Parts, of this account are taken from a recording on the “Double homicide and lynching of their alleged murderers in Vienna Louisiana in 1872”; March 16, 1872.
On the 12th day of March, 1872 – Dr. Jackson and Mr. John Huey, were killed by J.W. Peace and W.R. Whatley; with a Mr. Hedgepath being wounded. Reason for the shooting was not given.
J.W. Peace – about thirty years of age; five feet seven inches high, dark completion; black hair, eyes, and mustache; has remarkably small feet, wears size two shoes, and has a contrasted and bad countenance.
W.R. Whatley – about twenty three years of age; five feet eleven inches high; fair completion; light hair and eyes; rather pleasant countenance; is a violinist.
Dr. Jackson was a surgeon in the Confederate Army, and had been practicing medicine since the war.
Mr. John Huey was one of the first settlers of Vienna, and was well known as the only hotel-keeper in the place for many years. He had, since the war, been giving his attention entirely to farming. He was warm-hearted, frank and courteous gentleman.
Sheriff Huey, a distant cousin of John Huey, set out after the two murders with eight men. They overtook the two fugitives at the Clear Lake, in Natchitoches Parish, not far from Red River. Whatley had been to get the ferryman, and was returning with him to the ferry, when the Sheriff’s posse rode in sight, but some 200 yards or more distant. The two men recognized their situation, and they spurred their horses toward a fence, the horses refused to jump. They then turned, drawing their repeaters, came full speed in a charge upon the posse, firing as they came. Sheriff Huey and his men began firing on the desperadoes as they advanced. None of the posse was hurt, but Mr. Bernards was struck on the side with a ball, which was prevented from entering by a small pistol carried in his side pocket. Mr. Whatley was shot in the charge, and died soon after at the scene.
Mr. Peace was arraigned before Judge Graham; the trial continued two days, and resulted in Peace’s commitment, on the charge of murder, and to appear before the District Court in May. Gen. Henry Gray and Col. Richardson, of this place defending Peace; Peace was confined to the jail. (Vienna was the parish seat at the time.)
Wednesday night, at bout half-past two o’clock, a party of twenty-five mean appeared at the house of Sheriff Huey. They inquired for him, but he had left for a distant portion of the parish the evening before. Deputy Sheriff Dickerson, who lived with Mr. and Mrs. Huey, was taken prisoner by the men and his jail key taken from him. Two men stayed to guard Dickerson while the others went to the jail. Dickerson and Mrs. Huey stated they knew none of the men.
Peace was confined on the second floor of the jail, with a Negro man in the room below. A shoemaker living nearby heard a few screams. The Negro heard someone ask for a rope, as the party was leaving the jail with Peace. Peace hat and blood was found in the cell the next morning. An old Negro woman saw a party of men ride out of the woods, in rear of town, just before day light. It is supposition that Peace, confederate of Whatley, has joined his comrade in another world.
This information provided by Mike Gahagan (48045332)∼Obituary Index of Ouachita Parish, La. Newspapers
Volume I: 1825-1899
Compiled by: Lora Peppers 2002
Ouachita Telegraph
Mar 16, 1872
Page; 2
Column; 3
Note; Shot at Vienna, La. by W. R. Whatley.
Ouachita Telegraph
Mar 23, 1872
Page; 2
Column; 2
Note: Capture and lynching of his murderer.
On the 12th day of March, 1872 – Dr. Jackson and Mr. John Huey, were killed by J.W. Peace and W.R. Whatley; with a Mr. Hedgepath being wounded. Reason for the shooting was not given.
J.W. Peace – about thirty years of age; five feet seven inches high, dark completion; black hair, eyes, and mustache; has remarkably small feet, wears size two shoes, and has a contrasted and bad countenance.
W.R. Whatley – about twenty three years of age; five feet eleven inches high; fair completion; light hair and eyes; rather pleasant countenance; is a violinist.
Dr. Jackson was a surgeon in the Confederate Army, and had been practicing medicine since the war.
Mr. John Huey was one of the first settlers of Vienna, and was well known as the only hotel-keeper in the place for many years. He had, since the war, been giving his attention entirely to farming. He was warm-hearted, frank and courteous gentleman.
