Obituaries: George W. Barton, 1888, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: The Ouachita Telegraph, August 25, 1888 issue, page 2, column 2
(submitted to me by Ms. Lora Peppers, Ouachita Parish Public Library)

A Street Duel With Shot Guns In Columbia

A Citizen of Winn Parish Gets on the War Path, Resists Arrest and is Fatally
Shot

(Watchman)

The usual quiet of our town was broken on last Wednesday evening by the report
of several guns, fired in rapid succession, and the cries of a wounded man
which immediately followed.  The origin of the trouble was the attempted
arrest of a man by the name of Geo. W. Barton, by town Marshall Claunch and
Depty Sheriff Welch.

Barton is from the Holmes neighborhood in Winn Parish and has been living with
a man by the name of Cox, and it seems that some days ago they had a dispute
about their crop in some way, and on Wednesday they came to town where the
dispute was renewed.  Barton carried a double barrel shot gun and seemed to be
following Cox during the whole day, which was evident that he meant mischief
to someone.  About five o'clock in the evening they met in the saloon of Mr.
Robt. Brinton, and Barton drew his gun on Cox and would possibly have killed
him had it not been for several parties who were present and interfered. 
Leaving the saloon Barton went into the street and with gun in hand walked to
and fro in front of the saloon swearing vengeance against Cox or any other man
who attempted to lay hands on him.  The officers above named seeing the
trouble proceeded at once to arrest Barton, who resisted and warned them not
to advance on him as he intended to shoot and would die before he would be
arrested, and mounting his mule started to ride out of town.  When threatened
in this manner Welch immediately got possession of a shot gun and headed
Barton at the crossing of Kentucky and Pearl Streets and commanded him to
stop, whereupon Barton presented his gun and would certainly have fired, but
his mule was traveling and in an instant carried him beyond the warehouse
which stands on the corner of the street.  Welch at once ran through the
vacant lot west of Pearl Street and as Barton fired upon him with one barrel
of his gun, but without effect.  Welch immediately raised his gun and fired,
but shot too low.  He ran then to Kentucky Street and as Barton was near the
entrance of Wall Street he fired the second time, three shot taking effect,
one in the lower portion of the back, another in the left side just below,
and to the left of the nipple fracturing a rib and ranging to the fornt and
was taken out near the center of the breast, the third shot scalped the
wrist of the left hand inflicting only a slight wound.  He immediately jumped
or fell from his mule and at first it was thought that he was mortally
wounded, but upon examination it was found that his wounds were not so serious
and the probability is that he may recover.

Barton is a man about 28 or 29 years of age, is married and has a wife and
three small children.  When sober he is said to be very quiet, hard working
man, but when under the influence of liquor is turbulent, and gives way to an
ungovernable temper.  He is now in charge of the sheriff who had him reomved
to the courthouse where his wounds were dressed and at this writing, Thursday
evening, he is resting easy.

Deputy Sheriff Welch regrets very much the necessity of having to do what he
did, but under the circumstances was certainly forced to do it in the
discharge of his sworn duty, and is therefore justifiable.

We learn that Barton died Friday night.  He is reported as having said that he
had three brothers who would avenge his death.