New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-14
Local Intelligence.

DESPERATE COTTON THIEVES.-On the
night of the twenty fifth Of February sew.
eral thieves visited the British ship Indiana,
lying at upper post 81, loading with cot
ton, intending to steal a. much of the
staple AZ they could. They were we'll snip.
piled with empty sacks, and before they
were discovered had taken in . goodly
quantity. A young sailor, Sidney Tarbox,
was sleeping in . deck room and heard the
villains working, when he boldly alarmed
the officers of his vessel. The moment he
uttered sound one of the robbers sent .
bullet into his breast, killing him almost
instantly, after which the desperadoes fed.
When they had run few rods three or
more shots were fred, and it was then sup
posed that one of the gang was firing in the
hope to prevent pursuit; but the following
testimony will show that the thieves quar-.
relied among themselves. At first it appear
ed that the nurderers would easily escape
detection, as the circumstances were well
shrouded. However, Captain Malone,
chief of detectives, with Pierson and
Dowie, pursued the matter night and day,
. person who had lealn ned something of the
transaction. On he went, chasing one link
after another until he formed chain of
sufficient length to rattle in the faces of the
men when they should be arrested. One of
them had gone to Texas, after the murder,
but Malone felt certain that he would re-
turn before many days, and his estimate
was correct, for O'Rourke soon showed
himself in this city. He was arrested, as
were Thomas P. Newman, Owen Clarity
and Patrick Donohue. The four accused
were examined by Judge Evans, but the
case could not be completed yesterday, 80
the trial will be resumed tomorrow:
Officer Dowie-When arrested the four
accused and two others and when taking
them to tho station, Newman had said that
ne knew what he was arrested for; he after
ward made q like assertion to somebody
else; Clarity was arrested on his return
from Texas.
Mrs. Catherine Smith-Before moved to
GirOd street kept q c0ffeehouse on Front
Levee street, near Josephine street; know
O'Rourke. Newman and DOn0hue, the &C.
cused, but l don't know tho other man;
four days after the boy was killed on the
ship India, Newman visited my house and
asked for drink; refused him because he
owed me money; he said he would pay up
when Pat DOnohue paid him for the last bit
of work; he then told me that Pat D0nohue
had said he {Donohue) killed that boy on
the ship; Newman also stated that the man
who did not kill the boy had gone to Texas;
he said he knew that Pat remained in
town; he then said, II stood long side of
him as he killed him." he also said that he
had told Pat not to kill him; Pat said yes,
kill him, because he put us in trouble; he
then fired shot and the boy began to yell;
Newman then caught hold of Donohue and
said to him: you you killed that
poor innocent boy; Donohue caught hold
of Newman and fired three shots at him,
saying that if he did not hush up he would
kill him too; after Donohue flied the three
shots at Newman, Newman caught hold of
him and said, "Now your shots are Oft; YOU
wanted to kill me, and will kill yOu;" Pat
then begged him, and said he was sorry for
60; whole crowd of people came around;
Pat left. but Newman remained; the watch
man asked Newman what business he had
there; Newman said was he watching cot
ton on the next ship; l then told Newman
that all he had told me was false; said to
Newman that when he was at my house last
night Donohue was with Mrs. Sherwood
and was drunk; Donohue had told Mrs.
Sherwood that he would go where he
pleased, and would not give his revolver up
to Der; Mrs. Sherwood is dead; next morn
ing Mrs. Sherwood asked me to send q girl
to Pats shop and zee if he was there; the
answer was that he was in the shop all
right; saw DonOhue the night of the muir
der; he had revolver; the hat and coat
now in court are the same worn by New
u an that time.