St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-03-14
Duncan S. Kemp Killed
A Bright Career Before
Him, He is Shot and
Instantly Killed.
A Dispute Over Political
Matters the Cause OF
the Sad Affair.

nominated in the recent primary elec
tion as one of the State Senators from
this, the Nineteenth Senatorial Dis
trict, was shot and instantly killed al
7:3O tonight near Watson's livery
stable, Oak and Laurel streets, by c.
Ferney Hyde, manager of the stable,
and brother-in-law of Eugene B. Wat.
son, sheriff of St. Helena parish, and
the other nominee from this district
for Senator.
Hyde and Kemp became engaged in
heated argument near the postoffice,
in Front Street. relative to the meet
ing of the State Central Committee in
New Orleans tomorrow and the out
come Of the Bailey-Lambremont con-
test, Kemp being an ardent supporter
of Bailey and Hyde being allied with
the Lambremont forces.
AS the argument grew warmer, the
lie passed, and friends intervening, the
difficulty seemed settled and the crowd
dispersed, Kemp going up the street.
he met Gus Frierson, his brother-in-
law, and asked him to wait at Vernon
& kemp's store, next door to the post
office for him.
Frlerson was the only eyewitness to
the tragedy. The gist of his testi-
mony before the coroner's jury was
that Kemp returned in few minutes,
rounded the corner at the postofice
and asked Frierson to follow him.
While walking toward the Watson
livery stable, where Hyde had gone,
Kemp stopped and opened a box in his
hand and took out a pistol, saying that
he was going over to the stable and
make Hyde take back what he had
called him. Frierson asked what it
was, and Kemp replied: "He called
me a d-n liar"
Frierson tried to persuaoe Kemp not
to go and followed him down the street.
Kemp insisted that he would go.
When they reached the stable Kemp
asked Hyde to take back what he
called him. Hyde refused and Kemp
slapped him. Frierson jumped be-
tween the two men and caught Hyde,
who tried to break away, saying that
No man could do that and get off,"
Frierson pleaded with Hyde to let
the matter drop, as they were fra
ternal brothers. Hyde replied, 'cYou
both came in on me, and / am un-
armed" Kemp said, mo, Frierson
only came to try and keep me from
coming"
Frierson then withdrew, and Hyde
said ne would meet Kemp on Front
street at the Amite Company's drug
store. Kemp agreed and told Hyde
to come fixed.
Hyde went into his Office, put some
thing into his pocket and stepped out
into the street. He called Kemp, who
had gone about fifty feet from the
stable toward Front street, in an angle
across Oak street.
Hyde said, Wait"
Kemp was little way off the side. |
walk when Hyde advanced on the walk.
AS he caught up with Kemp, Hyde
said 'Let's settle up now," and com
menced firing.
Frierson could not say Fl Kemp fired or
not, it was all over so quickly
George Burnham, assistant post
master and another witness before the
coroner's jury, said he had just closed
the office and started home. AS he
passed the stable a few minutes before
the shooting he heard Kemp and Hyde
He heard Hyde say:
"I'll meet you in fifteen minutes on
Front street,"
Kemp replied:
eyes; you will b1ing your gang with
you''
Burnham did not see the shooting.
The inquest was held by DR.. J. L.
Lenoir and the verdict of the coroner's
jury was that Kemp came to his death
by gunshot wounds inflicted by B. F.
Hyde.
A warrant was issued and placed in
the hands af Sheriff John SaaI, who
started out to serve it at once. In the
meanwhile, however, Hyde had taken
the fastest horse in the livery stable
and escaped into the woods.
Kemp was hit three, times, one shot
passing through the body; striking the
the heart and causing instant death.
The other wounds are in the left arm
and one in the right hand.
kemp's pistol, a 32-caliber special.
shows four chambers empty. The
men were at close range, as Kennn
showed powder burns. 1t is not known
e Hyde was wounded, as he imrne-
diately made his escape.
Kemp was prominent and pouular
counting his friends by the score. He |
was about forty years of age and had
practiced law in the Florida parishes
since ne graduated at the Tulane law
school sixteen years ago. He was
elected district attorney in 1896 and
served four years. He was the eldest
ION OF the late Judge W. B. Kemp.