The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-08
CRIME IN NORTH LOUISIANA.

Gov. Kellogg yesterday addressed the follow
ing circular letter to the sheriff of Catahoula an
the sheriffs of one or two other parishes in tn
northern part of the State:
SrA1K OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
New Orleans, August z, 1875.
Sri am in receipt of an official communica
ton from the police jury OF the parish OF Gaia
houla. reciting that murders are OF frequent oc
currence in that parish, the perpetrators OF whic
either avoid arrest or escape unpublished, ant
soliciting the Executive to offer reward for tn
apprehension of certain named persons.
I am also in receipt OF communication iron
the District Attorney Of the parish of Caddo
setting forth that in portion of that parish
known as "Hog Thief Point" certain designated
men have been engaged for some time past il
killing negroes and stealing horses and mules
and that these offenders, though well known il
that section of the parish, are shielded from JUS
tice through timidity or fear Of consequences,
and asking that reward be offered for their ap
prehension. I have also receive d from the
sherifs of several other parishes in the northern
portion of the State kilograms and letters in
quiring whether there was any reward 20 be OBJ
tanned by the arrest of notorious outlaws and
murderers residing within the limits Of their ju.
risdiction.
The continuance of such condition of turbu
lence and d sinclination to enforce the laws with
out the in centive of direct pecuniary rewsrd in
one small portion of the s ate; while in all the
ment of the law and the prospect of bountifu
crops indi ,ate an era of increas d peace and
prosperity in the future, is not only most in
furious to the community Immediately inter
ested, but is great drawback to the entire state
repelling the much needed influx of capital and
labor, and retarding the advancement Of e0uca-
ton and material prosperity.
l therefore desire to impress upon you and
the other officers of the law in your parish the
necessity of vigorously enforcing the law against
all offenders. I can not but think that in each
of the parishes where crimes of violence are re-
ported to be prevalent there are to be found a
class Of good citizens who, if called upon by the
proper authorities, would willingly act as posse
COmitdtuS in case of need to secure to them
selves aud ev. ~ other citizen OF the parish pro-
lection for life and property.
do not by any means recommend the 1naugu-
ration of vigilance committees or any such
method Of REFRESHING crime outside the pals of
the law. Experience has shown that the resort
to such practices is frequently productive of
greater wrongs than those sought to be re-
dressed But 1 do request and instruct yon, on
the occurrence 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 preva
lence OF homicides, unaccompanied by arrests or
criminal prosecution.
Thus far the cases of capital conviction for
murder which have been submitted to me for my
official action have been, with only two excep-
tions directed against one class of citizens only.
The welfare and prosperity Of the State demand
that the laws should be enforced with equal i'm
partially against all classes and conditions Of
men. Very respectfully,
WILLIAM P. KELLOGG.