Obituary of ERNEST JOHN PRITCHARD, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana Copied and Submitted by: Doug McBroom, 15520 Swan Lake Blvd., Gulfport, MS 39503 From The Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal; Jena, LaSalle Parish, La. Microfilm at the LaSalle Parish Library located in Jena, LaSalle Parish, La. Many Thanks to The Times - Signal and to the LaSalle Parish Library for allowing the following to be added to the Archives. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Date: October 10, 1946, Thursday Headline: Ernest Pritchard of Whitehall is Killed in Altercation with Ben Chevallier Saturday Night, Oct. 5 Ernest John Pritchard, age 34, died shortly after being shot by Ben Chevallier Saturday evening, Oct. 5, about 7 p. m. The shooting took place in front of the Veterans' Bar (sometimes called "The Clinic") located just inside Catahoula Parish on the Jena-Jonesville highway. Chevallier was arrested in LaSalle Parish Sunday morning, Oct. 6, at the home of Mr. Joe Corley. He had notified officers he would give up. The arrest was made on a warrant sworn out by Mr. John Pritchard, father of the slain man. Carried to Harrisonburg, he was booked on a charge of "kill and slay". Hearing will be held by the Oct. 21 Grand Jury Session at Harrisonburg. According to witnesses which included the father, wife and a brother of the shooting victim, four shots were fired at close range, only two taking effect. The first causing a superficial wound in the elbow. The second and fatal shot entered the right arm, 4 or 5 inches above the elbow, passing on through the chest, just below the heart and lodging just under the skin on the left side. Pritchard was brought to Jena Clinic but died before reaching there. Sheriff's Deputies, Arthur McMillin and John Purvis, and Coroner, Dr. Nasif, of Catahoula came to Jena and assisted LaSallle officers in questioning witnesses Saturday night. Dr. Nasif held an inquest. In preliminary questioning Saturday night, Sheriff Floyd, Deputy Hershell Floyd, and State Trooper Don Steen learned that a previous altercation had taken place between Chevallier, Ernest Pritchard, and a brother, Ezra Pritchard, about an hour prior to the fatal shooting. Questioning of several men revealed that Chevallier had pulled a gun during the first argument with the Pritchard brothers, which took place across the road from the saloon. Bystanders took his gun from him, but gave it back later. Chevallier left and returned an hour or so later accompanied by John Pritchard, father of the slain man. The killing occurred short afterward. In a statement to Sheriff Fred Fairbanks of Catahoula Parish, Chevallier said he went to the home of a cousin to the Pritchard boys, across the highway from the Veterans' Bar, to try to settle peacefully, bad feelings which had existed over ward politics. After the argument, he left, going to Whitehall, where according to his statement, Ernest Pritchard's father asked him to take him (Pritchard) to the Veterans' Bar. Chevallier said he refused at first but decided later to do so. It was shortly after they arrived at the bar that the shooting occurred. Ernest Pritchard and his wife, Dorothy, were living with his father, just below Whitehall. They had returned from Florida about three weeks ago where Ernest had been living since his release from the Army about three years ago. The couple were married in March 1945. They had no children. Funeral services were held at 4 p. m., Sunday, October 6, at Pritchard Cemetery at Rhinehart. Rev. Boyd conducted services. Kinner & Stevens Home for Funerals handled all arrangements.