Obituary - James M. Haddox

The Ouachita Telegraph
Saturday, July 28, 1888
Page 4, Column 2

AN OLD GUN THAT WAS “NO GOOD.”
Its Metal Proved by Fifteen Coons and a Human Life.
[Franklin Sun]

On last Saturday afternoon at about 4 o’clock the citizens of the bog Creek settlement were horrified to hear that James M. Haddox, aged 19, had been shot and instantly killed by Allen Eaton age 25.

The circumstances of the killing are as follows: It appears that some of the young men had started to play base ball, but, on account of a death in the neighborhood, the game was postponed, and all left for home. When at the Adams place, some of them stopped at the cabin of a negro named Dave Ball. While chatting, Eaton remarked that he had killed 15 coons the night previous. Haddox laughingly asked him whether he had killed them with the old gun he had with him. “Why, said he, you couldn’t hit me at twenty steps with that old thing.” “Step off the ground and I’ll show you,” answered Eaton. Young Haddox started to walk the 20 steps and as he went some one remarked: “You ain’t going to shoot him, Allen?” Eaton answered, “I surely will,” or words to that effect. As Haddox turned round he called out laughing, “You ain’t going to shoot sure enough?” At that moment the gun fired and Haddox fell covered with shot – The entire load having passed through his breast and lungs. They carried him to the gallery, Eaton helping, and when in a few minutes, life was extinct, Eaton mounted his horse and took to the woods.

The citizens of the neighborhood organized as soon as possible and hunted the woods al Saturday night without success. Sunday Sheriff Womble and a posse continued the search but without success up to this writing and Eaton is still at large.

Eaton claims that the shooting was accidental – he and young Haddox being intimate friends. Be this as it may, all good citizens want the matter thoroughly investigated. If he be innocent, he should at once give up to the authorities and stand a trial. If guilty (and he certainly is, of gross carelessness at least,) justice demands that he be punished.

Contributor's Additions

The August 18, 1888 issue of the Ouachita Telegraph reports the capture of Eaton in Caldwell Parish (page 1, column 5). He was later found not guilty (October 6, 1888, Page 2, Column 2).

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Contributed 2021 Sep 27 by Lora Peppers loradpeppers@hotmail.com

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