The Forrest City times., 1894-01-05
A DISCRAcEFUL AFFAIR.
John Ward Attempts to KIil a Man and
 Defies the Officers

and resisting an officer. The scene of the'row was Squire Nelson's courtroom and the time "Wednesday afternoon. The chain of circumstances which led up to the iasco of Wednesday, as near as we can learn it from a reliable source, is as follows:
 Some time last year John Ward's'father moved on farm he owned near Goodwin | and leased the land to a colored man named Anderson etubbs, who, it seems, locked after the needs of the elder Ward. Dr. Ward last fall died at the home of Stubbs. During the time, John Ward uttered bill of sale to Stubbs for four mules aRd wagon. When harvest time came Stubbs did not pay the rent. Ward, who lives at Haynes, in Lee county, went up and attached some corn of Stubbs' to secure the indebtedness. The cause was heard ina magistrates court, and during the trial something was said about the bill of sale for the mules. Ward denied hav- ing executed any bill of sale, when James Walker of Goodwin, who had been re- tained by Stubbs as counsel, sent the ne. gro for the document. It was produced in court and the signature acknowledged by Ward to be his own. MT. Walker. who had the instrument in his possession, passed it to the magistrate, and at this juncture Ward seized the paper, jerked it from the magistrates hand and ran to an old house near by, where he secured his Winchester, mounted his horse and rode away. The trial proceeded, the attachment was dissolved and the constable ordered to turn the corn back to Stubbs, which was done. During the afternoon Ward returned, hitcted two of the mules, for wagon, loaded it with corn and drove off. Subsequently StubbS sold the remainder Of the-corn to Mr. Walker, and it was de- livered the same evening, Walker sending Stubbs to Wheatley, ostensiby for his money, but really to get him out ot Wards
 
 way. The latter returned for the bal ance of the COTE Gext morning to find it had been removed. He sent Constable Potts, of Milbrook to Wheatiey after Stubts. and the officer claims that Stubbs and his friends obstructed him ig the dis charge of his duties-in other words, re- sisted arrest. Following this, Ward swore out warrant against Walker charging him with grand larceny in buying the corn claimed by the former. All the par ties appeared before Squire Nelson last Wednesday afternoon and by mutual con sent the hearing was set for Saturday. After the matter was thus far settled Constable Potts swore cut warrant against Stubbs, charging him with resist ing an officer. Mir. Walker went on Stubbs' bond and he was released. As Stubbs turned to leave the room he was followed by Ward, and made show of resistance when attacked. As the side walk was reached the latter drew a pistol and attempted to shoot the former. Dep uty Sheriff Wolff was sitting at Q table writing. Hearing the scutting he sprang to the door iE time to seize the weapon and prevent the homicide. Ward called to Adley Word, who was passing, and the latter advised. him to surrender his pistol. He did so, but went to Chs Ezell's gun shop, where he had left 56-calibre Spencer rifle for repairs, and procuring this weapon returned to renew the battle against Stubbs and Walker. Both were in the courtroom when he appeared, and, being unarmed, stepped into the corridor which separates the cells from the court room. Ward advanced, breathing dire threats against the men whom he consid- cred had injured him. The outer door of the corridor was locked; so, seizing e. pick. the only weapon at hand, Walker pre- pared to defend himself. It was expected he and his companion would both be killed hy their infuriated assailant. but Ward changed his mind and crossed the street, and, placing his back against the walls of tine ginhouse, defied the officers and the law and everything else in and out of sight, terrorizing everybody in that neigh borhood. Squire Nelson approached, but was warned not to undertake to touch the gun under penalty of instant death Taking a position by Wards side, Mir Nelson prepared to prevent him fron shooting in case he attempted it. Jim Taylor happened upon the eeene at this iuncture and persuaded Ward to give him the rife and go home, which he did, there being no attempt to arrest him.
 In the meantime Walker entered Grob- myers market and took possession of a Winchester rife which he saw in the