Sheriff Huey, a distant cousin of John Huey, set out after the two murders with eight men. They overtook the two fugitives at the Clear Lake, in Natchitoches Parish, not far from Red River. Whatley had been to get the ferryman, and was returning with him to the ferry, when the Sheriff’s posse rode in sight, but some 200 yards or more distant. The two men recognized their situation, and they spurred their horses toward a fence, the horses refused to jump. They then turned, drawing their repeaters, came full speed in a charge upon the posse, firing as they came. Sheriff Huey and his men began firing on the desperadoes as they advanced. None of the posse was hurt, but Mr. Bernards was struck on the side with a ball, which was prevented from entering by a small pistol carried in his side pocket. Mr. Whatley was shot in the charge, and died soon after at the scene.
Mr. Peace was arraigned before Judge Graham; the trial continued two days, and resulted in Peace’s commitment, on the charge of murder, and to appear before the District Court in May. Gen. Henry Gray and Col. Richardson, of this place defending Peace; Peace was confined to the jail. (Vienna was the parish seat at the time.)
Wednesday night, at bout half-past two o’clock, a party of twenty-five mean appeared at the house of Sheriff Huey. They inquired for him, but he had left for a distant portion of the parish the evening before. Deputy Sheriff Dickerson, who lived with Mr. and Mrs. Huey, was taken prisoner by the men and his jail key taken from him. Two men stayed to guard Dickerson while the others went to the jail. Dickerson and Mrs. Huey stated they knew none of the men.
Peace was confined on the second floor of the jail, with a Negro man in the room below. A shoemaker living nearby heard a few screams. The Negro heard someone ask for a rope, as the party was leaving the jail with Peace. Peace hat and blood was found in the cell the next morning. An old Negro woman saw a party of men ride out of the woods, in rear of town, just before day light. It is supposition that Peace, confederate of Whatley, has joined his comrade in another world.
This information provided by Mike Gahagan (48045332)∼Obituary Index of Ouachita Parish, La. Newspapers
Volume I: 1825-1899
Compiled by: Lora Peppers 2002
Ouachita Telegraph
Mar 16, 1872
Page; 2
Column; 3
Note; Shot at Vienna, La. by W. R. Whatley.
Ouachita Telegraph
Mar 23, 1872
Page; 2
Column; 2
Note: Capture and lynching of his murderer.
Parts, of this account are taken from a recording on the “Double homicide and lynching of their alleged murderers in Vienna Louisiana in 1872”; March 16, 1872.
On the 12th day of March, 1872 – Dr. Jackson and Mr. John Huey, were killed by J.W. Peace and W.R. Whatley; with a Mr. Hedgepath being wounded. Reason for the shooting was not given.
J.W. Peace – about thirty years of age; five feet seven inches high, dark completion; black hair, eyes, and mustache; has remarkably small feet, wears size two shoes, and has a contrasted and bad countenance.
W.R. Whatley – about twenty three years of age; five feet eleven inches high; fair completion; light hair and eyes; rather pleasant countenance; is a violinist.
Dr. Jackson was a surgeon in the Confederate Army, and had been practicing medicine since the war.
Mr. John Huey was one of the first settlers of Vienna, and was well known as the only hotel-keeper in the place for many years. He had, since the war, been giving his attention entirely to farming. He was warm-hearted, frank and courteous gentleman.
Sheriff Huey, a distant cousin of John Huey, set out after the two murders with eight men. They overtook the two fugitives at the Clear Lake, in Natchitoches Parish, not far from Red River. Whatley had been to get the ferryman, and was returning with him to the ferry, when the Sheriff’s posse rode in sight, but some 200 yards or more distant. The two men recognized their situation, and they spurred their horses toward a fence, the horses refused to jump. They then turned, drawing their repeaters, came full speed in a charge upon the posse, firing as they came. Sheriff Huey and his men began firing on the desperadoes as they advanced. None of the posse was hurt, but Mr. Bernards was struck on the side with a ball, which was prevented from entering by a small pistol carried in his side pocket. Mr. Whatley was shot in the charge, and died soon after at the scene.
Mr. Peace was arraigned before Judge Graham; the trial continued two days, and resulted in Peace’s commitment, on the charge of murder, and to appear before the District Court in May. Gen. Henry Gray and Col. Richardson, of this place defending Peace; Peace was confined to the jail. (Vienna was the parish seat at the time.)
