Extracted from The Colfax Chronicle (Colfax, LA)
Ambushed and Assassinated
Breckinrige Starks Waylaid and Shot to Death from a
Bloodhounds Take Trail to Two Houses
On Saturday, March 14, about 1 p. m., Breckinrige Starks, a well known farmer who lived near Selma in the northeastern portion of Grant parish, was waylaid and shot to death on the model road at a point about two miles southwest of Selma. At a spot 300 or 400 yards east of the Iron Mountain railroad, in the edge of Bear Creek swamp, the assassin or assassins had prepared a carefully concealed blind in the bushes near the road, where the indications are that he or they must have waited for the victim a day or two before he came along. This is supposed to be the case from the well worn indications at the place of ambush.
The shooting occurred within a minute or two of 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and was heard by two or three parties. Four shots were fired from a Winchester rifle, only one of which took effect in the top of the skull, scattering his brains and killing the victim instantly. Starks was riding his horse and carrying a sack of eggs to market, and appeared to have been pitched from the frightened animal about forty feet from the point where he was shot. The bloody horse ran up to the house of Mr. Atwell near by, causing an immediate investigation and the finding of Starks' dead body.
Sheriff Perkins and Coroner Blackwood were notified of the tragedy at once, and Dr. Blackwood and Deputy L. O. Clinton left for the scene of the killing in the Doctor's automobile, arriving there about 4 o'clock. A coroner's jury was impanelled, which returned a verdict that Starks met his death at the hands of an unknown party.
The spot where the assassin stood was guarded, and Sheriff Amet Guilliott, of Avoyelles, was telephoned to and requested to bring on his bloodhounds. He arrived Sunday morning at 8 o'clock with his dogs in charge of Chief Deputy F. A. Ardoin, and the dogs were at once given the scent at the blind. They took up the trail, going first to the house of J. F. Evans, and from there after circling around a bit successively to the homes of R. G. Lincecum and G. G. Lincecum.
It appears that no grave suspicion was entertained against Evans, who is an old man, but he became angry and violent toward Ransom Rambo, one of the deputies, knocking him down; and for this he was arrested and brought to the Colfax jail, charged with assault. He has since been released, having given bond to answer for the assault. He furnished a satisfactory alibi as to his whereabouts at the time of the killing.
R. G. Lincecum also proved an alibi for himself at the hour of the shooting, and was not arrested, but G. G. Lincecum not having given a satisfactory account of himself at that time, was taken into custody on suspicion, and has been confined in the Colfax jail pending an investigation.
Saturday, March 21, 1914
Carefully Prepared Blind that Concealed the
Murderer at the Side of the Road