q peculiar history and passed.
throueh q sirangs experience In TINS
very nouse,' said my friend to me as
the aentleman disappeared up Inc
stairway.
A FIERCE LAWSUIT.
Iaterested by this remark, ! closely
watched the man in question as ne
cama down stairs. He was Httle,
slender man, about forty years OF age,
alert and active in his movements,
with q thick, brown mustache, wavy
hair. busby, overhsngipg eyebrows,
and pair Ot. as keen eyes as ever l
saw in my life. He threw the kcy
down on the counter and after Few
words walked away. sHe went up
into that room, - saidsth hotel keeper,
s.sbecause 1t was the scene Of very ex
citing tragedy in which he played
leading part. His name il Johnston,
aud he has a fac farm IN the cent.a.
mart of the State. He became involved
in lawsuit With two brothers, henry
and John Q. Ellis. Another man
named Lswton became invo'ved IN u,
aud also a fourth, whose name L can
not now recall. The suit was on q
deed to some real csia 9, and Johnston
was successful, the jury giving YER
diet that practically amounted 10
charge OF perjury against the E'lss
brothers. The younger Of the two,
John o., was man noted for his vio-
lent temper and revengeful spirit, ana
had been inovived in number Of per-
sonal difficulties. All parties were
furious at the result OF the suit, and
vowed vengeance against Johnston.
LAYING THE TRAP.
uAbout two months later tho Elli'
brothers. Lawton and the fourth de-
PENDANT came TO this house aud engaged
two rooms, Their conduct at the tim'
was rather peculiar. they wan'es
the rooms to communicate, and par
ticularly insisted on having the interio
door near the inner wall. They iouh'
what they wanted on the third hoo'
Henry Ellis went out, and the othe
three remained"
WThe rest Of the story came out a
terward. Henry Ellis, as the quiese'
Of the brothers, went to see Johnston
who CHANGED 10 DO in the city nj IN
time, told him that he was sorry Z
what had occurred; that his BROTH
had seen that he was wrong, and In
If he would 60 TO the hotel with hi
everything would be arranged. job
stou consented, and the clerk Sd
the pair 60 up tho stairs
gether. He thought nothing Of it, al
nothing occurred to arouse his attic
tion for over half an hour. Sudden
a pistol shot rang out, closely follow
by four others. The clerk, accompal
ed BIO a number of the guests Who we
In the office, rs it CHANGED to be M
the dinner hour, rushed up stairs,
irving at the third floor just as
door of the room occupied by the Ell
was opened and Johnston appear
holding smoking revolver In
hand. A terrible sight met their ey
Four bodies lay on the floor, tn
dead; the fourth, Henry Ellis, 8
breathing, but with bullet throt
ms neck. Those fellows tried TO bla
Hull kuS, uuo l. nav W Nha sAS'A',
Johnston quietly, and he gave his
toll to a constable" "You had be-
take mo to the jail"
LEvYING BLACKMAIL.
"Henry Ellis died few days al
ward. Johnston was Indicted for n
der In the second degree, and reles
on bail. The evidence given at
trial resulted in his acquitted. II
peared that deep-laid plot had b
conceived by his unsuccessful oppon'
in the lawsuit for the purpose of RI
Ing him financially and destroying
regulations. On entering the room
lis placed chair for Johnston near
window and began to talk to him.
given signal his three compani
who were cancelled in the next 70
rushed out and got between Johns
and the door, John Ellis had n re
yer in his hand, which he levele
JohustCn, and told him that il he
tered q word he would bc shot.
three began TO curse and abuse
aud Lawton slapped him across
face. He protested, but was answ
by the pressure OF the pistol mu
against his forehead.
ss'rhe party, after venting their s
In words, proceeded TO business
deed had been prepared, yielding
property about which the suit
~s.xsv~ ~ tho Ellipoc ThrS Tnhp