New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-23
TRACFDY IN BIENyILLE.
Two Men KiIIed-TwO COlOred Men Dan.
EerOusIy Wounded.
From the Claiborne Advocate

From the Claiborne Advocated
From General John Young, of the Homer
bar, we learn that the pleasant and thriving
town of Arcadia, in the parish of Bienville,
was the scene, on Monday evening last, of
a shocking occurrence which resulted
eventually in the death of two men and
the fight Of another, all heads of families.
About shutdown on that day several men
were engaged in a game of cards in Mr.
ScOggins' drinking saloon. Among them
were Mr.. Norman Martin, Mr.. Thomas Lee
and Mr.. Thomas Sutton. A dispute arose,
about some trihing matter in regard to the
game, between Mr.. Martin and Mr.. Sutton
in which the lie was passed, and Mr.. Sutton
drew pOcket-knife and Mr.. Martin raised
a chair. In the rencontre which ensued
Sutton stabbed Martin in the abdomen, in
fiicting a wound which, in spite of the best
medical treatment, produced death on
Wednesday morning.
Mr.. Sutton was arrested that night, and
the next morning Mr.. Lee was also arrested
as an accessory. The constable had the
two men guarded, but in an exceedingly
loose, irregular and reprehensible manner,
by two young men, as the sequel too fatal
" proved.
Judge Head being absent from the parish,
on Tuesday Judge Egan was sent for to in
vestigate the charges, but did not receive
word in time to reach Arcadia till Wednes-
day morning. On Tuesday evening Lee
expressed desire to go home for some pur-
pose, probably to spend the night.
The constable acceded to his request and
sent with him as a guard a young man
named Englet They had not gone far
until Lee ran and Englet shot at him twice,
missing him both times. Englet returned
to Arcadia, obtained another gun and pur-
sued Lee again, but did not Overtake him
until after the latter reached home.
When Lee had arrived home he came
running through the field. His wife. a
most estimable lady, whose clear, lucid and
impartial narration of the facts in Englet's
trial, gwen under very trying circum-
stances, drew forth the admiration OF every
one present, not knowing anything OF his
arrest, was alarmed, and inquired what
was the matter. Lee made some reply,
went Immediately into the house, got
his gun, removed the caps from
the tubes, and started to get fresh
caps. His wife seized the box poured the
caps in her hand and would not let him
have them About this time some of the
children remarked that a man was coming
with a gun, and Englet appeared at the
gate. Lee stepped to the door and pointed
his gun and Englet leveled his. Mrs. Lee
told Englet not to shoot as Lees gun was
not capped. Englet, however not hearing
or suppOsing she might be mistaken fired,
lodging the charge in his face and head and
the latter fell dead.
Mrs. Lee asked Englet what her husband
had done that caused his being shot he
replied nothing but that he (Englet) had
been appointed to guard him. Englet at
once returned to Arcadia, about a mile and
a half from Lees house, told what he had
done, and placed himself in the custody of
a justice of the peace. He was examined
before his Honor Judge Eagan, and, of
course discharged, as under the law he was
clearly justifable.
On Wednesday morning Mr. Sutton, hear
ing that Mr.. Martin had died, left for parts
unknown The families of these men are
plunged in the deepest distress. Martin,
whose loss is universally regretted, was
raised in this parish, and was a man of
lofty, noble impulses Gentle in his man
ners as a child, but brave as a lion, he was
true as friend and generous as an enemy.
he leaves a widow and five small children.
Mr.. Lee also left quite large family. May
He who tempers the wind to the shOrn lamb
comfort these afflicted families.
On the ninth instant, at the premises of
Mr.. Brice, not far from Arcadia, two freed |
men had an alteration about counting in a
game of seven-up. One stuck a knife in |
5he other, and the other rejOined with a |
blow of an AK, which split down the shout |
Ter blade of his antagonist about six |
inches.