New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-14
THE VIGILANTES.



From the New Iberia Sugar Bowl, September Ill
The troubles which we last week antici-
pated would occur between the citizens OF
Vermlion parish and the horde Of cattle
thieves that infest that region have at last
broken out with terrible violence. The
committee, urged to desperation by the
cool audacity Of the robbers, have given
vent to their long pent up feelings of
indignation, and commenced the work Of
| retributive justice. Up to writing soHle
twelve of the gang have been swung up.
Our streets are full Of vagne and exag-
gerated rumOrs concerning the operations
OF the vigilance committee, the number exc
cuted, etc, and it is next to impossi-
bic to obtain a correct detailed ac-
count of the extent of the troubles. From
the best sources at hand we elicit the fol
lowing information:
delegation of citizens from Abbeville
had called upon Governor Kellogg, with
view of laying the facts of the case before
him, and ascertaining their course of action
in the matter. The Governor told them. it
is said, to 60 on and do whatever the ext
gencies of tie case seemed to require.
Armed with this permission, they pro-
ceeded at once to seize and hang three or
four of the worst characters-among them
two sons Of ex-Sheriff Lege. A prisoner
was taken out of Jail and shared the same
fate; a butcher was seized and executed.
Persons who came from Abbeville 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 committee
were securing the country IN scale 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 hanging com
menced, On their way to the bay. One OF
them is said to have thrown his saddle into
the bay and turned his horse loose upon
arriving there, preparatory to making his
way to the city. He was, however, tele-
graphed for and arrested. On Tuesday
evening a man named PagnOl was hung.
The up boat was boarded this Thursday
morning while at Jeanerette by party VI
fifteen or twenty men, armed with shot
guns, Gnd prisoner on board. supposed to
be the one arrested at Brashear, fOrcibly
abducted. Parties who afterward met this
same crowd declare the prisoner was not
then in their possession. This morning he
is said to be on = tree Gear DR.. Dungan's
plantation.
The foregoing are che only details we
have been able to gather in regard to this
fearful affair which may be considered at
all reliable. 1t is not known here how
many thieves have been executed up to this
number down at twelve. We go to press
without having further details of any note.
ITrom the vermilionville Cotton Boil, tenth
During the past four days the vigilance
committee of Vermilion parish has been
hard at work. Various reports reach us,
but most Of them can not be credited. One
gentleman, Just from the scene OF action,
brought the news that sixteen thieves had
been hung and five shot, and that the vigi-
lantes were in hot pursuit of others. Last
night, however, we had the pleasure OF
meeting a gentleman on our streets, whom
we strongly suspect of knowing something
of the affair, who tells us thas up to Mon
day night only seven men had been killed
six hung and one shOt-and two of those
we're negroes. The names of Che killed
are Demostin Lege, Neville Castro,
Alexander Legeo Jr., Sreal Lege, -
Meaux, Edmore, colored, Polite, colOred.
The vigilance committee is still ae work,
and has about 125 men enrolled. These
men are divided into companies and scat
tered over the entire parish, and are scOur-
ing every nook and corner, determined to
rid the parish of the band OF thieves who,
for so many years, have robbed the citizens
and kept out immigration.
The parish that las to resort 90 lynch Jaw
20 protect the liberty of its citizens il TO be
pitied, but if the worst must come let every
man do his duty. However. we do not be-
lieve in showing o man Oft into eternity
without giving him at least % chance for his
life, and think it would be nothing more
than honorable and right for the citizens to
give notice 20 such characters as they wish
to get rid of that unless they leave the
country within a given nuDbey Of days.
their necks will be in danger.
.FEors ths Attakapas (Frankln! Register. Septee-
Der l2
We received the following dispatch on
tuesdays
EDITOR REGIsTER-Thc vigilance COM
inittee of the parish Of VermiliOn captured
four cattle thieves Oh Saturday night.
They were lyHched immediately-tw0w white
and two colOred men. The white men con.
fessed that the whole band numbered TWEEN
.y-toI:o > WAX EFiE.l.D.