New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-09
Lynch Law In TanGipahoa.


Lynch Law In Tangipahea.
The following particulars of the lynching
of Dick Durbin are from the Tangipahos
Independent of December Q:
On Saturday night last Henry Clay Dur
bin, alias Dick Durbin. IN escaped convict
was brought down from Tspgipahos and
place. His capture was effected, We learn,
in the following manner:
He had been in the habit of visiting the
house OF Q c0lored family on farm near
Tsngipahos and compe ling them to feed
himsel and horse. Tho proprietor being
informed of these proceedings, and prob
ably suspecting who their nocturnal in.
truder was, instructed his tenants to cap.
ture him upon his next visit and deliver
doing 60 if necessary.
On Saturday evening Durbin rode to the
house and ordered supper, which wss pro-
vided. The negroes, woman and her son,
. youth of about seventeen years, had de-
termined to secure Durbin, and while he
was eating the youth came up behind and
atruck him with Q club, outing cash In
his head and knocking him to the aoor,
where he lay unconscious while the negroes
they proceeded With him to Tsnxipahos.
Lynching was threatened here, but caimer
council prevailed, and Dnrbin was put
aboard freight tram, under guard If
white men, who had him edged in the jail
here.
A little after dark Sunday evening, some
of our citizens discovered a band of armed
men encanped with their horses in the
southwestern portion of this place. They
nod nf II
Holloway, who met three Of them who said
they must detsin him; but upon his remind
ing them that he had his child with him,
they permitted him to 60 home.
IL was not until about 3 A. NJ, when the
moon had gone down, that the band of men
Tor, perhaps, only portion OF them, ap-
pesred at the Jail yard and demanded ad.
resistance againt three times their number
would be worse than folly, surrendered and
were dissrmed, three Of the band being
placed around them. No demand was made
for the jail keys, but the remainder OF the
lynching party forced the door in some
manner and went in. Dick Durbin was
brought out, but tho other prisoners-one
white and two colored men-were not dis
turbed or permitted to escape. These pris-
ODers state that Durbin requested to be
shot,
When outside Of the prieon yard the lead
or of the party called for ropee, one of
which was used to secure the prisoners
hands. The other rope was placed around
his neck, and one of the men sscended q
small tree which is on the street near the
Jail, and secured it to limb.
The doomed man was asked by one of the
band il he had anything to say for himself,
or any message to send to friends; if he had
he must speak within fifteen minutes. Dur
bin asked; "What are you going to hang
me fort" The men replied by asking if he
thought that honest men would permit
such conduct as his. Durbin said: ut is
very hard" After come questioning he
made confession of stealing mare from
Lsander Durbin, and stated where she
could be found.
the rope was now drawn. Two low,
smothered cries of 20, Lord ~ were heard,
and then silence reigned. Presently two
of the party swung their weight upon the
irons on the feet Of the suspended body
until the neck was broken. The execution.
ers were sure that lite was extinct, and
they disappeared from the town.
At noon on Monday an inquest was held
by Mr.. ButDaD, and the witnesses sworn
gave in their testimony the above facts.
ALI of them testified that they could not
identify any of the party, as they cav them
in the dark. The body was :her cr* down
and examined, and the jury gave verdict
that deceased came to his death by being
hanged by body of unknown men.
A pencil. pOcket-comb and u email paper
box were found on the body. The clothes
were stained with blood which came from
the wound in the head.
A letter written on Sunday by the de-
ceased to brother at Taneipahos, was
read to the jury. 1t was of a sad and
loving tone, but indicated DO anticipation
Of the fate awaiting him. One clause was
in about the following words:
"Tel the Davenpor.s that met with an
accident; that l jumped from train and
was killed. l particularly request this OF
you"
Dick Durbin was tried in Washington
parish for the murder Of Mr.. Welhausen in
this place. some years ago. The proof
against him was convincing, but was not
considered by the jury as sufficiently strong
for conviction, and he was acquitted. He
was subsequently convicted OF robbery and
sentenced to . term of years in the State
prison. He has more than once escaped
from custody, and whenever at liberty has
committed depredations ON the property of
citizens of this section. The mare above
referred TO was purchased by Mr.. Lizard,
of Magnolia, Mississippi. Durbin rode q
gray horse at the time of his capture near
Tangipahoa. He was small in stature, and
was somewhere about thirty years of age.
He was inferred in the cemetery in this
place.