The Forrest City times., 1899-12-01
pr. WEST KILLED BY REDUS.

DIR. J. X. West, prominent merchant
aud planter OF this county. residing ct
Wheatley, twenty miles west of Forrest
City, and man of some financial import.
ance, was killed Monday evening about s
o'clock, by j. w. Redus, who had been
associated with him In business way.
and who had been farming about 300 acres
OF Vests land this year. West and
Redus had contract which bound them
in farming partnership for three years.
This contract became offensive to Wesi
and he and Redus had quarreled over
the matter.
West was anxious to get rid of Redus
as partner. On the other hand
Redus wanted the contract to stand as II
was. A bad spirit existed between the
two men.
Monday evening there was a crowd il,
Vests store at WheatIey., Redus wa
there, and he and West commenced talk
ing about their agreement, and West told
Redus that he wanted him to get off of his
| land. Redus expressed himself as in
| tending to abide by the contract. and farm
| the land for two more years. A quarrel
followed in which Redus shot West through
the abdomen, from which wound he died
| in a short time.
Redus came to this city on the first train
to give himself up to the authorities, and
made the following statement to a TIMES
| man;
IL was at Vests store on business just
before started home went out In front OF
the store to speak to West about business
and he commenced to talk to me in bully
Ing manner, talking in an abrupt way, and
attempted to draw his pistol, and l Just
simply got there first. West has been
bullying the people of that country for
wears. think was perfectly justiflable
in killing West. came over this morn
ing to give myself up to the authorities"
The coroner went to the scene OF the kill
Tuesday morning, and held an inquest.
Their verdict WAS that "the deceased, j..
Il. West. came to his death from a1gun-
shot wound in the hands of J. W. Redus.'i
Ten of the jury were in favor of render.
ing a verdict OF iustifabe homicide
while two of the jurors thought the case
should gdibefore aimagistrate for exami
! nation. Redus returned to this city on
the evening train, and submitted himself
to the authoritie3,. He was placed in
charge of friends.
Witnesses were summoned, and also
the prosecuting attorney. and on Thanks
giving afternoon preliminary examna-
ton was had before Squire German, and
tedus was discharged the opinion of the
court being that the killing was I" jus.
tifiable homicide. Judge Norton ap-
peares for the defense and Hon. II. b.
Macon for the state.
The killing is deeply deplored by all
good citizens of the county. And al.
though DR.. West bore something of an
nnsavory reputation, he was perhaps one
of the most prominent business men and
capitalists in the county, and at one time
was candidate for the democratic nomi-
nation for representative, but was de-
feated. He leaves large family. and
large estate.
Redus Is steady farmer of some means,
md bears an enviable reputation among
The people who know him in the commun
ity in which he lives.
Messrs. K Allen, w. y. Brooks, b. b,
hendricks, Alt Diamond, IL, e. Smith,
md several others whose frames we did
not learn, were here. yesterday as witness
$ In the Redus taial.