The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-10-12

also tclcgraphcd for DR.. Cooper of this !
city, and all of the parties arrived on |
the 25th, when a jury was summoned !
and the body eXhumed. In the mean |
time such was the inaction Of the au-
thorities that the
MOTHER AND SISTER
of the victim had escaped to the city,
where they were telegruphed for and
arrested.
At TIE POST MORTEM
it was discovered that an abortion Of
the worst possible character had been
committed, the unfortunate girl having
been almost literally torn to pieces,
and death had come to her relief al
most instantly. Indignation among the
citizens ran high, and threats were made
to
LYNCH
the parties accused of SO tiendish
crime, but the wiser cOunsels of more
conservative citizens prevailed, and the
case was allowed to take its course.
THE CoRONER's JURY
summoned consisted Of Messrs. VIM.
Morse, II. Tunnage and +. W. Well
hauser, who are amongst the mostprom-
inent citizens of the place, ably assisted
by COrOner Z. w. Facunders, 10y whom
an inquest was held.
At this inquest abouttWenty witnesses
were examined, amongst whom were
the servants about the house, and seve-
raj married ladies. A colOred man,
named
SCOTT,
c4o+o1 4Io+ 1o ,,-ae, o,,o,1o,.o1 o1o,,4 ~
premises and helped dig the grave of
the deceased. His mother washed and
dressed the deceased, and found her
covered with blood, which, in her 0pin-
ion, was caused by abortion.
Several other witnesses, married Ia
dies. were examined, who Sw0re that
the deceased, just before her death, was
far advanced in pregnancy, and that
Immediately afterwards such appear
ances had disappeared. A German,
| named
CHRISTIAN sHOSIAKER,
had detected Collins and Miss Ella
Hiestand in tagrGntc detict0. He also
stated that Miss Ella often cried very
much, and that she was badly treated
by the rest of the family, owing to her
condition.
MRS. GROsJEAN
swOre that she had heen the cOnfddntt
of Miss Ella, who had often stated that
she loved Collins dearly, while, on the
other side, Collins said he never would
marry Miss Ella, because she didn't
suit his style.
The principal witness, however was
young ............
JIMMIE DAVIDSON,
who having been arrested us accessory
before the fact, turned States evidence
His testimony is as follows:
MY nameis james III. Davidson, and
l reside in New Orleans. am 30 years
of age. / knew Miss Ella Hiestand; or
or about the 18th day of August last, Mr.
John Collins, knowing that was gOins
to New Orleans, askedme if wOuld try
and procure him bOttleof " ergOt." H
said he wanted it to procure an abortion
stating he had got girl pregnant
When came to New Orleans / triet
several places withoutsuccess, butfnal
" procured some at the drug store o
Mr.. Curtis, corner of CarOnielet anC
Triton Walk streets. When I arrives
at Tangipahua | handed it to Collins
He slapped me on the back and said
Davidson, old boy, am glad of it, fo
| am in trouble: | asked him what wa
cup" He, said, "my eyes, don't yo
see?n He then told me there were onl
three persons who knew of it, and the
were himself, Mrs. Hiestand and myself
) and he said do not intend to do an
work until next week, when Miss Watt
and Lois were going to Amite to stay
and the coast would be clear to wor
while they were gone. Going to Ne'
Orleans; returned on the 3D. of Sgptem
ber; when in company with Messrt
Hunter and Rollins, Invent fishing. W
. passed by Mrs. Hiestand's, and notice
the room which was occupied by her tn
; the one occupied by Mr.. Collins, locked
did not know whether the door be
tween the two was open or not. | saI
Aunt Cinta (cOlOr'd) washing in the yar(
: She said the folks had gone fishing
= thought Mrs. Hiestand acknowledge
= to me that night that only the men ha
= gone fishing while Miss Ella and herse
= remained in the house. Mr.. Hunter sait
' let's stay while, but refused to sta,
: I told Hunter that I had brought med
:. cine from New Orleans, and for whs
purpose, at the request of Mr.. Collin
/ was at the house on the. 4th of Senten
ber. and again, on the Tth, when COlliI
: told me that the thing had no effect, b.
!, cause he believed Miss Ella too far gOn
l 4
e back on Monday, the 10th. I saw Nj
|. Collins and Miss Lois at the depot. Co
{ Inns told me Ella was sick. When W
{ got into Il buggy he said she had bee
/ eating lake shrimps, which gave her IL
+ collie. / went to the house with then
= and sat on the gallery. While the
t, Mrs. Heistand came ont and said : Ket
$ very quiet. Mr.. Collins then came Ol
d and asked me if he could trust DR., Moor
Z stating that Miss Ella was cold mp to h
IL knees. Il said he could trust DIR. Moo
y with his life, He tllsn returned into tt
it hOuse and went into the parlOr with Mi
q Lois, Mrs. Hiestand then went into Il
n room with Miss Ella, and did not con
# out again. After a while / heard
u MISS ELLA GRoAE, --
J and presently Collins came out Of Il
h room, very much excited. He lOokt
/. around for his shoes and said:
IL ISIS Is DEAD, AND / AN LOST
d He then wentinto the pasture and sal
e / am in heap of trouble; if this is fOul
l. out on me they will kill me, and t
IL Gods sake stand by me. Lois then can
II out and said Sis was dead and asked Il
1, daavoret1 to get a coffin from the neig
le bors, but owing to sickness they we
le unable to furnish one. Mr.. Collins tn
Is said he was ruined, and if he had mon
= = HE WOULD LEAVE THE COUNTRY;
N N and that he was very sorry for what
II had done. / saw the corps myself b
fore it was washed, it was covered wi
n. red clothes. Mr.. Collins and myst
then brought it into the parlor and Ia
it out. Mr.. Collins then at once start
n
es Judge Heistand, Mr.. and Miss Z. Pae
Ie who hrnnUht with them q coffin. NJ