The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-14
THE DEVEREAUX CASE.
Investigation Before Judge Adams.

The case against Mr.. Thomas Devereaux,
charged by Corporal Vic Ward, from information
received with having killed a fugitive from
Justice named Munson Alexander, on the morn
ing of the oath Of May, 1874, was called up for
trial Saturday morning before Judge Adams.
District Attorney John McPhelin and @. Il.
Luxembourg, Esq, appeared for the State, and
Messrs. II. G. Castelanos and William R.
Whitaker, for the defense.
Witnesses were examined, who testified a. fCl-
lows:
| The first witness called was
Corporal Ward-Was not acquainted with Mum
son Alexander; know nothing OF the case my
self; made the affidavit from information re-
ceived was not instructed to make the affidavit;
have been on the police since 1862 made the afi-
davit on statement made to me by j. l.. Smith
knew that no proceedings had been had before q
recorder. Smith told me that Alexander had
been killed after he surrendered that was told
me on the S0th of October last, when deter
mined to make the charge Smith told me that
| he (Smith) had also FREQ q shot to bring Aexan-
der to halt; Alexander hal,ed and surrendered;
then it was that Devereaux fired shot and
killed the man.
Dr. Fowel-Held the autopsy on Alexander;
death was caused by charge OF buckshot;
great many shots were little toward the back;
that was the cause OF death; the wounds were
necessarily fatal.
| Observation-Disclosures were from ten TO
| fifteen buckshot in the body.
By the Cou,t-The shot were all of one kind.
| j. l.. Smith-Was a member of the police in
May, 1874 at that date Officer Deveresux called
on me to assist him to arrest Alexander; we tried
to arrest him on seventh street, but failed on
entering heard shots fired; parties in the back
yard were shooting at Devereaux; / ran in
and fired also; Devereau1 managed to get
A 1sl en rrers
street; we mad a warrant for his arrest; we
laid in wait for accused on Freret street; we had
shotguns, beth loaded with shot; on the morn
ing of the Oath OF May 1874, l saw Alexander ON
the street; then called Devereaux, who knew
him; l went out OF our loom and fired high
shot to halt Alexander; then Devereaux fred two
shots, killing the man; before Devereaux fired
Alexander threw up his hands and said he sur
rendered; before we ha6> hunted for Alexander
the second time Devereaux declared that he
would kill him; when the dead body was picked
up pistol fell out Of q pocket; the body was
sent to the Sixth Precinct StatiOnhouse, and l
! made a report Of the affair to Supt. Badger.
Cross Examination On reaching the station
house, the gun held had no load in it. when
Alexander fell DeveIaux asked me for my gun,
saying that it had load left in it, and handed
it to hun; were sent out to find Alexander; on
the first time we went for Alexs nder it was I'M
derstood that he was a fugitive from justice.
After Mr.. Smith had completed his testimony,
II Mr.. Castellanos introduced some documentary
levideuce, and among the papers was the report
which Mr.. Smith had sent IRON the Sixth Pre-
cnct Station, by teie graph to Supt. Badger and
Capt. Schneider, at police headquarters, on the
day that Alexander was killed. In that report
Smith states that "we (Smith and Devereaux)
fired three thots at Alexander"
Officer Gilel-Was on daty in Keller Market
when Alexander was killed; saw large crowd
and ead man on the banauette; Special Officers
Smith and Devereax were there saw the body
placed in wagon saw the specials lift the body.
and in raising it a pistol was about to fall out OF
pocket; handed the pistol to Officer NTH.
Cross eyaminAtiOu-NO exclamation plyeu
I me by anybody shout the affair.
Mrs. A. Alexander-Munson Alexander was my
brother-in-law; had a conversation with Deve-
reaux few days before Munson was killed; he
) asked me where Munson was; he told me he was
going to take Munson, and that (pointIng to a
shot-gun) would fetch him; the conversation was
rested only short time before the killing.
Cross-Examination-D not remember that
Devereaux told me to tell Munson that il he
would surrender the charge OF shooting with in
tent to kill would be given up, thai only IL case
of his being fugitive from justice would be used.
For the defense:
Capt schreiber-Was chief Of detectives in
May, 1874; made an attempt to arrest Alexander
as an escaped convict Ben Alexander had been
arrested in consequence Of the trouble on Sew
enth street. His wife said that it would be diff
fcult thing to arrest Munson; that was said in
, central headquarters. Did NOT hear Devereaux
make any threat; do not know anything about
the guns, only that each gun was loaded with
fifteen buckshot When emith and Devereaux
took the guns they started to arrest thief and
, escaped convict. Smith did not Immediately
after the killing tell me that Alexander had sur
, rendered before receiving his death wound.
, Smith did not tell me that he killed Alexander.
ri By the Court wish to obtain all the evidence
possible; for see that there are other persons
implicated; for my part would prosecute all
concerned IN this murder and begin at the head;
there are three or four men implicated before
J and after the fact.
, J. w. Fairfax-Heard Smith cav something
about the xii ing afther the affair, and the
impression ON my mind was that smith said that
he and Devereaux fired.
+ J. J. Pearson-Might have been present when
q conversation between Smith and Fairfax took
place; have heard both Smith and Devereaux say
that they shot Alexander; they said deceased re-
sisted them when they had warrant for his ar
reet Alexander had said he would kill anybody
who put hands on him.
The examination was continued until Saturday
at o,cl