Obituary - Marshall Shelton

Ouachita Telegraph (Monroe, LA) October 9, 1869
Saturday, October 9, 1869
Page 2, Column 2

Homicide in Franklin Parish

A young man named Marshall Shelton was killed on the 29th ult., in Franklin parish, by Lieut. R. Vance, U.S.A. We condense from the Sun as follows:

On the night previous to the homicide, Lieut. Vance was sitting in his tent, with two or three citizens, playing cards. Two shots were fired near the tent, the balls entering the tent and one of them passing near one of the party. Vance went to a neighboring saloon immediately, and there learned young Shelton had left about ten minutes before. Next morning about 8 o'clock, Shelton came riding into Winnsboro, where Lieut. Vance is stationed, in company with two other persons. When near the Lieutenant's tent, which it appears was stretched near their road, the three were thrice ordered to halt, which they did, when the Lieutenant fired one barrel of a double-barreled shot-gun at Shelton, the contents taking effect in his side. He fell from his horse, and the two other men rode on. The manner and circumstances of the killing, these men give as above. Lieut. Vance makes a statement to the effect that on the morning in question he was going a-fishing, and had supplied himself with a rod and the gun with which the killing was done. Just as he reached the road, Shelton rode up, when he (Vance) halted, and seeing Shelton take hold of his pistol, he (Vance) fired. One of the men with Shelton avers, however, that Shelton had both hands on his bridle reins, and that seeing Vance's movements, he exclaimed, "Don't shoot me; I've done nothing to you."

Shelton survived between a quarter and half an hour. He was respectably connected, and was 18 years of age on the day he was killed. Vance was arrested, and was arraigned for trial, but the proceedings were suspended to await the action of the Grand Jury, which was then sitting. The Sun closes its account by saying the editor had just learned the Grand Jury had found a true bill for murder against Lieut. Vance. We refrain from commenting on the affair, not knowing the particulars sufficiently to enable us to form a satisfactory conclusion. We trust, and believe, the people of Franklin will see the accused has a fair and full trial.

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

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