New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-04
CRIME IN LOUISIANA.

1t would be singular, indeed, if Louis
lana were free of crime; and it would be
just as remarkable if public offenses
were confined, within her borders, to per-
sons not "native and to the manner born. p"
We do not believe, as some of our con-
temporaries profess to, that crime is nee
essarily confined to "carpet-baggers, a
class of persons who come into our State
from other parts of the world for the pur-
pose of becoming citizens; but, on the
contrary, have ever thought that human
nature here was the same as in other parts
of the world; that, in fact, our people were
addicted to the same virtues and the same
vices that bless and curse all communi-
ties, civilized or barbarous. And the
longer we live the more we become con-
WINGED that such is the case. The fact is,
degree Of crime is daily developing it.
self among our people, ''native and to the
manner born, that is anything but en-
couraging to their claim to a superior
civilization. Passing by the terrible
scenes that have been enacted in many
parts of the State-at the Mechanics In
stitute in this city, and at Colfax, in
Grant parish-for political reasons, we are
now made to feel that our young men are
fast training for the gallows OF the
penitentiary. But short time since three
young, men Of most respectable family
connections in Franklin and Richland
parishes, were accused of having commit
ted the double crime of murder and rob-
berry. Their names are given as A. B.
Norris, T. L. Norris and Henry Lewis.
The two first are brothers and Lewis is
their cousin. These three young men
were born in the neighborhood where the
murder and robbery were perpetrated,
and had previously borne good characters.
1t is said that they BACKED their faces,
and thus disguised boarded trading
barge lying at place called the Cutoff,
on Bayou Macon, murdered a Mr.. Ar
buckle, the owner, and robbed him of
$500. The murder and robbery were
planned and carried out with reckless
daring and disregard for life that might
have been expected of none but hardened
villains. Yet the young men who stand
charged with such heinous ofense had
but just entered upon career of crime,
so far as previously known. They have
been arrested, and the feeling in the
community where the murder was per-
petrated is to have them punished to the
full extent of the law if upon trial they
are adjudged guilty.
Instances of crime among the youth of
Louisiana and those whose age should |
teach them better things are becoming
too frequent in these the days of Louis
iana's adversely. 1t was but few days
ago that the officers of the law were in
pursuit of the Alexander brothers, two
young men born and raised in New Or
leans. Munson Alexander was finally |
discovered and, rather than surrender to |
the officers and answer for his offenses,
resisted and was killed. The two have
long LED life of crime, were known to
be desperate characters, and are dealt |
with accordingly by those whose duty it |
is to check crime.
1t is not pleasant to know that any of |
the youth of Louisiana have, from choice,
committed themselves to a course of
crime, nor should it be source of pleas
ure to herald the misdeeds of any who
willfully and perversely become candi-
dates for the penitentiary or the gallows.
The only object the REPUBLICAN has ia
reverting to crime in Louisiana at this
time is to show that it is not confined to
''carpet-baggers, and, if possible, teach
all who are criminally disposed that it is
far better to be honest and industrious
than to strive to live the life of hardened
criminal