The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-05-13
A WHITE FAMILY MURDERED
BY NEGROES.

BY NEGROES.
The Perpetrators Burned at the
Stake by Negroes.
Full Particulars Of the Terrapin Neck
Tragedy.
A brief account Of the discovery Of a
murder perpetrated near Omega Landing,
on the Mississippi river, has already ap-
peared in the papers. The following terri
BILE details Of the sequel are taken from the
vicksburg Times Of the Odd:
The citizens living in the vicinity OF the
scene, including Gen. William r. Peck,
Capt. James w. Cavalier ard Mr.. George
P. Deweese, Immediately telegraphed to
this city requesting that Deputy Marshall
Resor be sent to investigate the matter,
and if possible bring the guilty parties to
Justice. Having had much experience in
matters of this nature, Captain Resor was
the very best man in the commu-
nifty who could have been selected to per-
form the required duty, and we have the
testimony Of those gentlemen whose names
we have just made use, to the effect that
he accomplished the work in most sum-
mary and thorough manner. Taking the
first boat, he proceeded to Omega landing.
within mile or two of the Neck, and
there obtained information which convinc-
ed him that the criminals had crossed over
into this State in skiff, and were making
their escape in an eastwardly direction.
Accompanied by Gen. Peck and Capt.
Cavalier, Resor crossed into Mississippi,
and by great energy and perseverance,, sue
ceeded in coming up with the fugitives on
the second day. Four negroes are sup
posed to have been implicated in the mat
ter. Two, who are yet at liberty, planned
the murder, and the two who were burnt at
the stake executed the hellish act. The
two arrested were taken singly: the first
one acknowledging his guilt at once, and
informing on his accomplice. From the
confession made by both soon after their
arrest; it would seem that Keenan,, who
sold wood to steamboats, had been singled
out as a, victim several days before the
plan was put into practical operation. The
negroes were waiting until he disposed Of.
and received the money for a lot Of wood
he had piled out on the river bank and
ready for sale. On the 18th inst passing
boat landed and took the wood. Keenan,
staid at the landing until the boat left, and
then, as he was returning to his cabin, was
shot with an old musket in the hands OF
one Of the negroes. Hastily searching
him, they discovered that he had no money
with the exception Of a single three-cent
piece. Concealing his body with leaves
and underbrush, and Infatuated at this dis
the demons then proceeded
to Keenan's house intent on completing
their work of death. At the door Of the
house they met Keenan's wife, and in an
insolent and threatening manner demanded
somethingto eat.
The woman replied that there was not
much i'll the house, but that her husband
would return in the course Of a few min
utes, and such as it was they could have a
portion. One of the negroes then remark
ed that she need not wait for her husband
that he wouldn't be there-that they
had fixed him." The woman became Sc
riously alarmed at this stage of the pro-
ceeding, feeling that she was in imminent
danger attempted to seize pistol lying on
the mantle-piece She was rudely pushed
aside by one of the fiends, while the other
with a blow from an axe he caSried
stretched her bleeding and halfdead on
the floor at their feet Attempting to
arise, another blow almost severed hei
head from the trunk Of her body, and she
felt back a second time, her head in the fire
blazing ON the hearth. The oldest child, q
boy some ten years Of age, stepped into the
house at this time, and seeing the position
Of his mother, ran toward to extricate her
from her apparently painful situation
when the ak was again raised, and the boy
sank beside his mother, killed at blow
The second child, a girl some years youn
ger than the boy, was sleeping in a bed
and being awakened by the noise, began tc
cry and call for its mother. To have treat
ed it as they did the boy, would have beer
an act of mercy! They set the bed on fire
and, binding the child on it, burned he1
alive! These are the facts of the murder
They are too revolving to dwell on a single
moment longer than is positively necessary
The arrestiDg party secured the prisoners
and on the following day, the 10th, deliv
cred them to the proper civil authorities a
Omega Landing. Having contested thei1
guilt, and waving an examination, Judge
holland committed them for trial and plac
ed them in the hands of his constable, te
be conveyed to the parish seat for impris
onment. The constable took them il
charge and started on his journey, but hat
only gotten short distance, when Grove
of negroes overlook him, demanded, an(
then took forcible possession Of the muir
derers, and building a huge fire, deliberatel,
burnt them at the stake! Both met thei
fate without protest or expostulation, ant
were apparently convinced that they fully
merited the terrible death which they final
" suffered. While the burning was il
progress, and thinking to prevent con
tinuance Of such horrible scenes, Gen. Peel
and Capt. Cavalier rode up to the Grove
and ordered them to desist, but the negroes
engaged refused to comply with the order
saying that the murderers should be burn
then and there. It is more than probabi,
that the two negroes who are supposed tt
be implicated in the murder, will be arrest
ed in the course ola very few days. As
suredly the avenging angel is sometimes
swift in the work of retribution.
~ It turns out that Conway, say
the New Orleans Times, the clerica
carpet-bagger and calumniator of oul
city and people, who claims to hav'
been elected Superintendent Of Educa
ton in the State, as ineligible legal.
and politically as well as morally. HI
affords, in his own case, striking ex
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