The Monroe News-Star
Monday, August 9, 1909
Page 8, Column 3
Death of O'Neill Todd
Mr. O'Neill Todd died at his home in Bastrop Saturday. The deceased was
just entering young manhood; being only eighteen years of age. He was a
recent honor graduate of the Bastrop High School and had recently been
teching (sic) in the public schools of Morehouse parish.
Young Todd was a son of Mr. And Mrs. David Todd of Bastrop, and a grandson
of the late Judge R.B. Todd of the State Supreme Court. He was universally
esteemed by a large circle of friends, who had known him since infancy, and
a fitting tribute was paid him by the large concourse of friends who
followed his remains to their last resting place.

The Monroe News-Star
Tuesday, August 17, 1909
Page 2, Column 3
Death of Mr. J. Ellis Didler.
On last evening at the Monroe Sanitarium, Mr. J. Ellis Didler, one of
Monroe's most prominent young men, succumbed to the inevitable repaer(sic),
death, his spirit answering the summons at 9:30, surrounded by loved ones.
His father, Mr. Didler of Marksville, two brothers, Messrs Geo. And John
Didler of Monroe, and an uncle, also Mr. Didler, of Natchez, Miss., and one
or two most intimate friends were around his beside (sic) when the end came.
Mr. Didler at one time was stenographer for the well known law firm of
Stubbs & Russell, and was quite an efficient and capable young man, but
later he was following the avocation of book-keeping.
The remains were taken in charge by the Knights of Columbus and were taken
to Marksville this morning, accompanied by the delegates of the Knights of
Columbus. Messrs. J. C. Ammans and T.A. Beard. The floral offerings by the
Knights of Columbus were very pretty.
The News-Star, with a large number of friends offer their sincerest
sympathy to the bereaved family, in this hour of sorrow and sadness.

The Monroe News-Star
Wednesday, August 18, 1909
Page 5, Column 2
John Latham Dead.
Hopkinsville, Ky., Aug. 18.-Word was received here today of the death in
New York of John Latham, senior member of the banking firm of Latham,
Alexander & Co., that city. He was a multi-millionaire and was born in this
city.

