The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-10-12
(From the New Orleans Times. Oct. /


From the New Orleans Times Oct. IL
Near the township of WadesbOrough,
two and half miles from POntchat0u-
la, there have resided for the past few
months the family of Judge Hiestand,
consisting of the judge, his wife,
two daughters named Ella and Lois,
and son, Willie. They are well known
and respectfully connected in this city,
and possessed of some means. Of
course, in their country home all We're
regarded by their neighbors with honor
and respect. For some time past a
gentleman named J. II. Collins has
been visiting the house on terms of the
closest friendship, and it was supposed
he designed marrying Miss Ella, the
eldest daughter, who is described as
having been beautiful blonde, with
sunny hair and rich brown eyes, pos
sessed of many accomplishments. Sew
eral months ago, however, symptoms of
approaching pregnancy was visible to
the eyes of the servants and others, but
as the young lady was kept strictly con-
fined to the house the matter was kept
secret.
THE. YOUNG LADY
was also closely watched, though from
what it is now known, it is supposed
the mother and others of the family
were fully cognizant Of her shame.
On the evening of the 10Th, Miss Ella,
in company with her mother, Mrs. Heis-
tand, entered a private room, and short
! ly afterwards the young lady died. She
was Immediately inferred by the faTni-
ly, assisted by Collins and q few init
mate friends, and it was stated by them
that she had died Of cranp, which was
caused by eating lake shrimps. The
suspicious of several parties in the
neighborhood however being aroused,
it was surmised that
-. ABORTION AND MURDER
had been committed. Owing, however,
| to the influence of the family no steps
| were taken in the matter, and the sus.
| piciOns increasing, information was
finally telegraphed to the chief of pO-
lice, General Badger Of this city, to the
effect that young lady had been fOully
dealt with, and requesting that @ de-
tective be sent to tOinvestigate the matter
| Gen. Badger detailed for the task
l. pETEeT1yR JERRY DONOVAN,
who proceeded Immediately to POncha.
toula. Here he at once set to work
and after q conversation with the
lneighbOrs felt convinced that terrible
crime had actually been committed
! Disgusting his real occupation, he SCI
to work, eliciting, as he asserts, the fac
that Collins had been in the habit o.
being much alone with Miss Ella Heis
4 ltand, and that on more than one Occa
sion her conduct was quite imprudent
to say the least; This information wa
| received from q German employed
about the premises, who also stated tha
Young Jimmie Davidson might tel
more if he desired, From that gentle
man the officer learned that on reeen
trip to the city he had been requested
by Mr.. Collins to purchase for hin
some ergot of rye for the purpose 0
! committing an abortion. 1t was statet
by servants and others that Miss Elk
had been for several months eRcejRte
:: and that Immediately after her dealt
: this fact was not apparent. The con
dition of her bed clothing, found con
cealed upon the premises, indicates
the commission of the crime with tn
exercise of unusualviolence The1noth
{ er was tue only person In the room wit
her Immediately before and after he
: death.
Mr.. Collins, as soon as it occurred
, started for New Orleans, from where h
! returned with a coffin, in which, tn
dead body was placed and she wa
! hurled, without ceremony or lnvestiga
/ ton. It was also stated by a negro
, that murder Ind been committed o
a child, whose body had been throw
: into swamp. -..... .........
With these facts in his possession
Detective Donovan at once
! DENOUNCED THE MURDERERs
|, And placed under arrest all the partie
: who were present in the house at tn
!, time of the victims death. Here, how
ever, he was met By an unexpected OF
: staele in the authorities, who refused
act in the matter, all c8ntending ths
! the family were above suspicion.
I He called a Justice of the Peace, Al
Q ers of Fangipahoa, and requested hil
9 to have the body exhumed and a POI
! mortem made, as the coroner of th
" parish was dead. Justice Akers how
ever, replied that he was convinced thu
all was right, and the cause of suspicio
was only prejudice, and refused to tai
any steps in the matter. Deteetiv
i. Donovan however,
NOT TO BE BAFFLED,
telegraphed to the District Attorney