The Ouachita Telegraph - F. L. Ludeling Shot and Killed, Mitchell and Dinkgrave Wounded Date: Oct. 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, March 25, 1881 Page 3, Column 4 An occurrence which has been talked of here and through the country generally was that which resulted in the death of Mr. F.L. Ludeling, and the wounding of Mr. Mitchner and of Mr. Frank Dinkgrave on Thursday, the 17th. The main parties to this tragedy, though not such in presence, are Judge Ludeling and F.P. Stubbs, Esq., who have places adjoining on Bayou DeSiard. They are prominent citizens, brother attorneys and were co-proprietors of the North Louisiana and Texas railroad. Their friendly relations, which had subsisted for years, had a rude disturbance in the courthouse about three weeks ago when severe epithets were exchanged and chairs were thrown one at the other. We regret to have to publish, as these gentlemen must also, what has followed. Mr. Mitchner was employed by Mr. Stubbs to manage his place, and young Ludeling was managing that of his father. On the morning of the 17th two wagons were driven from Ludeling’s place to Stubbs’s to remove a family of colored laborers. The wagons were driven into Stubbs’s enclosure, and were stopped around the cabin. Mitchner had some time before sent word to Ludeling not to interfere with his labor. It apppears that the negroes were willing to leave – as negroes too often will do. The wagons were cut down, presumably by Mr. Mitchner, and soon after young Ludeling and Dinkgrave rode up. There followed, what only could have been expected hot and angry words, and out of these came the shooting which resulted so seriously. Ludeling was killed, Frank Dinkgrave was shot in both arms, but neither broken, and Mitchner received an ugly wound in his right side, the ball entering below the nipple and coming out near the small of the back. Mitchner, and Dinkgrave are both recovering from their wounds. NOTE: “THE BAYOU DeSIARD TRAGEDY!” State vs. W.B. Mitchner, S.S. Kirkpatrick, A.S. Brown, George Mitchner, Barry Harris and Linton Stubbs, charged with the murder of Mr. Ludeling can be found in the Friday, April 1, 1881 issue of the Telegraph, Page 2, Column 1. The accused plead “Not Guilty” April 22, 1881, Page 3, Column 2. Found Not Guilty, April 29, 1881, Page 2, Column 2. # # #