Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-06-08

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after 3 o'clock p M, ednesday
evening. The court adjourned at 10
o'clock p. M, though it IS under
stood that the jury arrived at a
verdict a short time afterwards or
before IL o'clock. The instructions
for the State and the Defendant
we're very ample and explicit, occu-
plying twelve pages and Of course in
the jury room required time to read
ever BY any juror desiring to do so.
This case has attracted much atten-
ton in this county and the Defen-
dant did not publish the evidence
written before the investigating
court as he wished because he was
advised that it would make it more
difficult to secure a competent jury
in the case. This evidence and that
developed on the trial, briefly stated,
showed that Huff and johnson were
cursing and denouncing the Defen-
dant on the public square about 2
o'clock at night, moving at the time
in bis direction. Defendant, who
was sitting resting against a tree in
the Court House yard, having come
down from his Office close by, heard
them and recognized his position,
went to his residence a quarter of
mile as quickly as possible to get his
pistol. Upon his return he found
Huff and Johnson talking angrily
about the head of the landing Of the
steps leading to his Office and COM
ing down them, The stairway and
landing are outside the building and
they were plainly visible as far as
darkness would permit Defendant
halted them and from previous indi-
cations expected a shot in return.
They halted. When Johnson after
slight pause, said in defiant way,
she won't shoot ME-" Lewis said
"you stop" Johnson did not stop
but came down the steps and stood
at the foot facing Lewis, who had
stepped back a little. They were
about six feet apart. watching each
other, Lewis with his pistol in his
hand also listning for a movement
from Huff, Johnson on the alert,
making no attempt to explain or 60
away, when he suddenly called out
"eome on Huff" Whereupon Lewis
fired, believing that Huff would be
upon him instantly shooting johnson
through the body. johnson sprung
upon him as quick as a flash, show
ing that he was prepared to spring,
exclaiming, ~ am killed, kill him
Ralph, ILL him!" The suddenness of
the spring bore Lewis backward and
be did not recover his balance but
staggered back few feet johnson
falling on top Of him, when he fred
again as carefully as he could, trying
10 shoot his assailant about the ear
but as the latter had his face turned
towards Huffs direction, shot him on
the left side Of the nose the ball
going through the head. Lewis
thinking that Huff would knife him
while he was getting up, lay for
short time watching the stairs
when he turned johnson off
somewhat, worked back on his
elbows until clear, sprung to his feet
and looked for Huff on the stairs
whom he regarded as the leader in hunt
for him, but Huff had disappeared
and he had no idea how OF where.
Thinking in the darkness he would
flank round him, he called to Huff to
come on and fight it out but receiv-
ing no response, considered what to.
do and went and awoke DR.. Their el,
near by; also Jacob Cohen, and at
I herrels suggestion John Lowry.
Lewis was then satisfied that Huff
had slid down post and had gone
after his shot gun. He insisted upon
Lowry bringing his gun to the Court
House yard which Lowry thought at
the time unnecessary; hey returned
with Mr. Bryant, the Coroner, found
johnson as Lewis had said, and after
a while found Huff apparently insen-
sible under the stairway.
Lewis testified further that Huff
and Johnson generally carried as far
as he knew and believed cutting
knives; that they were men who
would fight every time and that any
one who knew them as he did, if in a
difficulty with either, would have to
look out for a knife. He believed
Johnson had knife in his hand at
the foot of the steps but omitted to
state this very clearly perhaps in his