The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-11-17

called, two families would not be i'll dis
treSs; young man i'll the usefulness of
life would not be incurred with the
dead
The tragedy which had its initial i'll
the First National Bank building is de-
plorable beyond the expression of words.
1t was as sudden as it was shocking
The story in brief is sufficiently sad
and distressing without indulging i'll TN
necessary details.
The victim Of the tragedy, E. w. Pat
ton of Ruston, was in Shreveport Friday
on business He had intended to return
on the afternoon train, but was persuad
ed to remain and attend the banquet of
the Shreveport Progressive League. Be
ing the secretary Of the Progressive
League of Ruston, Mr. Patton yielded to
a pressing invitation. He had been i'll
the company of Mr.. L. N. Bruegger-
hof, assistant secretary of the State
Fair, in the afternoon, and leaving that
gentleman, who continued his journey to
the office of DIR. Ashton Blanchard, Mr.
Patton stated that he would call on Mr.
L. E. Bentley, attorney, whose office is
on the second floor of the bank building
Mr.. Patton had left note for Mr.
Bentley at an earlier hour and the young
men who were in Mr.. Bentley's office
when Mr.. Patton called earlier in the
day could not refrain from compliment
ing Mr.. Patton on his civility and gen
tllity and his good manner, after he had
left. This much is said to emphasize
the statement that Mr. Patton was a
gentleman in the fullest sense of the
term, one possessed of that high sense
of uprightnes and of civility which is
quick in resentng an implied affront.
The Offices occupied by Mr. Bentley
and Mr.. Perry Bridges on the respective
floors, the second and the fourth, are
the elevator, and it is natural
to surmlse that when he walked into
Mr.. Bridges ofise he was surprised as
he thought he was in Mr. Bantley's Of
fee. What occurred is not known except
as given by Mr.. Bridges in a published
statement
1t is probable that Mr.. Patton was
seeking some one in the building whom
he could not locate, and when the ele-
vator boy did not know or give the in
formation desired Discovering that he
had intruded in the office which he
thought was Bentley's, he felt more or
less embarrassed when he stated the OBJ
Ject of his inquiry, as indicated by Mr..
Bridges statement.
Il was i'll my Office when some one
knocked on the door. Coming out | met
the man, who was stranger to me- He
asked if | could tell him where some
body office was.
:" I don't know, [ replied, ask the
elevator boy.
1 have asked the elevator boy, and
he doesn't know he replied.
Well, I'm sure | don't, | replied
bit short.
Il then walked to the elevator with
he man, and near the elevator a window
was open. Reaching tn elevator, the
man said: I would rather ask negro a
civil question than a man like you.
Now, seriously, this retort by Mr.
Patton would imply that he had been
greatly provoked, aroused to resentment
oy the answer Of Mr. Bridges, whose
manner and tone of voice, more than his
words, fired this young man, who while
reserved and otherwise conservative,
could not at this moment control his
impulse
If that blow had been restrained.
If the words had not been spoken
In his statement Mr. Bridges has ex-
pressed his regrets. His contrition is
doubtless as deep as it is inexpresible
1t was then | lost my temper and
struck the man." is Mr. Bridges admis-
ion. If there had been an interference,
/ word of explanation, a hand to stay
hat blow.
1t is true Mr.. Bridges reached out his
land to catch the man he had struck.
'ut the young man was out of the Win
low and had fallen to his death on the |
kylight thirty feet below, from whence
he almost lifeless body was conveyed
Q the Shreveport Sanitarium.
The victims wife, who had been ap-
,rised of his misfortune, arrived from
HUSTON at 3 o'clock on the belated 10 80
rain. AS she reached the bedside of
Ter husband she wept as if her heart
would break. The victim has one child, |
boy, of tender age.