New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-31
9eiv 0rlea,ss &epnbliea,s.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF the UNITED STATES.
kFEMl JOURNAL Of THE CITY0F NEW ORLEANS
OUTLAWS IN vERMILI0N PARISH
Brutal Murder and Outrage
SEQUEL TO HOG STEALING

We copy the following from the Ne
Iberia Times of the twenty.eighth instan,
Last Sunday, the twehty-second instant
ON prairie Gregg, Vermilion parish, abou
twenty miles west of here, Captain Johl
Saunders. a wellknown pilot on Bayo
Teche, was brutally murdered, and MI
Benalah Williams, an old settler in that sec
ton, nearly seventy years of age, was sc
fiously wounded, by band of men, who's
names we have been unable to learn. 81
far as we are able to hear, the difficulty tina
led to the shooting grew out of an affidavit
made by Mr.. Williams year or two age
against some parties for hog stealing. Il
is stated, we know not with what truth,
that the theft was acknowledged, and the
hogs paid for to prevent prosecution.
It seems that Captain Saunders, then re-
siding in that vicinity, assisted in settling
the difficulty, but gained the ilLwill Of
sued until Wednesday of last week, when
some lumber, belonging to Mr.. Hugh Stew.
art, of this place, who has a piece of land
near Mr.. Williams was stolen and he and
Mr.. Williams went to Abbeville and procured
. search-warrant, hoping to find it. They
searched the premises of the men who had
been previously charged with hog-stealing,
but did not find the lumber. The men were
indignant at the suspicion thrown upon
them, and it is stated then tried to shoot
Mr.. Williams, but were prevented by the
exp0stulation of Mr.. Stewart.
Last Saturday night, however, a band of
armed men went to Mr.. Williams store and
fired upward of one hundred and fifty shots
into it, but fortunately injuring no one. The
cent difficulties in the neighborhood, Cap
tain Saunders and Mr.. H. Rabb, of this
place, went there in search of some stock,
and stopped at Mr.. Williams to rest them.
selves. While Mr.. Williams was telling them
OF the occurrence of the previous night the
same party came up, when Captain Saunders
went out to meet and pacify them.
1t is stated some words were passed about
the hog difficulty. when they knocked Cap.
tain Saunders down with the but of gun,
and while down, discharged the contents of
gun into his left side, killing him instantly.
About this time Mr.. Williams imprudently
seized shot gun and returned the fire, but
- it was loaded. only with small bird shot,
it seemed to do no injury. They then fred
1t Mr.. Williams through an open window,
woundiDg him in the neck, and he fell to the |
foor. He was able to crawl, and got under |
, bed for protection, but the crowd without |
put their guns through tho window and |
fred at him five or six times, badly wound. |
ing him in both thighs and hips.
Meantime. Mr.. Rabb made his escape, and |
returned to New Iberia, reporting both |
aAACus PAOuuCIu6 BISdt cACltcucut III COWQ.
But 1t seems Mr.. Williams was not hurt as
badly as at first supposed, >snd hopes are en-.
tertained for his recovery. The parties who
did the shooting remained about for awhile,
but finally went off unnolested. Mr.. Viii.
!iams's family live two or three miles from
bis store, and it was some time before the
catastrophe was made known to them.
When found, Mr.. Williams was crawling
about the floor.
The above statement is made upon the au.
Ehority Of a gentleman who went to the scene
of the disaster Sunday evening, and may be
AIKEN as reliable, although we will not
Vouch for the truth of the origin of the diff.
;ulty. That whatever may have been the
Justification or cause given. it is an outrage
lpon the laws of God and man, and as such
deserves prompt punishment. We learn
hat Mr.. Williams has made affidavit against
he parties engaged in the shooting, and
hat the Sheriff OF Vermilion and party of
men are in pursuit oftbem. If such acts are
'llowed to go unpublished, soon there will
'e no security for life and property in the
ountry.
Captain Saunders, the murdered man, was
bout thirty.fve years of age, and leaves a
rife and three children.