Wednesday night, at bout half-past two o’clock, a party of twenty-five mean appeared at the house of Sheriff Huey. They inquired for him, but he had left for a distant portion of the parish the evening before. Deputy Sheriff Dickerson, who lived with Mr. and Mrs. Huey, was taken prisoner by the men and his jail key taken from him. Two men stayed to guard Dickerson while the others went to the jail. Dickerson and Mrs. Huey stated they knew none of the men.
Peace was confined on the second floor of the jail, with a Negro man in the room below. A shoemaker living nearby heard a few screams. The Negro heard someone ask for a rope, as the party was leaving the jail with Peace. Peace hat and blood was found in the cell the next morning. An old Negro woman saw a party of men ride out of the woods, in rear of town, just before day light. It is supposition that Peace, confederate of Whatley, has joined his comrade in another world.
This information provided by Mike Gahagan (48045332)∼Obituary Index of Ouachita Parish, La. Newspapers
Volume I: 1825-1899
Compiled by: Lora Peppers 2002
Ouachita Telegraph
Mar 16, 1872
Page; 2
Column; 3
Note; Shot at Vienna, La. by W. R. Whatley.
Ouachita Telegraph
Mar 23, 1872
Page; 2
Column; 2
Note: Capture and lynching of his murderer.
On the 12th day of March, 1872 – Dr. Jackson and Mr. John Huey, were killed by J.W. Peace and W.R. Whatley; with a Mr. Hedgepath being wounded. Reason for the shooting was not given.
J.W. Peace – about thirty years of age; five feet seven inches high, dark completion; black hair, eyes, and mustache; has remarkably small feet, wears size two shoes, and has a contrasted and bad countenance.
W.R. Whatley – about twenty three years of age; five feet eleven inches high; fair completion; light hair and eyes; rather pleasant countenance; is a violinist.
Dr. Jackson was a surgeon in the Confederate Army, and had been practicing medicine since the war.
Mr. John Huey was one of the first settlers of Vienna, and was well known as the only hotel-keeper in the place for many years. He had, since the war, been giving his attention entirely to farming. He was warm-hearted, frank and courteous gentleman.
Sheriff Huey, a distant cousin of John Huey, set out after the two murders with eight men. They overtook the two fugitives at the Clear Lake, in Natchitoches Parish, not far from Red River. Whatley had been to get the ferryman, and was returning with him to the ferry, when the Sheriff’s posse rode in sight, but some 200 yards or more distant. The two men recognized their situation, and they spurred their horses toward a fence, the horses refused to jump. They then turned, drawing their repeaters, came full speed in a charge upon the posse, firing as they came. Sheriff Huey and his men began firing on the desperadoes as they advanced. None of the posse was hurt, but Mr. Bernards was struck on the side with a ball, which was prevented from entering by a small pistol carried in his side pocket. Mr. Whatley was shot in the charge, and died soon after at the scene.
Mr. Peace was arraigned before Judge Graham; the trial continued two days, and resulted in Peace’s commitment, on the charge of murder, and to appear before the District Court in May. Gen. Henry Gray and Col. Richardson, of this place defending Peace; Peace was confined to the jail. (Vienna was the parish seat at the time.)
Wednesday night, at bout half-past two o’clock, a party of twenty-five mean appeared at the house of Sheriff Huey. They inquired for him, but he had left for a distant portion of the parish the evening before. Deputy Sheriff Dickerson, who lived with Mr. and Mrs. Huey, was taken prisoner by the men and his jail key taken from him. Two men stayed to guard Dickerson while the others went to the jail. Dickerson and Mrs. Huey stated they knew none of the men.
Peace was confined on the second floor of the jail, with a Negro man in the room below. A shoemaker living nearby heard a few screams. The Negro heard someone ask for a rope, as the party was leaving the jail with Peace. Peace hat and blood was found in the cell the next morning. An old Negro woman saw a party of men ride out of the woods, in rear of town, just before day light. It is supposition that Peace, confederate of Whatley, has joined his comrade in another world.
This information provided by Mike Gahagan (48045332)∼Obituary Index of Ouachita Parish, La. Newspapers
Volume I: 1825-1899
Compiled by: Lora Peppers 2002
Ouachita Telegraph
Mar 16, 1872
Page; 2
Column; 3
Note; Shot at Vienna, La. by W. R. Whatley.
Ouachita Telegraph
Mar 23, 1872
Page; 2
Column; 2
Note: Capture and lynching of his murderer.
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