The Caucasian., 1913-11-18
HELD FOR MURDER
HENSEY LITTLE AND HIS WFE
IN THE PARISH JAN.
]. 3. VAN CLEVE A VICTIM
OF the 0andy and Ready RistOl-Thc
Tragedy Occurred in the Hallway
of tke Levy Building-Eye Wit
nesses TNl What Occerred.

At about 9:45 o'clock this morning
five shots fired rapidly startled ev-
cry one within hearing. The report
of the shots came from the entrance
of the Levy building at the corner Of
Texas and Edwards streets. 1t was
at first believed that the reports
came from some automobile, but the
rush into the hallway by men nearby
led others to crown therein. On the
floor near the elevator was the pros
trate body of J. J. Van Cleve, and
nearby holding his pistol in hand
was Hervey Little, and his wife.
When questioned about the homl-
eide Little pleaded self-defense, and
added that Van Cleve had insulted
his wife grossly. Officer Rogers came
in about then and he escorted
Little and his wife to the sheriff )
office, from which they were trans
ferred to the parish Jail, each being
charged with murder by District At
torney Mabry.
From the hall of Me Ievy build
ing, adjoining the Jordan & Booth
clothing store, Van Cleve's body with
five pistol wounds, four of which
were fatal, was taken to Warnings
undertaking parlors and prepared
for burial.
At the place of the homicide and
at Warnings there were gathered
crowds of people eager to obtain the
details, as the principals in the trag
edy were their friends or acquaint-
ances.
As developed by the ,Caucasian's
representative, Van 'Cleve and Llttle
were associated as real estate agents
and had their office in the Levy
building.
AS developed there occurred re-
Gently an estrangement between the
partners. Little had charged thai
Van Cleve had attempted an intim-
acy with his wife, who had reported
to him that as she was alone with
Van Cleve in their office Van Cleve
had squeezed her hand and had trieC
to detain her forcefully.
From Van Cleve when confronted
with this alleged intimacy, there
came an emphatic denial. 1t wa:
then, as stated by Van Cleve, wht
related this incident to one of his in
innate friends, that Hervey Little
threatened to kill him.
On Monday before noon Van Clevt
called on his friend "Pat" Flournoy
for advice, and to him related wha
had been going on, in substance
concerning the intimacy charge ant
the threats of Little to kill him.
He was advised to have Little ar
rested and placed under peace
bond and to avoid him if possible.
This was the attitude of the tW'
| men until this morning, when Littl
| called on Van Cleve at their offic
| in the Levy building for the purpos'
of dissolving their partnership. Il
the settlement Van Cleve was in.
debted to Little, for which Van Clev
gave his note.
| After this settlement in the dis
solution of the partnership, Lltti
again referred to the alleged insul
to his wife, which Van Cleve deniet
The two men parted. Little descend
ed to the first floor in the elevator
AS he reached the first floor his VIII
| appeared. AS they were converslns
Van Cleve, not surmising their pres
ence and supposing that Little wa
gone, descended in the same eleva
ltor. AS he reached the first foo
where Little and his wife stood, Lii
| tie remarked indirectly, addressln
his wife, that the matter as to u
!, insult had been settled and that va
4 Cleve had reiterated his denial
Having or even intending to insu
her.
| AS these words were spoken b
Little, his wife, in temper hisset
Its a lie! He is a liar and you WI
have either to kill him or whip him
ii Startled by these words, Van CleN
Il reached for his pistol, and heedl1
the words Don't shoot" he droppt
his hand from the handle of the pl
= tol and brought his coat to the frol
Ito hide the weapon. As he did tn
OIL and was about to walk away, Lit
4 seized him by the arm, jerked hi
81 suddenly around, and in an instal
81 to the horror and amazement OF u
8i 0nlOOkers. had fired five shots in