The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02

MURDER.-On yesterday week, a
most deplOrable Tragedy took place at
TerrehOne Station of Morgan's Texas
and Louisiana Railroad, three miles
south Of this town.
The accounts are conflicting in detail
but from the various statements we
think that the following is very nearly
correct.
Sanders Evans, whose father is mana-
ger on the Cragin plantation on which
this station is situated, and William
Evans, his cousin, both young men of
20 to 25 years of age were playing cards
in the coffee house of Mr.. Adam, with a
railroad employee, of the name of
Welsh, during which game some dis
putes arose.
About 4 o'clock P. NJ. the cards were
laid aside, and Sanders Evans and
Welsh began a game of billiards and,
in q few minutes the game of carOming
on the balls was changed to carOms on
one anOther's heads. Welsh gave Evans
| a severe lick Over the forehead, cutting
! a pretty ugly cash and causing blood to
flow pretty freely. The fight having
ceased for a moment, Adam advised
| Welsh to save himself otherwise he
would be killed.
Welsh then ran about 100 yards to the
railroad depot, followed by the two
Evans, and took refuge under that
building. Here some efforts were made
by witnesses to arrest the trouble with
out avail. Sanders then commenced
throwing bricks and other missiles at
Welsh, and told his cousin to &c to the
coffee house and get his pistols which
were left in his coat.
Welsh, then, went out from beneath
the Depot and ran towards Cragin's SUI
gar house. William Evans returned.
and gave his pistols to his cousin and
seeing Welsh escaping, took after him,
pursuing around Cragin's dwelling.
into the public road on Bayou Terre-
bonnie, whilst Sanders ran around the
opposite way and followed down the
road.
About one mile from the Depot Will
liam overlook Welsh and commenced
assaulting him, when Welsh struck and
badly cut his assailant in the side. By
the time Sanders reached the spot
Welsh had either fallen Or been knocked
down, but not withstanding this fact
and regardless of his appeals for mercy
which he had been making all the time,
Sanders deliberately shot three balls
into his breast and one into his shoulder,
killing him instantly.
Sanders then returned into his Faith
er's house. By this time a considerable
crowd of men had gathered around and
accompanied the cOnstable-a negro-tO
secure his arrest. When the door was
finally forced Sanders shot the constable
in the leg. (Sanders says, we believe,
} that he did not know that it was a con-
; stable but presumed him to be the
: leader of q mob.) Threats were then
/ made to fire the house, but through the
earnest appeals of his aged and excel
lent father, Sanders surrendered him.
' self aud was brought to Thibodaux and
confined in the Parish Prison. VIM,
I Evans is badly but not mortally injured
7 and is under treatment at his uncle's
for the present.
Welsh was placed in q coffin and re,
manned at the depot until next evening
: when no 0ne appearing to claim his re.
mains, he was buried in the vicinity.
y When are these bloody deeds to cease
Is it not time that our Laws were made
to have some influence? Such bloody
= deeds should have an immediate trial
All other processes should give way fOl
such a purpose. If these men deserv,
punishment they should have it in les
n than ten days. If not they should h,
set at l~iberty-until such deeds mr.
brought to swift tlial we can hope fOI
j. nothing but blood and murder to- be riff
is in the land.
Is On Saturday Sanders Evans was re
d moved to Houma for trial.-[Thibodau
Sentinel July 26th,