The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-16
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
A Negro Murders white hoy In Coln
blood.

A Negro Murders n white hoy In Cole
Blood.
At o'clock yesterday at the Company Canal,
in the parish OF Jefferson, bloody tragedy WAS
enacted, in which = white boy aged 10 years.
named Lewis johnson, was shot through the
heart and instantly killed by negro named
Jefferson Dennison. The report OF the murder
was brought TO the city by the captain Of the
st. Francis Belle.
A DEMOCRAT reporter, on learning Of the af-
fsir, repaired to Algiers, whore Berjeant Pniof,
commanding the Algiers Station, furnished him
with horse, thus enabling him to visit the
scene OF the murder. After ride OF eleven
miles our reporter arrived at Company Canal.
In the canal Office the body OF the murdered
man was lying, welterng in his life-blood, which
flowed In oopious stream from wound In his
left breast. Around the body was gathered
number OF plsntal ion laborers, OF both sexes and
oil ages.
On the outside OF the building there we're about
Thousand negroes, men, women and children,
who had gathered to satisfy their thirst for the
horrible but were unable TO gain admission into
the room where the murdered boy lay. Tha
crowd, 40 they stood gazing upon the
MURDERED YOUTH,
passed various remarks about the killing. One
old darkey said: "tf day cotch dat nigger who
killed dat chile, he won't have az much show ss .
bob-tsil mule In fytime."
After taking q look at the body, the reporter
cleaned the following facts from parties who
were present at the killing: 1t appears there was
q negro picnic given 10 ths vicinity where the
murder was committed and whom the 5t. Francis
Belle landed, the deceased, who was cabin boy
on the Belle, thought that as his boat would Stay
at her moorings for while, he would visit the
picnic.
He repaired 10 the scene Of pleasure and be-
came acquainted with young mnlsttress
named Helen SCOTT.
While he was dancing with her, Dennison came
up and remarked thst Helen had engaged herself
to him for that dance, and he meant 70
HAVE HER.
The girl did not wish to dance with Dennis0n,
and denied having engaged herself to him. This
being the case, johnson declined ~ give up his
came 10 johnson, and with an Dsulting remark
dared him TO come out into 40 adjoining field and
gette the affair by fair and square fst fight.
johnson accepted the challenge, and both par
ties started for the field. They bad no sooner
reached the designated spot than DeDnison drew
a revolver that he had in his pistol pocket, and
leveled ii At johnson. johnson threw up his
hands, exclaiming, am uDarrned, but bis assaif-
ant had made up bis mind to murder hirn, and
deliberately
SHOT HIM THROUGH THE HEART.
The unfortunate man reeled and fell corpse
at bis murderers feet.
The accused, as soon as he had finished his
hellish deed, fled TO the woods, and up to IL
O'Clock last night had evadsd arrest. The en-
gtneer OF the Belle says he saw the accused level
the pistol o. johnson and halloed 10 him not to
shoot, but that he WAS such distance away he
suppose his words were not heard.
The accused has for long time been en-
ployed on the Millaudon plantation. The coroner
Of the parish of Jefferson held autopsy, and
continued the inquest until Tuesday.