The Ouachita Telegraph - Playful Scuffle Turns Angry, Giles Taintor Dies

Date: May 2000
Submitted by: Lora Peppers 


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The Ouachita Telegraph
Saturday, August 23, 1873
Page 2, Column 4

DISTRESSING CASUALTY.
 Yesterday afternoon Mr. Giles Taintor and Capt. Oscar Thomas, clerk in
Major Ward's store on the levee, got into a playful scuffle in the store
which resulted in an angry one.  One of the witnesses before the jury of
inquest stated that Thomas threw a barrel scraper at Taintor which
struck him near the hip; but did no damage.  They then, clenched Thomas
at the time having a hatchet in his hand thongh (sic) witness did not
think any blow was struck with it.  Very soon they fell in the store
near, or on the stair steps, Taintor underneath.  They were then
separated, Taintor being taken off by a friend.  Another witness stated
that he was standing a few doors off when, seeing the scuffle and the
fall, he ran up caught Thomas and pulled him off, seizing the hatchet,
of which Thomas had hold of the handle and Taintor the blade or near it
and throwing it out on the side walk.  He then took Taintor on to Major
Arnold's store, some twenty steps distant, Taintor remarking that Thomas
had struck him on the head with a hatchet.  Going into the store he sat
down, and soon became unconscious, and shortly after died.
 The only wounds on him were just behind the left ear, though the skin
was not broken.  Several of the physicians examined testified that
deceased might possibly have died from heart disese — death resulting
from excitement.  The Coroner's jury say, that to the best of their
knowledge and belief, the said Giles M. Taintor, came to his death from
some cause or causes unknown, superinduced by injuries received in a
scuffle with one Oscar Thomas.
 Mr. Taintor has lived in Shreveport from his childhood, though two
years since removed with his widowed mother and the family to a small
farm near Summer Grove.  He was industrious and of a peaceable
dispositon.
 Capt. Thomas has been clerking in this city for several years; is
highly esteemed in the community and, it is almost needless to say, is
distressed beyond measure at the sad event.  He promptly surrendered
himself to an officer. — Shreveport Times.

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