The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-19
The Mystery of the Swamps.
Murder of Pierre Lacombe.
The Death Struggle.


horrible murders which nowadays are o
such frequent occurrence that it has becom
proverbal in this community that twenty
four hours cannot pass over our heads with
out some tale of bloodshed
Wednesday evening, as the shades of nigh
were gathering fast over the city of New
Orleans, crowd of excited negro laborer
rushed into the Suburban Precinct Station
at the lower end of Canal street, with tn,
information to Capt. Taylor, of the mounted
police, that as they were returning from til.
usual la 'ors of the day, on the Orleans
Canal near Adams Avenue, they were startled
by loud and agenizing cries, which appar
emily came from the depths Of the swamp Oh
the other side, and as they fastened from
the spot with terror in their hearts, and
their blood chilled and frozen in their veins
the cries were repeated, and this time the
words " Murder, for COILS sake help me- p
were distinctly carried across the water.
They did not wait for more, but rushed from
the fatal sound, terror depicted ON their
cOuntenances.
! 1t being
that evening, Capt. Taylor perfected his ar
rangements to find the body of what he
naturally supposed to be murdered man,
early next morning. Accordingly, Corporal
Carltonand Officer Ryan were detailed to
leave at o'clock for the fatal spot, In
fultilment of this plan, yesterday morning
the above named officers made directly for
the swamps, taking the Orleans Canal as a
guide. After long and wearied search
OF five hours, their efforts were crowned
with success.
About half mile below Buffers Canal,
between the City Park and the lake, they
discovered a spot which showed distinct
signs OF long and fearful scuffle The
ground for yards around had evidently been
disturbed, while the brushwood and weeds
presented strange contrast in their man.
gled and down-trodden condition to the
taleless surface of the Shiny Ooze On the
right of the spot of dry ground above de-
scribed, in deep pool of swamp water the
officers discovered the body of a MAJ
named
Pierre Lacombe.
He was lying in about three feet of
water, with his head down near a log. His
right hand, with fingers tightly closed in
the last agony, was stretched out across the
water, while in his left, which lay across
his breast, he held a small b n Ie of clothes.
The officers Immediately T: is / the dead
body in their arms and conveyed it to the
first spot of dry ground which they hap
pened to come across
and found that pistol ball had entered the
right side Of his face, and so completely
were the features disfgured from the effects
Of the shot and the powder which slnged
and burnt the flesh, that had it not
been for ether signs as we'll known as
Pierre Lacombe was in that vicinity, it
would have been almost a matter of impos-
slbllity to recognize him. In the right
thigh another wound was discovered, while
just below the Left bre ,st, in the region of
the heart, third ball haG evidently been
was dressed in pair of jean pants and a
checked wooden shirt, while his feet were
clad in COMMON brOgan shoes, apparently
man of about forty years of age, and q
Frenchman by birth.
in this community has been one by no means
enviable. About two months ago, he was
arrayed before the United States Commits
sioner, charged with stealing goods belong-
ing to the Government to the amount of
$500. He, however, succeeded in getting
clear, notwithstanding the fact that some
of the plumber was found in bis possession.
On the 1st of May of this year, he was ar
rested and brought before Judge Long,
charged with stealing two cows from Gas
con, whose name could not be ascertained.
He was placed under bonds to appear before
the First District Court. His case has not
yet been tried, and it is to be presumed thai
his bondsman will be released.
The Theory
of this dastardly murder does not appear to
q no laA fn
pose. LacOmbe was seen Wednesday eve
ming by some parties living in the vicinity,
to go out the Orleans Canal road towards
the lake, in company with two white men.
Who these men were it remains to be seen.
The affair is now in the hands of the police,
and it is to be hoped that the murderers will
be brought to speedy justice.
Later.
The two white men who were last seen in
company with LacOmbe were arrested by
Corporal Carleton, of the mounted police,
and conveyed to Jail. From all the circum-
stances there can be but little doubt that
these are the guilty parties.
special correspondent of the New York
Tmes Republican,, writing from Columbia
s. c., makes a statement of the rascalities of
Governor Moses that would shock the coun-
try, if it had not become familiarized with
reports of similar conduct by other Radical
Governors of Southern States. Among other
things, this correspondent explains the trans.
actions for which Moses was lately indicted,
and upon which an attempt was vainly made
to bring him to trial. We copy from the
Times editorial summary of this dlsgraceful
affair:
Having occasion to buy newspaper, he
appointed a negro boy treasurer Of Orange
burg county, and directed him to collect
taxes enough to meet a payment on the
newspaper aud to hand the money over to
the seller thereof This the unfortunate boy
did, and received for the sum thus diverted
from the treasury the Governors warrant or
order on the Treasurer, which, when pre-
scented, proved to be worth less. The poor
fellow was thereupon unable to make his ac-
counts straight, and was arrested as de-
faulter. Moses advised him to plead guilty,