The Monroe News-Star
Tuesday, August 24, 1909
Page 1, Column 1
TWENTY-NINE CITIZENS WOUNDED BY CRIME-CRAZED DESPERADO
STREET BATTLE ON GRAND AND DESIARD
Negro Man, With a Breechloading Shot Gun Fired at Every One
FOUR MEN ARE SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
Twenty-Five Citizens Were Slightly Wounded by the Man, Who Deliberately
Fired His Gun In Every Direction - Purchased Gun This Morning and Had Pocket
Full of Shells- Complete List of the Injured. Not since the days of
reconstruction, when at times the streets ran with blood, has there been
such excitement as there was in Monroe this morning following the wholesale
shooting of white citizens by a burly negro, who went on a rampage at about
9 o'clock. Many, including the officers, believe that the shooting was an
act of revenge and not that of a demented negro or the result of dope he had
taken. It is the general belief that the shooting up of the town was in
retaliation for the recent killing of two negroes near the Iron Mountain
depot by officers of the law.
W.S. Wade, who was finally shot and killed and then hung and afterwards
burned, is from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The two negroes recently killed by
officers near the Iron Mountain depot were also from Arkansas, and it is
believed all three belonged to a negro secret society. Wade and Henry
Staples, the negro killed by Officer Newman Sunday morning, are said to hav
been close friends.
The first intimation of any impending trouble was a shot that nearly took
one of Mr. George McCormack's arms off as he stood talking to Cashier J.J.
Jordan in front of the Bank of Monroe.
A short time before, the negro purchased the double-barreled shot gun from
J.D. Herron at the Ouachita-Monroe Gun and Bicycle Company's store. He was
very careful to examine the gun and see that it was in good working order.
When asked if he needed any shells, he replied that he had plenty of
buckshot shells. Wade walked up Grand street a block to the Bank of Monroe
building and stepped into a doorway leading upstairs and from this point
began the bombardment of the white people along the street. Each time after
emptying his gun he would step back and reload and then appear at the
entrance and fire both shots again. The negro evidently fired a dozen shots
before officers and citizens armed with all manner of weapons succeeded in
bringing him down. Possibly seventy-five shots were fired before the negro
was killed. Just who fired the shot that brought him down is not known
certainly, but it was either Mayor Forsythe or Police Officer Biggar, both
of whom were shot, the latter seriously. For a time that section of the
city was completely blockaded by men, most of whom were armed.
After allowing the negro to lie on the sidewalk where he fell for a short
while, some one provided a rope and he was swung up to the awning in front
of the New South Drug Store where every one could get a view of him and
where he remained suspended until Coroner Graham Surghnor arrived. The
negro was let down on the sidewalk until the inquest was held, which
required very little time, when he was again pulled up. He remained there
but a short time, when the body was cut down and placed on a wagon and
hauled away.
Most of the vast crowd thought that ended the matter and that the body was
being carried away preparatory to burying, but this was not the case, for it
was taken to the vacant lot adjacent to the city hall, where there was a big
pile of dry lumber recently torn from the old city hall. His body was
placed on this several buckets of oil thrown on and a match applied. Soon
the body was lost sight of in the mass of flames.
The news of the burning spread like wildfire and soon there was a vast
throng of people in the vicinity.
Mayor Forsythe appeared just as the match was being applied and tried to
dissuade the crowd from the act, but to no avail. He was standing near the
pile of lumber when some one yelled to him that his clothes were on fire.
As he jumped back several buckets of oil and a number of lighted matches
started the blaze.
The following is a list of those who were more or less seriously wounded by
the negro:
T.A. GRANT, deputy sheriff, shot in neck and breast, seriously wounded.
HUGH BIGGAR, police officer, shot in lower bowels and legs, seriously
wounded.
SIMON MARKS, shot in breast, and face, seriously wounded and may die.
GEORGE M'CORMACK, arm shot.
MAYOR A.A. FORSYTHE.
D.A. BREARD, president of the Police Jury.
HERMAN ABRAMS
ED STRONG
R.R. ROSS
I.L. HAAS.
STEVE BURK
JOE THOMPSON
FRED M'GRATH
A.A. GRENLY
MANUEL ABROMOWITZ
ALBERT MARX
C.E. BYNUM, JR.
J.L. KENDALL
D.G. TROUSDALE
J.W. MERRIMAN
ARMAND BAER
ROY FISHER
------ ENSELL
E.P. DAVIES
M. BRAUN
C.B. EDWARDS
Three negroes
In all twenty-nine men and boys were shot during the negro's bombardment.
Fortunately the negro was using bird shot instead of buckshot which accounts
for the lack of fatalities. Had the negro been using buck shot at least a
dozen men would have been killed, as many of the wounded were struck in
vital parts.
The belief that the negro was a member of a secret society and that his act
was one of retaliation against the whites for the killing of two of his race
by officers, coupled with the threatening talk by one or two negroes soon
after the shooting, has had no good effect and there is talk of more trouble
if these negroes are located. There is a suppressed feeling of excitement
that pervades the air and the least outbreak may result in serious trouble.
The negroes who are natives of Ouachita know their place and give the
authorities little trouble, but lately a foreign element of negroes have
come in, principally from Arkansas, and they have been of considerable
annoyance to the officers. On two occasions lately the officers have been
forced to use their guns to protect themselves.
Wade was not crazy. He showed too much deliberateness and cunning for a
crazy man. These foreign negroes have from time to time made their brags
about what they would do and one negro recently said he would like to kill
out the Monroe police force if he could get four or five to go with him.
When searched $78 in cash, a letter from a Memphis concern about some
timber, and a diagram were found. At first the diagram was thought to be
that of the Bank of Monroe, but it proved to be a plan of an excavation.
Last reports from the most seriously wounded indicate that they are resting
as easily as possible and there are hopes that all will recover.
NOTE: Other articles about Wade can be found at:
Monroe News-Star Tuesday, August 24, 1909, Page 4, Column 1 "DEPLORABLE
AFTERMATH"
Monroe News-Star Wednesday, August 25, 1909, Page 1 & 8, Columns 1 & 4
"LAST NIGHT PASSED WITHOUT TROUBLE; OFFICERS WERE ACTIVE-PEACE REIGNS"
Monroe News-Star Wednesday, August 25, 1909, Page 4, Columns 1 & 2
"STRINGENT MEASURES NECESCESSARY" and "THE MONROE SHOOTING"
Monroe News-Star Thursday, August 26, 1909, Page 1, Column 1 "LODGE HALL SET
ON FIRE"
Monroe News-Star Thursday, August 26, 1909, Page 4, Columns 1, 2& 3 "IDLERS
NOT WANTED" , "AN UNARMED COMMUNITY", "THE MONROE SHOOTING" and "MAINTAIN
ORDER"
Monroe News-Star Friday, August 27, 1909, Page 1, Column 2 "PICTURES OF
HANGINGS BARRED FROM MAIL"
Monroe News-Star Friday, August 27, 1909, Page 1 & 5, Columns 6 & 2 "WADE'S
ACT CONDEMNED"
Monroe News-Star Friday, August 27, 1909, Page 4, Column 2 "THE HIDDEN
MOTIVE"
Monroe News-Star Saturday, August 28, 1909, Page 4, Columns 1, 2 & 3 "WADE-
CRAZY OR VINDICTIVE?", "APPRECIATED EXPRESSIONS", "SENSATIONALISM" and "NOT
A CASUS BELLI"
Monroe News-Star Monday, August 30, 1909, Pages 1 & 8, Columns 2 & 3 "WADE
HAS RECORD AT PINE BLUFF"
Monroe News-Star Monday, August 30, 1909, Page 4, Column 2 "THE MONROE
TRAGEDY"

