Submitter:Pauline Mobley Sept 2003 Source: Banner Democrat 15 Dec 1894 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Banner Democrat December 15, 1894 Killing of B.F. Cawthon The people of our town were dreadfully shocked, on Sunday morning, at the new of the killing of B. F. Cawthon, that had taken place the night before at Kilbourne, in West Carroll parish. As there is no telegraphic communication between here and Kilbourne, it has been difficult matter for us to come to the exact truth concerning this dreadful affair, but, from what we have been able to ascertain, the facts are as follows: On Wednesday night of last week, several white men from West Carroll and Arkansas severely whipped a negro, and that same night shot into the store of B.F. Cawthon & Co., several shots going through the transom of the front door of the store. On Saturday last, B. F. Cawthon had four of them arrested by the constable of the ward, who, that Saturday evening had them in charge and under watch in the store of H. W. Grave & Co. of Kilbourne. About 6:30, Frank Cawthon and Frank Strong, his partner, were taking supper when they heard several shots fired in the road, between the two stores, that of Cawthon and that of H. W. Grave & Co.; Cawthon remarked to Strong: " I believe they are going to give us a serenade this evening." And barely had he said so, that he heard some one shouting in the road: "He is shot" Both at once jumped up, went to the front of the store, and found on the front of the store, and found on the gallery Dr. Bird and a white man by the name of Adams; both shot, Bird being shot through the thigh. Dr. Bird told Cawthon that a negro, Love Anderson, had shot him and Cawthon immediately said: Wait a moment, and I'll get him, Both he and Strong ran back in the store and got their Winchester rifles. They came out to the front, got in the road in front of the store and Cawthon leveled his Winchester to fire at some one standing some distance in front of him, when Strong said to him; "Don't shoot, Frank that is Bivins." Meantime, Bivins had leveled his gun at Cawthon and shot him, the ball taking effect, traversing the fleshy part of the arm of Cawthon and entering the body on the left side, near the left breast. Cawthon did not fall, but turned around going back towards his store. Meantime, Bivins began immediately firing at Strong and Strong at him. Eight or ten shots were fired by each one of them, Strong advancing and Bivins retreating all the while, until he came near the fence or in the act of attempting to cross it. Strong, thinking that he had killed him, went back towards Cawthon's store. There he found Cawthon lying on the floor in the agony of death, he had him removed to his room, and Cawthon then told him that he was suffering terrible, asked twice for some chloral, and with half an hour from the time he was shot, he was dead, having bled to death. Bivins, however, was not killed as Strong thought, but he is gone and nowhere to be found. Strong believes yet that he is shot somewhere about the abdomen and about the legs and that as he could not possibly travel, he must be in hiding in the neighborhood. He is a native of Memphis, Tenn., and well known here, having lived about the line for the last 6 or 7 years, and at one time kept books for Mr. Newcomb, when he had a store at Kilbourne, if we mistake not. Frank Cawthon was well and favorably known in this community. He worked a one time in this town for the firm of J.W. Pittman & Co., and for Mr. J.S. Millikin, at Ashton. He was an intelligent, well behaved, but fearless and determined young man. He leaves five brothers to mourn his loss, He was buried on Tuesday from the Midway Church, In Goshen Cemetery, Richland parish. He leaves an insurance of $3,000 in the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Thus ended on more bloody affray to be added to the long list that have taken place in West Carroll. This time there were one man killed and three wounded, and who knows that it will be the end of it yet?