The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-04-04
The Late Assassination,

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The Late Assassination
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IN connection with the late aesassinat;o,
OF alr. Gruher. there have gore abroad s,,.a
. variety ofruinors, and some Of the er,r.
est character, that it would be an affect,
ton of ign dranvs On the part Of the pruss
as we'll as q lltaHifest Indifference to the l.
terests OF pubic Justice, not to mention .
them. The circumstances Of the assass;na
ton were Of j character to challenge tha {
scrutiny Of the public, and several revel ala
tons 10 the progress ofthe inquest on II.
deaG body OF the unfortunate man were cal
culated to arouse the suspicious of pcopla
as proverbially lethargic as the GOOD citi.
zens ofthis place are. A recapitulation If
the leading facts of the case will present y
series Of incidents which can scarcely he ~.
counted for onlany other hypothesis than
the existence ola conspiracy to oyerav,
public opinion, or rather the expression Of
it at the polls, by acts ofviolence. Atleast
that was the Interpretation given TO III.
murder at the time Of its perpetration-and
subsequent events have rather confirmed
than weakened that conclusion. What Is
the history of this case?
A few days before the late municipal
elections, an old citizen, largely known aud
enjoying as much popularity as almost any
other man IN the community, stepped into
one Of the most frequeated saloons in the
city at an early hour III the evening. The
saloon was much crowded at the time bs
parties eating in its numerous stalls and
Others drinking at the bar. He had enter
ed the room but q few moments when he
was set upon by gang Of three or moro
persons, Knocked down, Kicked and stabbed
to death. This was done so suddenly. that
their victim was down before any Of the
persons in the saloon knew Of the row.
There was no quarreling preliminary to the
ARRAY, but the parties went to work as Il
the assassination were their only business,
and they accomplished their eud before any
assistance could be had, All this looked
like concert and conspiracy There mus.
have been concert and conspiracy. Whilst
yet Mr.. Gruber was alive, watch vas
called TO arrest an individual who was con.
spicuous amongst his assailants as having
adrawn pistol in his hand and making him
self busy in the assault generally. Tho
watch, Oh approaching the party, refused to
make the arrest, on the plea that he was
his superior in office aud this was Of itself
sufficient to direct the public suspicion
towards the police. Mr.. Gruber, before his
death, madea forua accusation against
certain individuals who, he declared. stab
bed him and abetted the stabbing. =
It was remarkable, that Of tho number Of
persons who were examined the next day.
before the Coroner's inquest. none ,ofthen
could identify any person who was engaged
in the killing, though all of them knew Mr..
Gruber, who was killed, quite WELL Sevc;
raj parties were arrested, as we'll on the dy.
ing declaration Of Mr., Gruber, as from 9th.
er suspicious circumstances, but none Of
the prisoners were sworn to oridentifed as
engaged in the murder. The inquest vas
pursued the Monday following. with little
better success; !, but towards the close Of the
examination several witnesses identified
the person who stabbed Mr.. Guber, and
others who were aiding and abctting the
assassination. There seems to have been
great laxity in OBTAINING the accused, and
want Of diligence in pushing the inquiry to
the uttermost in ferreting out this foul
murder; and It's said that through this
laxity and want Of diligence, one or moro
persons implicated have. escaped to parts
unknown. ~ III 81 ,s. 4s.jf
Up to this point the. case presents these
remarkable and suspicious features. First,
the assault upon Mr.. Gruber, without quar-.
rel or preliminary remark, by q number OF
persons who had confederated together for
that purpose, the killing being done in ono
Of the most frequented places in. the city.
Secondly, the refusal Of the. watch to take
up person engaged in the assault because
he was his superior officer. Thirdly, the
difficulty in identifying the assailants until
it was too late to arrest some of them; md
fourthly, a feeble and unsatisfactory prose.
cution Of the inquiry before the. Coroner's
inquest, showing, as was argued by many.
q conspiracy to murder the implication OF
the police ii the affair, and an indisposi-
ton on the part Of . public officer to- drive
the investigation to a conviction. Of the &C.
cused. So far the case is q bad one, and so
far we are dealing with facts. There is that
in it to awaken suspicion, to excite distrust
of the impartiality Of criminal justice, to
create apprehension Of conspiracy to dcfeat
the law, to intimidate public opinion, TO
deter the feeble from tho exercise Of the
great privilege Of citizenship-the fran.
Chise. .a .s....+z
Bad as the case, IN its naked statement,
appears, it has assumed darker hue from
what seems to be regarded as a part Of the
history Of the transaction. It is stated
: that the Coroner, in extenuation Of his IN
!. efficient prosecution of the inquest, has de-
. clared that he was hindered, or INSTRUCTED,
, OF counselled by no less q parsonage than
the Chief Magistrate Of the State-Gov.
Wells. The Star, in its Sunday issue, oil
| ludiug to sundry rumors in regard to Gov
, Wells, Of which this is one, which appear
7 ed 10 the Times OF tho day before, speaks
Of them all as ISLANDERS against his Excel
: lency. But our contemporary should pea!
in mind that If these are ISLANDERS, they did
not originate with the press, nor were they
ever alluded to by II until they were il
many mouths. Coy. Wells cannot epm
!. plain against the press as either originating
: or evineing proneness to circulate ruuiofs
, or more substantial grounds Of grievance
against him; for if he wore the triple crown
|. bis shortcomings as Executive Of the Stats
. could not have been more tenderly Or mort
: sparingly criticised. Gov. Wells stand
. ing at Washington, or his popularity here
= has nothing to do with the present matter
= But there Is that in it with which the PEG
I ple may have to 40, and with which he, q
: Governor Or citizen, may not feel dispose
|, entirely to overlook, IA public oEcg nal
r given in extenuation of his remissnE!e|sss u
! prosecute with vigor band Of assasslna
- tho ;ntnrfaranna of the Goyernor in the ~