The Monroe News-Star
Wednesday, August 25, 1909
Page 8, Column 4
Mr. Louis Meyer Dead.
Mr. Louis Meyer, one of Monroe's oldest and most respected citizens, died
at his home here last night at 7:55 o'clock after a short illness the result
of a stroke of apoplexy two weks (sic) ago. He was a member of Little Rock
Lodge Knights of Honor and the local lodge will have charge of the funeral
which takes place this afternoon at 4 o'clock from the family home.
Interment will be in the city cemetery. He is survived by his wife and three
children, Mr. Fred Meyer, superintendent of the city water, light and
traction department; Mrs. J.E. Ball and Mrs. W.L. Jones. Mr. Meyer was 76
years, 10 months and 28 days old.

The Monroe News-Star
Friday, August 27, 1909
Page 2, Column 3
Another Veteran Passes Away.
In the death of Mr. L.G. Johnston on yesterday afternoon, another veteran
has answered the taps. In his seventy-eighth year, a most consistent member
of the Methodist church, honored and revered by those who knew him, and a
veteran of the gray, whose love and ardor for the Confederacy had never
abated, but as a member of Henry W. Allen Camp, was still cherished. Mr.
Johnston was also a member of the fraternal order of the Masons and Odd
Fellows.
The funeral services were conducted this afternoon at 4 o'clock from the
Methodist church, the members of Henry W. Allen Camp acting as honorary pall
bearers, and the fraternal orders and Daughters of the Confederacy attending
in a body. The coffin was draped with a flag of the Confederacy and a floral
offering from the Monroe Chapter U.D.C. who had known, loved and honored
him. Rev. R.H. Wynn, his pastor, paid a beautiful tribute to his memory, and
all that was mortal of friend and comrad was laid to rest in the Monroe
Cemetery in the presence of a large concourse of friends, the beautiful
burial service of the Masons being used.
Mr. Johnston leaves to mourn his loss, a widow, a daughter, Mrs. Barnette,
of Murray, Ky., and three sons, Dr. J.F. Johnston of Ruston, Dr. C.B.
Johnston and Mr. W.P. Johnston of Monroe.
"There is no death! What seems so is transition.
This life of mortal breath is but a suburb of the life elysian.
Whose portals we call death."

