Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-04
The Xigilantes.
TWELVE THIEVES HUNG IN FRANKLIN PAR
IsH-GREAT ExCrrEsfENT AT ABBEvILLE.


[From the New Iberia Shgar-Bowl, Sop
TENDER III
The troubles which we last week afitici-
pated would occur between the citizens Of 4
Vermillion parish and the horde of cattle
thieves that infest that region have at bet
broken ont with terrible violence. The
committee, urged to desperation ~ the
cool audacity Of the robbers, have given
vent to their long pent up feelinggcfin-
dignation, and commenced the 'vorE OF ne
tributive Justice. Up to writing some
twelve of the gang have been swung mp.
Our streets are full of vague and exag-
gerated rumors concerning the operations
of the vigilance committee, the number
executed, ETC., and it is next to impossible
| to obtain, correct detailed account Of tho
extent of the troubles. From the bert
sources at hand we elicit the following in
formation:
A delegation Of citizens from Abbeville,
had called upon Governor Kellogg, with
view Of laying the facts of the case before
him, aud asccrtaining their course Of action
in the matter. Tn. Governor told them, ~
is said, to go on aud dewhatever the exi'
gencies of the case seemed to reqbire'
Armed with this permission, they pro-
ceedcd at once to seize and hang threc or
four of the worst characters-among them
two sons Of ex-Sheriff Lege. A prisoner
was taken ont of Jail and shared the SANE
fate: butcher was seized and executod'
Persons who came frcsa Abbcville last Mon
day testify to having seen three or four
bodies swinging from trees in the neighbor-
hood. The most intense excitement pre-
walls and the members of the committees
, were securing the country in search Of the
spotted individuals, and hanging them
as fast as caught. Two of the leading
! thieves are known to have passed New
. Iberia on Sunday, the day after the hang
7 ing commenced, on their way to the bay.
l. One of them is said to have thrown nn
saddle into the bay and turned bis nozss
loose upon arriving there, preparatory y
making his way to the city. He was, now
: ever. photographed for and arrested. W
: Tuesday evening man named Pagnol VA
y hung
The mp boat was boarded this (1hursday
q morning while at Jeanerette by party q
!, fifteen or twenty men, armed with shot
a guns, and prisoner on board, supposed =
le be the one arrested at Brashear, forctbt,
abducted. Parties who afterward met thi
N same crowd declare the prisoner was ne
- then in their possession. This morning y
20 Is said to be ON tree near DR.. Dunganl
!. plantation. So.
~ The foregoing are the only details ~
=, have been able to gather in regard 70 tnl:
oe fearful affair which may be considsrea .
y, all reliable. 1t Is not known here how ~
- - ny thieves have been executed up 70 q.
70 time. The most reasonable reports pa
"a the number down at twelve. We 20 =
re press without having further details Of ~
~ note.
- From the vermillionviile Cotton-Bol, w.
" l Il. he ui0iImMU
committee of Vermillion parish hae
hard at work. Various reports resch 2
e. but most of them can not be credited
gentleman, Just from the scene Of -
brought the news that sixteen thieves
he been hung and FIVE shot, and thattse ~
"a lantes were in hot pursuit Of othefh
At night, however, We had the PIE -
m meeting q gentleman on our streeo 49,
"a we strongly suspect of Knowing sone ss..'
ar of the affair, who tells us that up ~
mi day night only seven men had ben - ~,
-. IT, six hung and one shot-and twoos . =.
So were negroes. The names of the kinee
e o,t Demostin Lego, Neville Castro, Ai eessss
i - LeQe, Jr., Oreal Lege, - Meaux, n
;na coiored, Polite, colored. .,s
t.s The vigilance committee y gill -
luz and has about l25 men enrolled. ~
~ men are divided into companies ana -,
nm, tered over the entire parish, ana sIV "a
'. II. ing every nook and corner, determS ~
70 rid the parish of the band Of tn,ev s;t;.su
a@ 81 for 90 many years, have robbed the o'''>
rac. and kept out immigration. ,.h Il,
4 The parish that has TO resort 70 yI.t "
to protect the liberty Of its citizen, =. = M
=. pitied, but il the worst must come ie ~
~ man do his duty. However, we 90 s ~
mn lieve in showing man On in.S - (
'on' without giving him At least . ens'~
49, hi. life, and think il would be Doss =,
more than honorable and right for tne =,
1 % to give notice to :uch chaI ,.ss b
ron. thew w,sh to get rid Of that unless sr =
I ~ issya the country within given nu~'
y Of days, their nccks will be in danger