New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-14
An Assassin is Drained by his Intended
Victim.

Several days ago or small Island known
as Ronquilio Isle. lying near and being
portion of the south coast of Plaquemines
parish, a fisherman, who was called John
Barbe Rouge, or John Red Beard, was shot
and then Drained by d man named Jean
Baptiste Clements.
Both Of these men were natives OF
France, and both were fishermen. besides
being engaged in the oyster trade. Gle
men.s had been residing on this little
island for twenty-five or thirty years, and
was respected by all who kaew him as an
honest and industrious man. Himself and
family were the only inhabitants of the
island. He is domiciled in a comfortable
house. situated in the midst of a number OF
live oak trees, and surrounded by flowers
and shubbery and well cultivated garden.
John Red Beard, so called because he
wore heavy sun-burned or foxy whisker,
| had been living with Clements IN the ca
| racity Of fisherman for eight or nine years,
| and by " hCm he was treated with marked
| kindness. Clements. as well as others,
| always regarded him as being somewhat
| silly headed, though he was quiet and in
| dustrious. displaying no violent temper at
| any time. He wanted for nothing. and re-
| ceived money whenever be asked for it,
| though II is stated he seldom cared about
| money.
| About three years ago. Red Beard, who
1
| in good circumstances, was informed that
| they had sent him sum OF money amount
| in ~ to $500. and that it had been received
| by Mr. JuseDn David, the we'll known gro
| Ger, on Old Levee street, New Orleans, to
| whose care it had been forwarded. When
| learning of this fact he said he didn't want
tle money, and was not going to have any.
thing to do with il. Not long after receiv-
ing this information, Red Beard and Glenn
ents went to the city, and while there,
we're in the store of MIR. David, who dellv-
cred the money received from France to
Red Beard. Red Beard took it, and at
once offered it to Clements saying that he
did not want il. Clements refused to touch
it: when Red Beard urged its acceptance
az a ftee.hearted gift, saying that he had
always been treated as brother by Glenn
ents. who had given him al the comforts
OF good homo when he had none; that ne
was grateful for his kindness, and that II
| Clements did not take the money ne would
destroy it. Clements still refused, stating
that ne had plenty OF money, ana teihng
Red Beard that ne was acting foollshiy.
The latter, however, was so urgent about
the matter, that Mr.. David advised Glenn
ents to take it, which he finally did.
| AS stated. this was about three years
ago. During that time until recently, Red
Beard never said anything about the
money, and appeared to have forgotten all
|
Beard went to Clements and asked him
for a sail boat or lugger as he wished to go
| 70 the city. The lugger was loaned TO MN,
and he was told at the same time to I'LL 1t
with oysters from the oyster bed, so he
could sell them in the city, and thus have
some pocket change. This he did. He was
absent several days; and when he re-
turned he looked sullen. Shortly after TINS
return he abruptly asked Clements to give
him back the 500, who told him he did
| not have the money; THAT he had given
him the money and it was spent long ago:
| Red Beard, whose whole nature seemed
/ lchanged. became furious. Finally, Glenn
ents produced 500, and offered the
amount to the fellow, who refused to take
it, saying if he did take it he would give II
| to a Sicilian to kill Clements. He then
threatened never to rest until be killed not
only Clements, but every member OF hAs
| family. After leaving he made these threats
| everywhere and bought pistol in the city,
with which he said he would execute his
murderous intention. He also said while
making these threats that some OF his
| friends in the city convinced hlm that ne
| was a fool for not keeping that money and
| setting up in business for himself, and that
, | the best thing he could do was to go and
| get il at any hazard; aud that he had been
! swndled out Of it. Under these lnstlga-
| tions his whole nature underwent change.
He ceased working and wandered from
, | place to place, and wherever he went
talked of assassination. His features, oe,
tore quiet if not pleasant, grew haggard
and tiendish.
The friends of Clements advised him to
be on his guard, as Red Beard was a dan
gerous man, and had become demon:
Clements then purchased himself pistol
and put i. on shelfin his house.
On the evening of the fatal encounter,
! IN I,vor ,y,h hJo c Gl4nvpl
| with arms folded across his breast, at the
window, enjoying the fresh south breeze
coming over the Gulf. 1t was almost dark,
many stars already sparkling in the pansy,
| tinted sky! His mother, an aged woman, had
lighted the lamp, and was seated near a
table on which it burned in the same room,
with three or four of her son s little chlloren
prattliDg around her knees-thelr ny noi
| being absent on visit a POlnte- ala -Hache.
Nothing was heard outside but the rustic IN
| the folia ge of the live oaks stirred by the
wind and the clatter OF the trampllng
waters on the sandy beach not tar distant.
Just at that moment startled bird, fright
| ened and chattering, HeW from lts roost III
| an orange bush standing near the Wlnho",
! quickly followed by the sharp crack OF a
pistol. the fire of which flashed from beneath
The bush out of which the bird had flown.
The bullet lodged in the side of the upper
window sash about six inches above
Clements head Instantly he thought
| of Red Beard and his threats, and quick
as thought sprang tor his pistol, command
| ing his mother and children TO be quiet.
Another bullet whistled through the WIN
dow, coming into the room, again gong
above its mark. Getting his weapon, ne
went through an inner door into an adJoln.
ing room, in order to pass through anothef
door ont on the front gallery. As he step
ned cautiously on the gallery, and quick as
| he had been, the assassin Red Beard was
there and at once fired the third shot,
again missing his aim, the ball passing
between the legs of Clements, striking the
door and going through it. Clements
onickly fired, striking his antagonist on
the side of the left breast, who feli with a
curse on his lips, but was not fatally wonnd
aJ The assassin again AIMED, severely
wcunded as he was, but his pistol snapped
Clements once more pulled bis trigger, ou1
his weapon snapped also. Comprehendng
the situation and the desperate determ'na
| tion of the demon who was after MS me
and the lives of the dear ones IN the mousse
he sprang with the bound OF ueei
on the bleeding and fallen wretch, VINO wa
! irving to level his pistol again, ana cIutcn
ed him by the thoat. lie felt IL was ~
time for mercy with such man. ~ "ouiu
never do to let him rise from tna' p.I spuI
alive. A furious struggle ensued, 1or ootl
J men we're strong, and made stronger by the
instructive feeling of the mutual despera
| ton of the moment. The grip of Clements
) who was fighting for all that is dearest
could not, however, be loosened Dy tns
| wild beast 1t clutched. Thus holding tht
assassin. with his own pistol, he battered
the skull of Red Beard until 1t was sou a!
a sponge, and brains and blood, mixed witt