The Ouachita Telegraph - Foul Play Suspected in Death of Robertson

Date: Jul 2000
Submitted by: Lora Peppers <lpeppers@ouachita.lib.la.us>




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The Ouachita Telegraph
Friday, February 5, 1875
Page 3, Column 2

MURDER, OR SUICIDE!
A Mysterious Deed of Blood – A Traveler
Killed at Night – No clue to
the Secret.
        A shocking affair, the circumstances of which have deeply agitated
this community, transpired on the outskirts of this city on the night of the
29th ult., the event being no less than the killing of a former citizen of
DeSoto parish by a shot in the back of the head, in a field adjoining the
city.  At about 8 o'clock on the night mentioned cries of Help! Murder! Etc.,
were heard by numbers of persons, coming from the Breard field just above town.
Several who heard the cries were unwilling to venture out alone, the night
being very dark, but the cries continuing, two or three parties of citizens
started from different directions to afford relief, Mr. McKinna leading one
party and Policeman Newman another.  But before any one had reached the
fence enclosing the field the sharp report of a pistol was heard and the
cries at once ceased.  Proceeding to the spot indicated by the shot, the men
found the gasping body of a man in the ditch.  The man was at once raised to
dry ground, and soon after expired without uttering a syllable.  The remains
were brought to town, an inquest held, and a verdict rendered that the
deceased had been murdered by persons unknown.
        On the person of the deceased was found a sum of money amounting to
nearly $300, some buck-shot, but no papers.  The features were composed; the
figure tall, but fragile; hair, whiskers and complexion dark; clothing new, but
common and saturated with water.  One foot was bare, the other had on only a
manufactured woolen sock.  Near the body in the field was found a Remington
repeater, two barrels empty, with the hammer resting on the exploded cap of
the last empty barrel, and an overcoat of the cape pattern.  The hair on
neither side of the head was singed; the skull, on one side, was badly
fractured.  The body was identified as that of G.W. Robertson.
        The evening of the killing, about 4 o'clock, the deceased arrived in
Monroe bringing two mules which he stabled at Dobson's.  He called upon S.D.
McEnery, Esq., and solicited legal advice, saying he was in fear of being
killed and wanted protection.  His manner was eccentric, although he talked
coherently in detailing his troubles.  He was advised that the police would
protect him, to which he replied that the police might join his enemies.  He
was then told to go to one of the hotels, when he said he might be poisoned.
  But he did apply at the Ouachita House for a room, but left soon after,
about 7 o'clock, and this is the last we have been able to hear of Mr.
Robertson until he was shot.  His fears of being killed proceeded, it seems
from his own statement, from some domestic troubles in which he averred he
was in no way guilty.  He had left his wife in DeSoto, as it appears at her
request because he was excitable, she being an invalid and dying of
consumption, had disposed of his property, and was going to Mississippi to
live with a brother-in-law whom he had requested to come after him.  This
request was partly complied with, by sending a son for Robertson who was
with him in Monroe, was arrested for the killing next day, but acquitted and
has gone home.  This young man, named Collier, states that Robertson was
arrested as a horse thief by unknown persons, before reaching Trenton, and
that a man calling himself Dr. Hill gave him a note to Mayor Finley of
Trenton forRobertson's release, Hill having ordered the arrest.  There is no
such man in Trenton as Finley, and Hill afterwards came on to Monroe, and
left for Morehouse.
        From the place where Robertson was found dying, tracks could be
plainly traced through the field to a point above for nearly a quarter of a
mile. These tracks corresponded exactly with Robertson's feet, and no other 
tracks could be found near, and they were made leisurely and not as if the
person were running or frightened.  Did he commit suicide?  We think not;
because he could not shoot himself in the head with a repeater without singing
his hair which was not singed; and the fact that he walked in short steps
through the field to the place where he was found dying is evidence that he
was not purseued.  His body lay in a ditch, one side of which was two feet
high, and from that side he came.  The pistol was found close by, the hammer
on a cap exploded, but not blackened or shattered.  Our supposition is,
after a close investigation, that Mr. Robertson was wandering out of town,
saw the lights below, started through the field, came to the ditch, lost his
balance, let his pistol fall, the hammer hitting first on the ground, and
exploded the cap and the ball gave him his death wound.  His cries were
certainly those of a man not at himself, because his tracks show he was
neither pursued nor running and still there are circumstances which warrant
a suspicion that Robertson was foully dealt with.  The event, as we have
said, has caused a great deal of speculation, and all the circumstances
combined made up a story which not even the novelist could excel for mystery
and darkness.

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