The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-05-03
A Horrible Murder.

We copy the following from the
West Baton Rouge Sugar Planter.
On Monday night last, or early
Tuesday morning, pedler, evidently
a German, was attacked by four ne
groes in front Of the old Soniat planta-
ton, about mile and q half below
the ferry landing, aud brutally mur-
dercd. One of the hands employed
on the plantation going to the river
early in the morning to put out a fish
line, discovered the body lying in the
water, near the bank, where it had
been thrown by the murderers after
committing the horrible crime. The
alarm was Immediately given and
search made to discover the authors
of a deed so terrible, but, for a time,
without success, az there was no clue
to direct the officers Of justice. Be-
tween seven and eight O'Clock, a negro
named George Harris, alias Spot, or
Spotted George, offered for sale at the
ferry landing gold ring at SO low a
price as to excite suspicion, which
was increased when stains Of blood
were discovered upon 1t. An attempt
was then made to arrest him, but it
proved an Intellectual task owing to
his herculean size and strength, and
for the time being he escaped. The
hue and cry was then raised and a
large body of citizens, white and col
oret, started in pursuit and succeeded
i'll capturing him about dark, bnt only
after Il desperate struggle. He then
confessed the crime and gave the
names Of his accomplices, who were
John Pernel, John Allen and Miles
Whiting, all colored, the first two
named and himself having just been
released from the Penitentiary. They
attacked their victim with clubs, beat
ing him over the head, fracturing the
skull and infiicting a heavy cash upon
one Of the cheeks, and when life had
disappeared, they rifed the body and
threw it into the river where it was
found as described above. The i'm
pndence and audacity Of the man
Harris almost surpass belief. After
plundering the body of the pedler and
taking possession of his goods, he
offered part of the booty for sale
within short distance of the scene Of
his crime, and when the first attempt
was made to arrest him he was at the
ferry landing sitting on bag contain
ing a portion of the murdered mans
goods, quietly awaiting the arrival of
the ferryboat to cross to the opposite
side Of the river when summoned to
surrender, he defantly replied to
shoot and be d-d!" although he
made off with considerable alacritv.
During the night he committed suicide
and verdict was returned in accord
ance with the facts by the Coroner's
jury. John Purnel was captured dur
ing Wednesday night, and we have
reason to believe the other two will
not long remain outside of prison
walls.
Up to the time of going to press
yesterday, we had not been able to
learn the murdered mans name Or
last place of residence. On the body
was found memorandum book, con-
tanning entries Of his expenses and a
dairy Of his daily travels written III
Hebrew characters, but nothing even
to give clue to the information de-
sired. The body was taken in charge
by the Hebrew Benevolent Associa-
tion of Baton Rouge and by them de-
Gently inferred in their burial grounds
of that city. The victim is described
as man Of about 5 feet 10 inches
high, rather stout built, lightmustache
and imperial, brown hair, a spot Oh
scar on left-side of chin, and about
from 25 to 30 years of age. Had on q
white shirt with black stripes, a dark
sack coat, dark striped pants, black
vest, old patched congress CATERS, ne
socks, and black felt hat.
Thus we are compelled to recore
another horrid murder in our parish
u parish which for years past, ha:
maintained reputation for goot
l order and trannuility second to IL