New-York tribune., 1895-02-14
A RESULT OF THE CHANGE.
THE MIrRDER OF LINDLAY NJ. FERRIS IN
FRANKLIN LA.

WIPED OUT BY THE WILSON LAW. REFINING
COMPANY FAILS AND TRAGEDY FOLLOWS
Dispatches from New-Orleans published here yes
terday announced the death OF lAndlay Murra!
Ferris in that city from the effects OF a gunshot
wound received at the hands OF Henry NJ. Payne
The announcement caused great sorrow aHone
Mr. Ferriss many friends in this city, ana wheh
the history OF the occurrences which LED up 10 'ne
tragedy become generally known. 1t is iikey 10
Rave \ tendency to make Northern capitalists
suspicious as TO the wisdom of making investments
in parts of the Southern States. the death VIII o
cited ais, AS evidence Of the lingering hatred IN
some quarters OF the South toward people lio"'
the North, and one Of the effects OF 'he pee"
LEGISLATION of the present Congress.
About ten wears ago Mr.. Ferris went 10 Lou's'
ana from New-York and engaged IN the ous'nesS ,
of rennina sugar He was peculiarly successful IN
his business. and when the law piacIhs '
-. .,,cor hacaroe lucrative he came North and ih-
duced canitalsts in this city and elsewhere 10 III
vest money in the sugar refining business
that IL must be one of considerap'e lio'i. ~
hounty provision. in order TO MAKE '"e in ,,,
nusiness independent of the Southern sugar mn
~ ,nl, ,,as erected at Barbreck and ar
anooren,s were being made for the erection OF
an additional mill. With these TWO INNS ps
sc they would be with the Dest anu N 49,.
,oh,nor,, i, WAS reasonably expected tha' 'he
ronneries could be kept suppiied with syrup a. ~
seasons. , ,...,.o Fund
~ I seaman OF the Mutual Reserve fuhu
life Association cousin of the murdered man. wa
seen bv a Tribune reporter yesterday ana sa.o ~
hest hopes Of the investors were reai@e' 49,
,ba oneraton of the sugar bounty BUSINESS ue
cl,ned however when the bounty was TAKE" OIL
d.c,,rad in fact so rapidly that the whole pian'
went into the hands of a receiver. Inc c,""e.,
was said was so unexpected ana 80 suuue" nc
tho sugar refners had no chance 10 ca"ce' "
amend contracts which had already peen maui,
and in consequence of their failure 10 MAKE soou
,rou,;ses made TO the planters when the bounty was
in force the planters began to sho" Signs "a ~
tility 1t seems that they did not 'ahe INV -
sideration the fact that the Ferris COMPANY ~
Cleo losing money and a great deal OF It, they were
smply enraged over the inability OF No'."e'" ~
ple to live up their contracts. 10 sho" ""a,
means were employed by the Louisiana people u
show their displeasure with the Northeih ~ nun"
facturers Dr. Seaman referred 10 'he ia'' ~ ,
David S. Ferris who had charge OF the cehtia a.
factory at Barbreck Station was compelled 10 'eaNe
,ha nIace lie had been threatened to such an extent
tbst tn have remained would have been an act OF
foolhardiness. His representatives 'he super ~
ont of the works was shot three times. but ior'u-
nately escaped with his life One OF MS assa'ia''
was tried in Southern style and was fined 10
Among those who suffered by the faiufe Oh inc
Irerris COMPANY was Henry NJ. Payne. on whoee
plantations the company had erected It's mill ne
is said to be the son of a merchant VINO was "
intimate friend OF jefferson Davis, ana ne pe
tonqs to the class known "the unreconstruc'ed
rebels" .,a
p,vpe il anpears felt that one should
sufer for the failure of the sugar industry ana
he selected Mr. Ferris as the victim Inc u"
cumstances attending the shooting are given !"
letter to DR.. Seaman from Mr. Ferris son, M D"N.u
$ Ferris. which was written in Ne"-Orieahs'
February 7.
Mr. Ferris writes:
have intended writing you fully REGARDING me rhe
shooting of father and "vs how ne Is Hen9v Payne,
representing the firm OF j. L. payne @ oO'' oO 'which
as ,5e h@S~ is ocas a1s
about some syrup he had shipped there from nassy
orns to feeling asans the o, Fqnpky
gain the sympathy OF the nsy otxens held S out and
or % Was able to buy whiskey and champagne for
class Of s saSs who been n f5sSsn' os
on Monday. January 2S he came down TO sne ne
nery ophn and nv father about refining charges
They both Informed him that they would q cnarse Ie
hi@ be damned 4 HT If if he Would pay such charges Mr.
Denbo told him that he pype w0od them turned to my
father and wanted to know what he was dong dong
heTe %S oagbi NOT to 'hs' be there he @ and that
recevership business was damned hs Ira1e fs and
,hst ,hst father was in it to make big steal and
that they both intended to make the buideh en- NGs ON
many work out solvent at the expense OF the rei-
ris Company
The exact language of Payne when he addressed
Mr. Ferris was vulgar for publication. Atter
calling Mr. Ferris a vile name he Is reported 10
have pulled out his pistol and fired The writer
savs further: He shot twice. one ball taking
effect in fathers left arm the hrst pail missing
father going through the window and just grazing
his head. The ball that entered fathers arm
passed entirely through the main bone. whcn Is
very badly shattered. and came out just oeio"
the skin on the opposite side of the arm
Mr. Ferris took his father to New-Orieans' "here
he had the best medical and surgical AID. nut oed
from secondary hemorrhage, as reported IN tne
telegraphic news
hat ho a
cary stems toward prosecuting Payne He has re-
tained able counsel and has secured nnmoer vi
depositions from eye-witnesses OF the shootins lie
saws 81 shall push the prosecution to the very o''-
ter end but Justice and law In this state are ~
very very queer that cannot say al all "ne'nei
u,e vviIl get anv verdict against Payne or not
Dr Seaman speaks of the shooting OF his kinsman
and friend as a dastardly. cowardly act. MI Fer-
ris" said Dr. Seaman. was MEMBER oi 'ne 'o
c,etv of Friends and never went armed. and shoot
ing a man of his stamp in the manner In wh'ch nc
was shot gives one an idea OF ~hat 'he 'u.
sroken-of Southern chivalry really amounts 70.
who is thoroughy famiIiar ,Sn %tm 'ne and Who
returned from the south RE recently @ Was sas originally
refnins sugar for planters Later on he bull,
mil to grind the cane This mill was ean,ppseu
product the refinery %sS reqn SH capitalists who
although the mill wss sSs SnIy HsE'y hs nshsa sa and tn.
.ecdns iear ps netted profit also he planters were
benefted beyond their expectations: they received
more money for their product than they had reason
10 expect, and Mr.. Ferris was frequently SPOKE"
of as the savior Of their country. ,,., - .s,
THE bounty made competition SPIRITED ana .ss tis
Central factories paid large prices ior cane, ~
thov we're Justified by the fact that tne'r
was OF such nature as TO make the cane yisiu l
more marketable stuff than had been pro1ucea o!
any machinery previously in use The SoutneIn
people opened their eyes in wonder az 1ns p1Ss
''The prices paid in 1893 so stimulated producton
that the operators of the mill were oHeIen 'Vr ~
cane than they could handle and they mao 70 m III,
crease their mill facilities They made contrac,ss
in excess of any business ever done before am
saw nothing but success ahead. The ferrls CoH-
pany had its license" he continued; the planters
had their crop; there an enlarged ana I'M,
proved plant to care for Il. and everything tended
TO prosperity when by the action Of the WILSON bill
the sugar bounty cut of. The price OF sugar