New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-21
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We learn ffoa H. 6.ssr-Bss u IL
nineteenth instant Of the murder Of col
ored man 1t New Iberia By kr. Clssnl
Dugss, which il called IN unfortuna1l
shooting affair, aud afterward spoken of q
loss OF life by drowning. Briefly stated, il
appears that some time since Mr.. Dugas, Of
Fausse P0inte, who IL said to be constable,
arrested two colored men for some misde-
meanor. and that afterward the same men
met Dugas ut night aud best HIM. This af-
fair called out vigilance committee,
which appears to be q local orgsniza-
ton of the neighborhood. This COM
mittee arrested two colored men, and
pursued third, named Joseph eros,
into the town of New Iberia. Whether or
not Grcs, or the men arrested, had any
thing to do with the beating Of Dugas, 10
not stated. He certainly was not the man
who made the assault, for that one was ar
rested afterward and turned over to the
civil authorities. However much Gros may
have wished to escape from the young gen
tlemen of the vigilance committee. it ap-
pears that he had no desire to or cause to
avoid the officers of the law, for he of his
own accord proceeded straightway to the
office of the recorder, and it was there his
pursuers found him. The gentlemen of the
vigilance committee asked the man stand
ing in. the recorders office to surrender
to them; knowing the character of the men
hunting him the colored man said he would
die first. but it does not appear that he Of
fered to defend himself or that he had any
weapon with which to protect himself from
his assailants. Dugas then fired his pistol
ct eros, and the ball took effect in the vic
tim's shoulder, says an eyewitness OF the
affair. How the colored desperate then
conducted himself, after being shot, is best
told by the Sugar Borl which says:
The man was not so badly hurt but that
he had strength still to endeavOr to escape,
and jumped over the railing back of him,
caught the window sill, Slid to An iron door
below, and then jumped to the ground. I'm
mediately he ran off, jumped fence,
reached the bayou, pulled off his coat ard
endeav0red to swim across, but he cramped
when about half way across, sank, and
before assistance could reach him he
drowned.
How it is known thatthe man 'cramped"
in the water, instead of being unsble to
swim on account of the pistol ball in his
shoulder, we can not understand, as he sunk
before his testimony could be taken.
Warrants were Issued for the arrest of
Dugas, and the sheriff has been several
days trying to find that gentleman, but
without success. It 10 thought the vigilance
committee may interfere to prevent the ar
rest. The Sugar o'cl apparently has but
little faith in or use for the selfappointed
vigilance committee of Fsusse Pointe, and
says sit is unfortunate that the gentlemen
and near kinsmen Of young Dugas should
have gone 90 far as they did" Of this
unfortunate shooting affair."" it is said by
the same paper, 80 lifo was lost and legal
difficulties will likely eneue," which legal
difficulties may mean the annoyance of
cOroner's inquest jury, to be convened for
the purpose Of sitting on the body and say
ing, "Died Of cramps caused BY bayou
eWlmmlnu"