Richland beacon., 1875-05-29
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE,
An Interesting Case.

! "h " "cuncSuaN cNeul1p, June
1874, a crowd Of excited negro labor
ers rushed into the Suburban Precinc
Station at the lower end of Cana
street, with the information to Capt
Taylor, of the mounted police, that a
they were returning from the usua
labors of the day on the Orlean:
Canal, near Adams Avenue, they
were startled by loud and agonizina
cries, which apparently came from
the depths OF the swamp on the other
side, and as they hastened from the
spot with terror in their hearts, and
their blood chilled and frozen in theil
veins, tbs cries were repeated, and
this time the words, Murder! Fol
Gods sake help me :" were distinctly
carried across the water.
1t was late in the evening when
the Information was received, and il
was not until the next day that ar.
rangements were perfected to find the
body Of what was naturally supposed
to be murdered man.
After a long and wearied search OF
five hours the police discovered,
about half a mile below Buffers
Canal, between the City Park and
the lake, 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 a
strange contrast in their mangled and
down-trodden condition to the taleless
surface of the Shiny ooze. On the
right Of the spot Of dry ground above
described. in a deep pool of swamp
water, the officers discovered the body
o. man 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 stretch
ed out across the water, while in his
left, which lay across his breast, be
held small bundle of clothes. The
officers Immediately raised the dead
body in their arms and conveyed it to
the first spot of dry ground which
they happened to come across.
They then proceeded to an examina-
tion, and found that a pistol ball had
entered the right side of bis face, aud
SO completely were the features dis
figured from the effects of the shot
and the powder which singed and
burnt the flesh, that had it not been
for other signs, as VIII known a.,
Pierre Lacombe was in that vicinity,
it would have been almost a matter of
npossibility to rec gnize him. In
the right thigh another wound was
discovered, while just below the left
breast, in the region of the heart, a
third ball had evidently been sent
home on its deadly errand.
The body about the head, breast
and arms was considerably bruised.
LacOmbe was seen Wednesday
evening by some parties living in the
vicinity. to go out the Orleans Canal
road towards the lake. in company
with two white men.
Several days afterwards Guillaumc
Blessy and Jacques Delma were
arrested on suspicion as the parties
who were seen with the deceased.
Yesterday these two men were
tried and convicted of murder with.
out capital punishment. The evidence
was purely circumstantial, and it was
one Of the most interesting cases of
the kind that has ever been tried in
our courts.
1t was shown by the State that the
two accused were seen in company
with the deceased, proceeding in the
direction Of the Orleans Canal, going
out Ursulines street. Blessy and
Delma each carrying an ak and
Lacombe rope.
They crossed the Orleans Canal
together. proceeded some distance
along the bank in the direction of the
lake, turned into the swamp, and that
was the last time that Pierre Lacombe
was seen alive.
The State produced an old man.
residing within short distance of
the spot where the body was found,
who testified that about 2 O'Clock on
the day the murder was committed he
heard dull sounding blows, cries for
help, five pistol shots, more blows,
more cries for help. two more shots,
and oil was still.
At about o'clock of the same day.
the accused were seen coming in the
direction of the city aud were spoken
TO. One man asked them what had
become of their companion The
reply was that they had not seen him
since the day before
Three days afterwards they were
arrested by Capt. Carleton, who had
untiringly followed up the circum-
stances,
Just previous to the arrest the
house of Delms was searched by the
corporal, and there was found two
blood-stained axes, a rope covered
with blood and mud, a bloody shirt,
and Q lot of pistol cartridges, the balls
of which were about the size of those
found in the body of Lacombe.
The axes end rope were identified
by tie fcrrymeh who took the three
across the canal, as the same that had
been in possession Of the party when
they entered and left his skiff
The defense set nm ureyious good