The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1902-1905, 1903-03-12


unfolded a sad story of domestic
inidelity, sent the soul of the de-
spoiler to its Maker and brought
woe and misery and suffering
and sorrow TO happy little home
IN this city. In a pistol duel
between A. z. Taliaferro, the
wronged husband and JOS. Sloan,
supposed to be his friend, Sloan
fell a corpse with a pistol ball in
his brain and one in his heart.
In the shooting a young boy
named Ellis Fitzgerald was
shot in the arm and the walls
and cou nters of the store were
badly shot up.
Several months ago, last fall
before the fair, a man named JOS.
Sloan arrived in this city. He
stated that he was a music deal
er, had come here to open large
music house and he began To
look around for a location. tie
wore fashy clothes, diamonds,
drove a fast horse which he
brought with him and gave other
evidences of possessing wealth
and being a man Of means and
affairs. In looking ABOUT for a
location he rented the store on
Main street recently vacated by
Capt VIM Winston and as he
could not get possession of it un-
til Jan. 1st he concluded an ar
rangement with Mr.. A 2. Italia
ferro, the jeweler. to keep some
of his stock at his jewelry store
on North Market street Sloan
operated in small way here
throughout the fall aud gained
the confidence of Taliaferro and
his wife.
On the 1st of January he NOV
ed to the Old Winston stand on
Main street and Taliaferro rent
ed quarters from him. Sloan de-
cided toopen a millinery business
or rather he offered to back Italia
ferro and his wife in this venture
and the stock was recently
bought and had arrived IN this
city preparatory to the opening
which was advertised for yester-
day. The opening of the stock
and its arrangement occupied
some time and this task had been
going on all the past week. Sloan
had been boarding with Mr.. and
Mrs. Taliaferro since last De
lcember, Mr.. Taliaferro taking
him and making him one of the
family.
For a number of days past the
jeweler had not been we'll and
has been confined to his home
Last Friday nipht his wife stated
she would go up to the store
and assist in the work of opening
the goods preparatory to the
opening yesterday. Taliaferro,
whose suspicious had been
aroused some time ago, about
nine o'clock followed and stood on
the outside of the establishment
watching the proceedings inside
through the stained windows.
He saw what made his blood boil
and securing his key entered the
building. Sloan saw him com
ing and guilty as he was, knowing
that he had wronged the man,
sought concealment behind some
of the boxes and counters Of the
establishment and as Taliaferro
approached him, the man opened
fire. Taliaferro replied and elev-
en- shots were fired at close
range. Sloan ran around the
counters and made his way to
the door. shooting as he ran.
The shooting continued and he |
ran against the closed door, tot
tered and fell full length on the |
floor. Capt. Hudson of the po- /
lice force, was across the street, /
and he was almost between the
men when the last shot was fired. I
TaliaferfO walked out and into /
the hands of Capt. Hudson and T
Officers Shackleford and Smith, I
who were soon on the scene.
was given into Sheriff
Armstrong hands and as soon
as DR.. Brewer arrived the store
was closed and Sloan lay in full
view of the i'm mense crowd which
gathered at the doors gasping in
the last agonies of death Later
his body was laid on the counter
and the store was closed for the
night and given into the keeping
Of the police.
The weapons used were a Smith
6 Wesson improved 38-calibre
0y Taliaferro and a 81 caIibre
same make weapon by Sloan.
Both weapons were m d tied
Sloan was shot twice, once in the
eft breast, the ball coming out ,
lnder the right shoulder, show
ng that in its course it had pen
strated the heart, and another
ou1let wound just above the left
I'VE, which penetrated the brain. !
Another bullet grazed the dead !
mans leg. Young Fitzgerald was
shot in the right wrist and the !
,ther bullets went wild, hitting !