The Ouachita Telegraph - Former Sheriff, Joseph B. Adams Shoots Self 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 Saturday, October 29, 1887 Page 2, Column 6 WINN. WINNFIELD, La., Oct. 19. – Special To-day this community was shocked to learn that Joseph B. Adams, ex-sheriff, had committed suicide. He cause which led him to commit this rash act are about as follows: On Monday, the 10th inst., W.B. Adams, his son, shot and killed Mathew M. Smith, a very prominent planter of ward 3, of this parish. The evidence in this case was very pointed, and shows that young Adams killed Smith without any provocation, or at least any justifiable reason. Young Adams, and Levi Varnell as accessory, were arrested and jailed on the Tuesday following and on Thursday following Joseph B. Adams, and another son, John G. Adams were arrested as accessory after the fact. J.B. and J.G. Adams afterwards gave bond. On Monday their trial was commenced and continued until late that evening, when the parties released on bond went home to be back next morning, at 8 o’clock. On the following morning Joseph B. Adams and his nephew were coming back to court and had come about two-thirds of the way when Mr. Adams remarked to his nephew that he had left his medicine at home, that if he had to stay in court all day he would need it and he must go back and get it and to tell the sheriff that he would be in court as soon as he could get there. Arriving at home, he laid his coat on the bed and took a pistol (the one used by his son to kill Smith) and shot himself twice near the heart, killing himself instantly. His wife tried to get the pistol away from him, but he drove her from the room. A note was found in his pocket, which is as follows: “This 16th day of October, A.D., 1887. To the world at large: I, J.B. Adams, have lived until my troubles are so great that I don’t want to live any longer in this world. As to the charge of premeditating and laying a plan to the killing of M.M. Smith is not the case. I am innocent and do stand so before my God. J.B. ADAMS.” The coroner’s jury came to the conclusion that he cam to his death at his own hands. It will be noticed that this note was written Sunday, but he did not carry out his intentions until to-day. He had made threats heretofore that he intended self-destruction on account of family and financial troubles. He was sheriff of this parish several years during the “seventies” and was never known to be in a difficulty. This makes four deaths in this parish by violent means within the last four months, an unprecedented record in this section. Notwithstanding this our laws are faithfully executed by vigilant officials and our people are ever ready to assist in carrying out law and justice. # # #