The Monroe News-Star
Friday, August 27, 1909
Page 8, Column 3
Citizen of Caldwell Dies.
Columbia, La., Aug. 26-Mr. C.C. Fluitt one of the most prominent citizens
of Caldwell parish, died this evening at four o'clock at his home about two
miles north of Columbia on the Ouachita River. Mr. Fluitt died from an
attack of swamp fever which he suffered with but few days. Mr. Fluitt was
one of the most prominent and influential men in the parish and was held in
high esteem by every one that knew him. He was born and reared here and has
done a great deal for the country. He was well to do and has always been
very prominent and active in all business affairs. Mr. Fluitt was unmarried,
but leaves one sister, several nephews and one niece.

The Monroe News-Star
Saturday, August 28, 1909
Page 4, Column 4
Died in San Antonio
J.C. Handy, eldest son of Mr. J.S. Handy, died in a sanitarium at San
Antonio, Texas, this morning where he was under treatment for bladder
trouble. No arrangements have yet been made for the funeral as Mr. J.S.
Handy is at Doss today looking after his planting and mercantile
interests. The interment will be in Monroe.

The Monroe News-Star
Monday, August 30, 1909
Page 2, Column 2
Death of J.C. Handy
On Saturday Mr. J.C. Handy was shocked by a telegram announcing the death
of his son., J.C. Handy in San Antonio, Texas, as he had only a few days
before left him thinking his condition was not immediately critical, and
though he felt somewhat alarmed the news came as a blow.
J.C., as he was known to his friends, was open hearted, frank and a true
friend to all who knew him; of a jovial disposition, he shed the rays of
happiness and life wherever he went and for the last year his friends had
missed him while he was away. For the past few months he
had been enjoying the life of a ranchman in Texas, being in Rockport, only a
few weeks ago, when the illness seized him which proved so fatal.
John Cason Handy was the eldest son of J.S. and Mollie Cason Handy and was
in the thirty-third year of his age, being born August 26th 1877, in
Bastrop. His life, however, was spent mostly in Monroe, where he was
associated for years in the retail grocery business with Mr. S.J. Meek, the
firm being under the name of Meek Handy and later he was in the
real estate business with Mr. T.G. Easterling.
Feeling the need of a different climate he has spent the past year in
Texas, and though God in His wisdom and judgment has removed him from his
friends and loved ones, let us doubt not in this summons He is still loving
and kind, for though death separates, it also unites. It is only a night's
sleep, through which all the weariness and faintness pass away, when
strength, vigor and joyousness returns with the morning.
"We shall sleep, but not forever,
There will be a glorious dawn,
We will wake to weep no never
On the resurrection morn."
Mr. Handy leaves to mourn his loss besides his father, four sisters and one
brother, Mrs. R.J. Edwards of Oklahoma City, Misses Nellie, Lena and Byrnie
Handy and Mr. B.B. Handy of this city.
The interment will be in Bastrop. Services will be held Wednesday morning
at the residence on River Front at 8:30 o'clock. The remains will be taken
on the Iron Mountain at 10 o'clock. The order of the Elks and Woodmen of the
World will attend the services in a body.
The News-Star offers sympathy to the family in this hour of sadness and
sorrow.

The Monroe News-Star
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1909
Page 8, Column 1
High Mason Passes Away
New Orleans, Aug. 30.,-Alfred Levy, a thirty-second degree Mason, and well
known Shriner, died this morning from the effects of a lingering malady at
Bay St. Louis.
He was born here 56 years ago and was for many years in the drug business.
At the time of his death he was interested in the tropical fruit trade. He
was a brother of Dr. M. Levy and William M. Levy prominent druggist. The
body will be brought here for interment.