New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-08


the following circular letter to the sheriff
Of Catahoula and the sheriffs of ono or two
other parishes in tho northern part of the
State:
STATE OF LOUISIANA }
Executive Department
New Orleans August 7, 1875 }
SIR am in receipt of an official com.
munication from the police jury of the par
ish of CatahOula. reciting that murders are
of frequent occurrence in that parish, the
perpetrators Of which either avoid arrest OF
escape unpunished, and soliciting the ex-
ecutive to offer reward for the apprehen-
sion of certain named persons. am also in
receipt of a communication from the dis.
trict attorney Of the parish of Caddo. set
ting forth that in q portion of that parish,
known as "Hog Thief Point" certain desig-
mated men have been engaged for some
time past in killing negroes and stealing
horses and mules, and that these offenders.
though we'll known in that section of the
parish, are shielded from Justice through
rimidity or fear Of consequences, and ask
ing that reward be offered for their appre-
hensioE. l have also received from tie
sheritfs of several other parishes in the
northern portion of the State kilograms and
ward to be obtained by the arrest of no.
torious outlaws and murderers reeidiny
within the limits of their jurisdiction.
The cOntiI uance Of such a condition of
turbulence and disinclination to enforce tie
laws without the incentive of direct
pecuniary reward in one small portion of
the State, while in all the other parishes
comparatively strict enforcement of the
law and the prospect of bountiful crops in
dictate an era Of increased peace and pros
perity in the future, is not only most furious
to The communities immediately interested,
but is great drawback to the entire State,
repelliHg the much needed influx OF capital
and labor, and retarding the advancement
Of education and material prosperity.
l therefore deeire to impress upon you
and the other officers of the law in your
parish the necessity OF vigorously enforcing
the law against all offenders. can not but
think that in each OF the parishes where
crimes of violence are reported to be preva.
lent there ars to be found a class Of good
citizens who, if called upon by the proper
authorities. would Willing ely act as posse
comitatus in case of need to secure to them
selves and every other citizen of the parish
protection for life and property.
do not by any means recommend the
Inauguration of vigilance committees or
any such method OF repressng crime out
side the pale Of the law. Experience has
shown that the resort to such practices is
frequently productive Of greater wrongs
than those sought to be redressed. But I
do request and instruct you on the occur
renee Of crimes against human life in your
parish TO summon to your aid citizens OF
known character and position, and BY
vigorous pursuit Of the offenders put an
end to the prevalence of homicides, unac-
companied by arrests or criminal prosecu
tion.
Thus far the cases Of capital conviction
for murder which have been submitted 20
me for my official action have been. with
only two exceptions. directed against one
class OF citizens only. The welfare and
prosperity of tho State demand that the
laws should be enforced with equal Impair
tiality against all classes and conditions of
men.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM Z. KELLOGG.