The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1870-06-04
Murder in Vermilion Parish.

Last SUNDAY. the 2Zd INST. on pFNTe
Gregg. Vermi'inn parish. about twenty
mile. west of here. Capt John Saunders.
a wrl.-known pilot on Bayou Teche. was
btntally murdered, and Mr.. Benaj jah
Williams, an old settler in that section,
nearly seventy years Of age, was seriously
wounded, by band of men whose names
We have been unable to learn. So far As
w are able, to hear, the difficulty that
led 10 the shooting. grew out of All affida
Wit made by Mr. Williams. a year or two
ago, aca'nst some parties for hog stealing.
Ii i stated IL" know not With what truth)
that the thief: was acknowledged, and the
hogs paid for, 10 prevent prosecution. 1t
se.ns that Capt Saunders, then residing
in that vicinity, assisted in settling the
diff Guilty, tu. gained the i'll will Of these
prosecuted. No farther trouble ensured,
until "Wednesday Of last week, when some
lumber. belonging to Mr.. Hugh Stewart,
| Of this place. WHO has piece Of land
near NJ. Williams. was stolen and h-
and NJ. w. went to Abbe.ill+ and pro.
cured search warrant. hoping :" find IT.
They searched the premises Of the mr"
who had been previously chsrg-d with
the hog sies.ing, but did MT find the
lumber. The men were indignant At the
suspicion thrown upon them. and it is
stated then tried to shoot Mr.. Williams,
but wsre prevented by the expostulation
Of NJ. Stewart. T.
Last Saturday night, however. band
Of armed men went 10 Mr.. Wiil'arns store
land fred up~a,ds Of ons hnndr4d and
CIV shots into il, but fortunately injuring
no one. The foliosing dav, not having
heard Of the recent difficulties in the
neic chborhocd. Capt Saunders and Mr. II
Rabb. Of this place. vent ther. in search
81 some stock, and stopped at M. vii
ti;ams,s to rest themselves While Mr.. W
vas telling them Of the occurrence OF the
previous, night, the same party came up
when Capt. Saunders went out to mee
and pacifv them. II is stated some words
were passed about the hog difficulty. ~h1'
they knocked Capt. Saunders down w'ts
the butt Of u gun, and while down, dis
charged the contests Of a gun into hi
Ileft side, killing him instantly. Abou
this time, Mr.. Williams imprndent',
seispd .-shot gun and returned the fire
but .. it ~. loaded only with small bir'
E.hot, it seemed to do no injury. The!
then fred At NJ. Williams through Al
open window, wouuding him in the mech
and he fel! to the floor He was able t
crawl and got under . bed for protection
J but the crowd without put their gun
: through the window, and fred at him hv
: or six times, badly wounding him j
both thighs or hips.
: Meantime, NJ. Rabb made his escape
). and returned to NV Iberia. report'n
both killed, producing great excltemsn
in town. But it seem. Mr. Williams ~
a1 not hurt - badly - At 6rst supposed, an
:. homes are entertained for his, recovery
= The parties who did the shooting, remsir
: ed about for while, but finally went Q
! unmole.ted. Nj. Will,a,ns's family li'
: two or three miles from his store, and
vas some time before the catastrophe W
. made known to them. When found, NJ
Williams was crawling about the aoor.
/
= The above statement is msde upon Il
). fautbority Of = gentleman who wei
to the scene Of the disaster Sund.
!" evening. and may b. taken as reIiab'
\. although We viii rot voHch tor the trn'
or Of The origin Of the difficulty. But whs
" ever may have been the justification
ns cause gwen. it is an outrage upon 7!
9. laws Of God and man, and As such d
serves prompt punishment. We lea
that M. Williams has made afidavi
against the parties engaged in the shoe
Il ing, and that the sheriff Of Vrrmiiion al
~ ! party Of men are in pursuit Of them.
:, such scts are allowed to 60 unpnnshe
~. Il: coon there will Be no SECURITY foF ''f@
.ai property in the country. 9fs~ r. @'e
i Capt. Saunders. the masde,vd ma
was aaboat thirty y.five ysars Of sge. =
leaves 4 wife and three chiidren.-N
. I5ey;s Tixes. #o+ "4i
we II ssea at ,.a,g sTa s@