The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-27
A DOUBLE MURDERER.

= A DOUBLE MURDERER.
\, THOs. PICKETT, WHO sLAUGHTERE
MIKE KNUCKLEY AND JACK
4 Lowe
His Capture in st. Louis and His Retur
= to New Decentralization Months
a Fugitive from Justice.
During the Radical administration crimes
all sorts were committed in this city, and IL
police authorities ct that time either were unab
or did not wish to bring the perpetrators OF th
: deeds to justice.
Frequently letters were sent to the Chief
Police here from the, Chiefs Of Police OF othe
cities stating that 30 and 80 who committed sue
and such deed in your city is here; do you war
: him2 Such letters were never answered, bu
quietly dropped into the waste basket, and thu
the Penitentiary or the gallows was cheated Q
It's victim.
Since Dol. L. N. Boylsn has been Chief O
Police he has made 1t his business to oorrespon,
with the chiefs OF ,liee OF all the large cities. an,
wherever he found there was party who ha,
committed q crime in This city and had left he r,
he took immediate steps to have him brougb
back.
In the month of Jun, he sent Aid Minor e
Louisville, who returned, bringing with him the
fugitive Jean B. Bonhomme. who shot and dan
gerously wounded q womsn named Mrs. Graf
ON the Goth of December, 1874.
Some fifteen days ago Aid Minor left this city
for
| SAN FRANCISCO,
/ t,,l r II r
& Lauu, who is wanted here for obtaining money
under false pretenses, to the amount OF $147, 600
Chief Boylan's letters to Bt. Louis had the feet
| of procuring the arrest OF the double murderer
Thos. Pickett who arrived in this city in the
| custody Of Detective Thos. Hennessy, of st. Louis
last evening. Thos. Pickett la the man who MUIR
dered Jack Lowe and Mike Knuckley, and slightly
wounded VIM. Knuckley, on the evening of jan
uary ii, 1876, on Elysian Fields street, between
Victory and Lsvee streets.
The particulars of this terrible tragedy were
published in the DEMOCRAT on the morning fol-
lowing the affair, but as nearly two years have
elapsed, the immediate cause OF the killing will
Pickett was the proprietor OF the Green Tree
Ooffeehouse A few hours before the killing the
two Knuckleys, Jack Lowe, together with several
other persons, went to the Green Tree House
during the absence OF Pickett and created q dis.
turbance.
Pickett on returning to his .plf % was informed
OF what had trsnspired, and b. )ming very an
CRY ..
ARMED HIMSELF
and left the house. He marched down the street
until he reached coffeehouse kept by Mr..
Smith, where he met Mike Knuckley and some
OF his friends.
He walked up to Knuckley and struck him A
light blow In the face. knuckley remarked, "Do
You mean that?' Pickett said. .'oh, no, that's in
fun, and invited the crowd to take q drink. As
the party we're about to drink Pickett looked ont
OF the door and said, "There are the two g. of
BIS 1 am looking for" and as he made the re
mark VIM. Knuckley and Jack Lowe came in
sight and Pickett further remarked, Eyes, there
they come, and intend to kill them.
AS he made the remark he drew his revolver
and commenced moving on his two victims
When within five feet OF Jack Lowe he leveled
his pistol at him and fired; the ball took effect in
loves left breast, and he
DROPPED DEAD AT HIS MuRDERER's FEET.
VIM. Knuckley fearing the same fate, retreated
q short distance, but Pickett followed him up,
and was in the act OF discharging the pistol
when Mike Knuckley stepped in front OF his
brother.
Pickett 10 vered bis pistol, but raising Il again.
shot Mike Knuckley in the abdomen. Mike, after
receiving the wound, walked over to where Lowe
was lying. and not knowing that he was dead,
asked, Are you shot too2" While making this
body, and there he lay.
During all this tins Pickett had not ceased
firing, and another OF the balls from the pistol
took effect in VIM Knuckleys left arm.
Pickett, after committing the bloody work, was
in the act OF making his escape, when he was
held him for fully ten minutes, but. as usual ut
that time policeman could not be found, and
Pickett made his escape.
Jack Lowe, as stated, died Immediately, and
I'm iroI ut,i Ia hap -
The hospital.
Pickett was never seen again, and for nineteen |
ong months has been fugitive from justice. |
During that period he has been steam boating.
ae had only benin st. Louis day when he was |
,aptured.
HOW PICKETT WAS CAPTURED.
Pickett was standing on the wharf at st. Louis |
whom friend Of his hallowed to him, say
ng, oh, Pickett, come over here. At that time /
Detectives Thos. Hennessey and Charles Landers |
we're near by. and hearing Pickett's name called
,ut, said to themselves that is that New Orleans
nu ,derer. and walking up to him said you are
Chos Pickett, he ans vered in the affirmative and
vas Immediately made prisoner.
He was lodged in the Jail at st. Louis, and re-
NAMED there until q requisition was obtained
rom Gov. Nichols.
The requisition was obtained, and Pickett ar
ived in this city last evening.
PICKETT INTERVIEWED.
Pickett was interviewed by a DEMOCRAT re-
orter, and he said:
:" I am not afraid to stand trial. l have wit
esses to prove that killed those men in self.
efense. There is as much law for me as there
) for them. I am afraid of VIM. Knuckey, who
alive; for he will stab me in the back If he gets
chante. would not be afraid Of him if he
7ould meet me face to face and have it out,
1hether it would be with a knife or pistols
Picket was lodged in the Central Station,
there he will remain until morning. when he
I'LL be brought before Judge Miltenberger's
ourt his crime having been committed in the
istrict in which Judge Miltenberger has juris-
lotion.