The Ouachita Telegraph - TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN RAYVILLE

Date: Oct 2000
Submitted by: Lora Peppers 




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The Ouachita Telegraph
Saturday, April 14, 1883
Page 3, Column 3

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN RAYVILLE.
 Just at dark last Saturday evening we were startled by the report of two
pistols shots within the space of five or six seconds; and repairing to the
place from whence the sounds proceeded and where a crowd collected, we were
horribly shocked to find two citizens of our town, M.A. Jones and N.H.
Collins, lying within a few feet of each other, the latter dead and the
former dying, each from a pistol shot wound.
 From the testimony of witnesses before the jury of inquest and the
statements of others, we gathered the following facts in relation to this
terrible tragedy:
 It seems that Wm. B. Roberts, becoming incensed at some real or imaginary
affront, had hunted up N.H. Collins and prevailed upon him to arm himself
and go with him as his “backer” in a difficulty.  Having thus prepared
himself, Roberts went into Simms’ saloon, where a few gentlemen were,
flourishing a pistol and acting in a manner to provoke a difficulty.  B.R.
McLemore prevailed upon him to put up his pistol and walked out with him on
the gallery, when he attempted to draw it again; McLemore seized hold of it,
others came to his assistance and Roberts was disarmed; but during the
scuffle he called out for Collins, who ran upon the gallery of Simms &
Bafour’s store, which is adjoining that of the saloon, armed with a
double-barrel shot gun.  Mr. Jones, who happened to be standing on the
gallery or passing along it at the time, seized the gun, begging Collins to
desist.  Collins attempted to release the gun from Jones’ hold, but Jones
wrenched the gun from his grasp.  Collins then drew his knife, and cursing
Jones, demanded his gun.  Mr. Jones refused to surrender the gun, telling
him that he could not have it to shoot some one with.  At this instant Mr.
John S. Summerlin took hold of Mr. Jones and Deputy Sheriff Joel L. Toler
took hold of Mr. Collins; Collins snatching his pistol from him, turned and
snapped it at Mr. Jones.  Summerlin attempted to knock the pistol up, but it
fired, the ball entering Mr. Jones; right breast, inflicting a mortal wound,
and powder burning Mr. Summerlin’s hand.  In the mean time Summerlin had
grasped the pistol, and Collins cut him across the back of the hand and on
the thumb, and then started off in an easterly direction, but was shot and
instantly killed before he had proceeded more than ten or fifteen steps.
Roberts – who seems to have been the instigator of the whole affair – ran
off towards Monroe, and we learn passed through Girard just about as soon as
his legs could carry him there. – Richland Beacon.

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