St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-01-14
RUN DOWN AT LAST.
Ashley Ford, Alias Kid Boots, Aliss
Billy the Kid,
Murderer. Tram Wrecker and
Highwayma1.

OAtsN esfS AAbWS
Murderer. Tram Wrecker and
Highwayma1.
He came from St. Tammany
Parish last night sentenced to Ave
years for robbery. He is covered
with gunshot wounds and stahs re-
ceived while resisting arrest. 1t is
believed that he is now playing the
insanity racket, does not speak and
refuses food His eyes roll from one
direction to another and is sight
once seen never to be forgotten.
A description Of this man will give
an ides Of this outlaw life. Born in
Tennessee about 80 years ago. black,
height five feet three aud one-fourtL
inches, good large teeth; scar top
center forehead scar left chin; big
scar right side head; gun shot
wound top right shoulder gun shu,
wound top left shoulder, left calf
legs and back Of body covered with
gun shote.
After careful examination into his
past life, by the State clerk Capt.
j W. Bates, the following crimes
are laid at bis door.
He first killed colored man at
Memphis Tenn, about IL years ago
by the name Of Will Williams over
dice game.
His next victim was VIM. Mitchell, |
colored, at Boliver Loupe near Bes-
semer Ala, he escaped, but return
ed about two years after. Sheriff |
Oils Brown hearing Of his presence
set out to arrest him, he resisted
arrest as usual, killing the sheriff.
the ball struck the brave sheriff
over the left eye; he jumped Eve
feet in the air and fell dead. A true
bill for murder was found against |
the Kid but he always evaded arrest. |
The murder of q colored woman
called Big Mary is also laid to his |
account. The woman lived at Buz.
card ROost, near Bessemer, Ala.
He was run out of town at jackson,
Miss, by the sheriff for his gam
bling scrapes aud tue shooting Of
some negroes.
Kid Boots, as he was called, was
shot by Mr.. Montgomery, the pro-
prietor OF floating barroom, In an
attempted hold up. He demanded
"hands up" with pistols to back up
the demand, when Mr. Montgomery
slipped up stairs, and from the
second floor poured n voliey of buck
shot in the Kid, which made him
retreat badl, wounded, but he
managed to make his escape.
After the shooting he was carried
off by his comrades. tue deputies
meanwhile shooting at him. The
next day he was found in Honey
Island swamp in st. rammany, and
turned over to Sheriff Strobe of
that parish, who through humans
tartan reasons took him to the
charity hospital in New Orleans for
treatment. He afterward brought
the criminal back to St. Tammsny
for trial, and just prior to the con.
vening of court lie tried to cut his
way out by filing the bars OF his cell.
From that day, after telling the
Sheriff he would rather be killed
than incarceratcd in q cell again,
he has feigned insanity, although
up to that minute he was playing
cards and laughing with the other
prisoners in jail.
Before trial Judge Robert z. Reid
ordered special examination by
two prominent physicians, prs.
Pigott and Williams, as to his sani-
ty. and they pronounced him Of
sound mind. Judge Reid instructed
the Sheriff in taking him to the peni.
Tertiary 20 request tue officials to
make another examination as to his
condition.
The above information in regard
to Ford's crimes was received by
Sheriff Strobe and Captain Bates
to-day in the penitentisry through
negro convict who has known
Ford all through his career. The
negro who made the statement Is
ono ~ a Oumhor hrouuhk do.n nv,