The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-05
Mr.. Bernard and Mr.. Sheppard Give Their Versions
of the Affair.
THE HUSBANDS STORY
HIS HOME DISRUPTED, HE WANDERED
AWAY TO MEXICO AND HONDURAS.
Though the .Cffense Was Committed Some
Years Ago, Mr.. Sheppard Had Never
Met Bernard Face to Face
Until Saturday,
Until Saturday.

Uilul odtuludJ,
Greenville, n. c., September 4,-(Spe
enthusiastically night after the at
tempted shooting of District Attorney G
NJ. Bernard by Mr.. r. s. Sheppard, a
the depot here, as was told to this cor
respondent, Bernard went before Justice
w. Ii. Long and swore out peace war
rant against Sheppard. The warrant
was placed in the hands of Deputy
Sheriff J. ]. Mason, who had no trouble
whatever in finding Mr.. Sheppard with
friends whom he was visiting, and at
8 O'Clock he appeared before the Justice
where after the examination of Bernard
and one other eye witness. Sheppard was
required to enter into bonds of $500
to keep the peace. The bond was
readily given. Bernard was represented
by Attorney A. NJ Moore, Sheppard
desiring no council for himself. A con-
siderable crowd attended the trial.
After all was over and had become
Quiet your correspondent interviewed
Mr.. Sheppard and asked if there was
any statement relative to the matter
that he wished to make for publication.
At first he hesitated, regretting the pub
licity that had already come to the
trouble he had endured. but after a
moments reflection he said it was per-
hairs duty he owed the public to
make Il full statement of the matter
so they might know the character OF
Bernard and others be warned against
such an invader and destroyer of homes.
Then in response to the question:
- nj
Attorney Bernardo" Mr.. Sheppard
made the following statement:
Because he was the author of the
ruin of my once happy home. ] was
married in 1871 and moved to Green
vile nine years later. For awhile after
moving here, / continued farming opera
tons in Greene county, twelve miles
distant, which kept me away from home
perhaps half of my time. In later years
my business was such that / was ne
cessarily often away from my home.
However, it was not until 1895 that /
had any intimation or suspicion that
my domestic relations had been distur
bed In the summer Of that year ]
received an anonymous note which gave
me my first intimation Of my wffe's In
fidelity. This note said in substance
that if | would set a watch | could
learn some facts that / should know,
that too intimate relation existed be-
tween certain parties and my wife.
This came like thunder-clap from
a clear sky. for | felt that my home
and happiness were ruined. | began
to watch and soon found that there
was cause for such note being written
me. ! also learned that G. NJ. Bernard
had been the cause of my wife's down
fall and her unfaithfulness to me.
''Ihis knowledge led to a separation
between myself and wife and destroyed
our home. As soon as my business
could be put in proper shape | left
Greenville and for nearly year travel
ed in Mexico. Central America and Hon
duras My intention was never to re-
turn, but on account of some property
interests / found it necessary to come
back. When | returned, through my
wife's entreaties and persuasion ! al
lowed her TO return to me and | took
her away. We went to Red Springs
and remained some months, afterwards
changing our residence several times. |
provided for her, as there was no one
who would allow her to go to them,
though my confidence could not be re-
stored. / brought her back to this sec
ton in April of this year, and left her
at her mothers in Greene county.
have since been roaming from place to
place My home and happiness being
wrecked and health destroyed, my life
was more miserable and wretched
than can be told | went as a man
with one foot in the grave, and part
of the time had to renain In hospital.
I'm the last few months / have been
in GreenviIle several times. In the
interval after my first leaving here |
learned much of Bernard's intimacy
with my wife, and how he had taken adj
vantage of my absence at business to
invade the sanctity of my home.
when I returned to Greenyille early
this year Bernard had moved to Raj
eigh to enter the office of District At
torney, which he now disgraces and dis
honors After becoming thoroughly sat
isfied of his guilt in causing my wife's
downfall and bringing so much trouble
upon me, / did not meet him face to
face until Saturday evening at the depot
as he was waiting to depart on the
train. Seeing him then / was SO over
COME Dy the IHOuSlIt Vi iue SulleTlHS he
had caused Inc that | drew my pistol
and shot at him. / thought ] had hit
him, as he fell Immediately in tumbling
out Of the hack in which he had been
sitting and scrambled off on all-fours. /
could have shot him again, but seeing
him fall and thinking him wounded |
felt satisfied without trying to punish
him further, so did not shoot again. |
did not desire to take his life, but !
did want to punish him for the terrible
wrong he had done me and to mark
him as the destroyer OF mems homes.
understand that / am not the only suf-
ferer in this respect at his hands"
This is the story of the wronged man,
and one can have only feelings of pity
to hear him relate it. The sentiment
OF the people Of this section is unan-
mously on the side of Mr.. Sheppard.
They know he has been wronged, and
wronged irreparaby, and the sympathy
Of all is expressed for him. People are
expressing themselves freely on the
matter and do not hesitate 10 say that
they regret that the shot Mr.. Sheppard
fired at the destroyer of his home failed
to reach it's mark.
n n