The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-09
ngruRN or A sfumDERER.
After d Lapse ct Three Years NE Returns
to the scene OF His Crime and Gives

|
| ss
After Lapse OF Three Years NE Returns
te the scene Of His Crime and Gives
| Himself Upto the Police Authorities.
After three years an exile from his
own home and O fugitive from Justice.
John Z. Vairin, Jr., who killed John
Murray, at IL o'clock at night, on the
10Th oil. September, 1874, on johnson
street, between Gasquet and Palmyra,
returned to the scene OF his crime O
lew days ago, and yesterday surren-
to be tried for his life.
AS years have blotted out the remem-
brance OF the facts OF the murder, 1t
may be interesting to some to per1se
them again. At the time OF the tragedy,
the accused was but 10 years of age end
the victim I'll. They were both mem bers
OF the Howard Guards.
ON THE NIGHT or THE KILLING
their club had parade. Vairin turned
out with the club, but Murray did not,
as he could not raise the necessary funds
to purchase the uniform. On the night
previous to the killing there was meet.
Ing OF the Howard Guards, when Vairin
and Murray became involved In q dis.
pute, which, however, only amounted ut
the time to talk.
Murray, as 1t Ia stated above, did not
turn out with the club, but followed the
body around, and when Ii disbanded ut
the club room was also present and con-
siderably under the influence Of liquor.
Fatrin, after the club had adjourned,
returned to his home, took off his uni
form and robed himself In his every
day attire. and arming himself with q
Tranter pistol, started out In the
street.
Whether he armed himself with the
weapon, expecting to renew the diff
Guilty with Murray, does not appear.
Subsequent to the adjournment Of tho
club, Murray, In company with half %
dozen Of his friends, left the corner Of
Claiborne and Johnson streets and
walked down Johnson street to O.
bakery for The purpose Of buying some
hot bread.
When near the bakery
THEY ENCOUNTERED vA1R1r.
who stood on the banauette, aud Murray
started up to him, at the same time
asking him about something that had
TRANSFERRED in the early part Of the even
ing. Vairin did not respond, but showed
Murray violently from him distance Of
ten feet, and then deliberately drew
his revolver and fired. The boil pene-
trated the left breast Of Murray, passed
through his heart and made its exit
through his back.
Murray stepped back few PAGES.
staggered and fell In the street. He was
Immediately taken to the Charity Hos
pital and expired while being carried
into the ward,a
Some men who saw the whole affair
took charge Of Vairin and informed him
that he would have to go with them to
the station house, to which he consent
N NIL rf ~ fSt h txl II
what ia singular he was never turned
over to the police authorities, and up to
yesterday his whereabouts were I'M
known.
What brought Vairin back is hard to
say-whether 1t was that he thought
ALL THE WITNESSES WERE DEAD.
or out Of the way, and that there could
be no prosecution in the case, or wheth-
er 1t was o guilty conscience that
haunted him in his travels by day and
his dreams by night, ever bringing be- |
fore his eyes an officer Of the law and |
the. chilling jingle of pair of hand
cuffs in his ears.
II one should Judge from what his
friends soy. 1t was the latter. The
ghost of his murdered victim, with the |
CHASTITY wound in bis left side, was ever
before him. He fled from the law:
from 1t he could not flee; it rose before |
him like the ghost of Banquo, CHASTITY
and grim, and would not down at his
bidding. But 1t seemed to point to g
time when he would expiate
THE PENALTY or HIS CRIME.
He wandered from city to city, from
State to State, but he always stood In
fear Of swift justice overtaking him.
He fought this feeling for three long
years bat was crushed at last, and when
full Of remorse, he returned to the spot
where he had sown his unhappiness
and gave himself up to pay the PEN
atty.