The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-05
Mr., BERNARD'S VERSION
II DUCKED MY HEAD AND MADE FOR THE
DOOR," he SAID.
Declares that Sheppard Was "Egged on" by
his Personal and Political En- mics
and fenieS that he Had
Given Proyocation.

|
District Attorney c. NJ Bernard came
up from Greenville Sunday and appear
ed at his office yesterday, apparently
none the worse for having looked down
the muzzle of B. s. Sheppard's revolver,
as detailed in this paper Sunday.
Mr. Bernard gave a thrilling ac-
count of the incident accompanied by a
wealth Of illuminating gesture. Prob
ably the next most interesting thing to
seeing Mr.. Bernard escape from an
/ omnibus under fire lis to have heard
! him describe it. As is we'll known Mr..
| Bernard presents a target that nobody
| but bad marksman could miss, that is
il the target were stationary Mr. Ber-
nard does not conceal THAT the target
was not stationary i'm this case.
Il was sitting alone in the bus said
Mr.. Bernard. Il was away UP above
everybody else, i'm plain view The bus
was not like the 'busses here. 1t did
not have any sides to it. 1t was one
of these sllrry affairs. | heard some
somebody say Get out of the way
looked up and about ten feet AWAY was
a pistol pointed at me. | ducked my
bead. and, STOPPING, made for the door
Here the district attorney arose from
his chair, bent his person, and slightly
spreading his arms, illustrated his de-
parture from the firing lime.
Il had to rum toward the man to get
out Of the bus, but | did not have to
go in reach of him." he explained.
Mr.. Bernard gave it as his opinion that
nothing but his presence of mind and
alacIity in dueking saved his life, as
the pistol fired just as he executed his
change of base.
This assault ON me was entirely with
out warning, and without proyocation,
declared Mr. Bernards
'sThen. or previously" was asked.
she said nothing there; do not know
what he harbored previously
Had you ever had any trouble with
Iim befores'
''None i'm the world He and his fam
iqy had Ibeem removed from Greenyilie
for several years and are not living there
NOW. j understand they are living az
Fayetteville. | have had no business
or social relations with him or his fam
lily in five or six years.
As to the actual occurrence I had
driven up from the hotel i'm the bus
had no knowledge he was anywhere
about. He came up from the rear, and
to my left about ten feet off. The first
Inclination | had of his presence was his
saying to the crowd around the bus,
Get out of the way When looked he
was standing with his pistol i'm both
hands, in a shooting attitude, pointed at
me and he fired. / jumped out of the
bus aIbout the time the pistol fired. He
said nothing to me either before or at
the time of the firing of the pistol, as
to the cause of the shooting. | ram fmro
the depot along with Others and closed
the door. MIR. B. +. Tyson, witness,
stated that he was trying to fire the
second time as ] entered the depot and
when he CI'ysonl took the pistol from
him (Sheppardl it was cooked After |
entered the derot / closed the door.
There were ladies i'm the room. He tried
to get In at the door. I was entirely I'm
armed. The ladies in the depot threw mp
a window and jumped out. / got out at
the same window, got into buggy and
drove off down town"
.What became Of Sheppard?'
"When | went i'm tine depot | re.
quested Mr. Tyson to go out and take
the man away as ] did mot want to have
amy trouble with him.
ibid he say, You have-aalined my
hcme?"
II heard nothing of the sort either
before, when or after he shot"
''Wilat was the cause of the shoot
ing""
II don't know. OF course somebody
may have put him mp to it,
II tbn oh I'M n
Published accounts?"
ooh, yes, sir. | have not heard that
he made any such charge at the time
or before the shooting / do mot know
what he has said SINCE, it may be an
excuse or an afterthought.'
WAS there any trial over the matt
terri
''He was required to give peace bond.s
I made no complaint for the assault.
All ] desired was protection from flu
ture assault.
clad you lived on intimate terms
with him and his family when he was
in Greenyillev'
Cup to the time he left there had been
to my knowledge no unpleasantness."
chad You ever seen him before since
he left Greenwich"
ooh, yes. | had seen HIM time and
time again, though we had had no
conversation. Mr.. Bernard continued:
''I1hat my friends in the State may
understand / wish to state THAT so far
Us | am concerned it is a closed Incl
dent. am not going to be induced to
go into print about it ANY more.
My Information is that Sheppard was
egged on or induced to make the at
tack by others.
"What Was the motive for such
colIrseT'
II don't know what influences We're
brought to bear but think it was done
by some of my personal as well as po-
Iitical enemies. | am informed that all
dispatches to the press were sent out
by two men neither of whom was ON
friendly terms with me and to whom
I have not spoken for year.
Mr.. Bernard said he was glad 40 have
the opportunity of giving his statement
OF the matter for the beneflt OF ms
friends, but had mo idea of indulgung in
n newspauer controversy.