The Ouachita Telegraph - 
A. E. Giles to be Charged with Manslaughter in Death of James Greer on Steamboat Acme

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

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The Ouachita Telegraph
Friday, April 5, 1878
Page 3, Column 2

FATAL AFFRAY ON STEAMBOAT ACME.
        On the 26th of March, James Greer asked W.E. Warder for some gun caps,
saying he wanted to kill Meyer’s of Poplar Bluff and A.E. Giles, the first
engineer on the Acme.  Warder had no caps.  Greer gave no reasons for his
enmity against either.  They parted and Warder informed Giles of his danger
and suggested that he be prepared for him.
        Giles and Greer had never quarreled or had any misunderstanding to the
knowledge of the officers and crew.
        The evidence, however, discloses the fact that Greer, carpenter on the
boat, was very much incensed at Giles because he (Giles) would not permit
him (Greer) to shift the buckets on the wheel of the boat at an early hour
of the day upon which the boat left port (Trenton) and would not permit the
work to be done until very late in the afternoon.  Some two days subsequent,
while up the Bartholomew, Greer was discharged by the Captain of the boat,
and it seems that Greer blamed Giles, in some way, as the author.  It seems
that Greer began drinking, and becme outspoken in his threats of revenge
upon Giles, who was chief engineer of the boat.
        On the 28th, while Capt. Cryer was taking lunch in the pilot house and
Greer was temporarily steering for him, Giles entered to take a smoke, as
usual with the officers when off duty.  Without a word being spoken Greer
abandoned the wheel and with a blow felled Giles to the floor.
        Capt. Cryer, assisted by A.S. Rabun, separated them.  Giles withdrew from
he pilot house.  Greer attempted to follow him, and being detained, said
that they might as well let him go, as he designed killing Giles any how.
In a few moments Giles returned, pistol in hand, and made efforts to shoot
Greer through a broken sash.  Capt. Cryer, fearing for his own life, threw
Greer from him across the pilot house.  Greer recovered himself and stepped
out of the door on to the hurricane roof, when Giles fired upon him
inflicting a fatal wound, and retreated towards and down the back steps,
Greer following.  The fight continued, Giles striking Greer once or twice
with the pistol, when Greer suddenly fell and died in about five minutes.
        Judge Slack had an examination on the 29th ultimo, and held Giles in $700
bond to answer for manslaughter at the next term of the District Court.
Capt. Cryer having entered into bond for his appearance the accused was set
at liberty.
        Greer came to Monroe some year, or more ago, from Ashley county, Arkansas.
When sober he was rather a quiet man, but when drinking was decidedly
bellicose.  He leaves a wife and one child in destitute circumstances.  Mr.
Giles, the accused, has not been very long on our river, but has established
the character of a quiet, sober, worthy mechanic.
        Greer’s wound was just below the shoulder in the back, the ball ranging
down, and probably penetrating one of the lungs.  He was probably in a
stooping posture at the time he was probably in a stooping posture at the
time he received the fatal shot.

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