The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1909-05-01
THE NEWMAN.PRICHARD FEUD.
Version Of the MeadViIIe Trouble as Civ.
en- The Leader by Rev. ]. RIG.
Hewlett, Of Osyka, Miss.


Rev. j. R. G. Hewlett, who is
pastor of the Baptist church al
Osyka, Miss was in Brookhaver
! Thursday and called at The Leader
office for the purpose Of having the
statement we publish below given
to the public through the press.
/ Mr.. Hewlett is a brother-in-law OF
the Pritchard boys. having married
one of their sisters. and was on his
way home at Osyka, after having
been in MeadviIle, where he con-
Quoted the funeral services over the
remains of Cornelius Prichard, the
victim of last Mondays tragedy.
Mr.. Hewlett's s statement follows
Il wish to state in the beginning
that the affray was not caused by
the defeat of the elder Prichard
for chancery clerk by DR.. Newman,
as stated in most of the reports
sent out to the press.
"To prove this / recite the fol-
lowing facts: C. A. Prichard, Jr. !,
worked for Newman in the chan
Gerry clerks office up to about Jan.
l, 1863, many months after the
election. L. H. Prichard, lawyer,
represented DR.. Newman in several
suits after the election.
Last September L. HI. Prichard
opposed the election of a lady school
teacher in the Meadville High
School, whom Newman was for,
said opposition resulting in the de-
feat of the school teacher; after
which time Newman ceased en-
ploying Prichard as an attorney.
In January, 1909. certain clients
placed in the hands of Lawyer
Prichard some bills for collection
against DR.. Newman. Newman
declining to pay the bills, Attorney
Prichard entered suit against him,
which provoked DR.. Newman S
three sons and a son-in-law to assault
Prichard, resulting in personal
combat with the son-in-law, Ferrie
Ducker, with the Newman boys
standing guard while it was going
on. Ducker pleaded guilty to a
charge made in the court and was
given a fine of $40 and costs.
This raised the Irish of the
Prichard boys, and led to the shoot
ing affray.
Early Monday morning Cornell
ius Prichard was in the drug store
talking to friend when DIR. New
man came up and cursed him, to
which Prichard gave no reply, being
unarmed. A little later Cornelius
was informed that DR.. Newman
threatened to kill him at first sight.
As result Prichard armed himself
with revolver. About 10 o'clock
Monday morning DR.. Newman and
his three boys assaulted Cornelius
on the streets, all four Of the, New
mans throwing their guns ON him
and telling him to shoot as they
knew he was armed. Prichard at
tempted to back away and leave
them, when Ernest Newman struck
him. He made no resistance what
ever on this occasion.
In the afternoon Prichard re-
turned to town with a double bar
relied shot gun and revolver, stop
ping at the drug store. A few
minutes later he saw DR.. Newman
and his three boys coming down the
street.-the Doctor and one boy on
horse back, one boy in buggy and
one on foot. When they neared
the drug store Cornelius Prichard
stepped out on the sidewalk and
called to DR.. Newman, saying, If
you have anything against me / am
ready to settle it, By this time
Ernest Newman had gotten to the
corner of the drug store behind
Prichard and opened fire with an
automatic pistol, wher Prichard,
attempting to use his shot gun,
discharged it in the air. Seeing
he could not use his gun, Prichard
ran down the street about block,
some of the Newman party follow
ing and firing at him, when he fel /
dead. In the meantime Ingram
Prichard came to the door of the
drug store and opened fire on some
of the Newman party. receiving a
flesh wound in return.
"Applewhite and Thornton were
the two bystanders who received
stray bullets.
Wednesday morning at 10
O'Clock the Newman S case was call
ed up for preliminary hearing be-,
fore Justices Sullivan. Calcote and
Delaney, sitting jointly. The de-
Tense was represented by Judge Jeff
Truly. of Natchez, and Hon. L. A.
Wilmington, OF MeadvilIe. The
State by Z. H. Prichard and Attor-
ney Ramsey, of Roxie.
The State announced not ready
and asked for continuance, Mon
day, May 3rd. being set as trial
day, the prisoners, DR.. Newman
and three sons, being remanded to
Jail. The grand jury meets Mon
day and | doubt if there will be
any preliminary hearing
4