New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-09-28
ST. CHARLES PARISH LYNoH1NG

To the Hon. Henry L. Duffel, Judge Of the
Fourth Judicial District Court, OF the State
Of Louisiana;
The petition of Ferdi inand B. Earhart,
District Attorney of the Fourth Judicial
District for the State of I,ouisia ma, re-
specially represents;
That one Valcour ST. Martin, late Of
the parish of st. Charles, State OF Louis
lana, parish of and composing portion
of the said Fourth Judicial District, was
on the Fourteenth day of Septemb Der, A.
d. 1873, lawfully confined dandimprisoned
in the parish or public jail of said parish,
having been arrested and confined in said
Jail by one George Essex, Sheriff Of the
parish OF St Charles aforesaid, for the
alleged homicide of Charles Baptiste on
the Fourteenth day of September A. D.
1873, in said parish. Petitioner farther
alleges that said George Essex, Sheriff
Of the parish Of st Charles aforesaid, IL
the keeper of the said public or parish
Jail, and that it is made his duty as the
sheriff of the parish of st. Charles and.
keeper of the said public jail, to well and
safely keep all prisoners lawfully confined
therein until they are enlarged or other
wise released from his custody BY due
process of law and orders emanating
from competent authority, 10 wit: The
courts and the judges thereof having
jurisdiction TO pass solely upon the lives
and liberties Of citizens charged with
crimes. Now your petitioner further re-
presents that on the night Of the said
fourteenth day of September, 1873, be-
tween the hours Of and 10 o'clock, or
thereabouts, of said night, the said sheriff
of the parish of st. Charles, viz: the
said George Essex, did, unmindfnl Of the
duties Of said office, permit an unlawful
body of armed men to organize, march
on said Jail, unlawfully to enter the same
all without resistance or opposition Of
any kind to said unlawful armed body of
men, and TO enlarge and take from said
iail, without authority of law, the said
prisoner, Valcour St. Martin, who was by
said armed body of men, thereupon in
the courthouse and Jail yard Of said parish,
brutally killed and murdered by said un-
lawful armed body Of men. Your petit
TONER further represents that said George
Essex, sheriff aforesaid, failed even after
the preparation of these unlawful acts
in his said capacity to arrest or cause the
arrest OF any Of the perpetrators OF the same,
excepting snch as have been since arrested
on lawful warrants after the commission
Of the said enlargement and killing Of
said prisoner. Now, petitioner represents
that by reason Of the acts aforesaid and
the failure Of the said sheriff in the
premises it becomes necessary for your
petitioner In his official capacity Of Dis
trict Attorney Of the Fourth Judicial
District Aforesaid, in order to maintain
the supremacy Of the Law, and TO properly
vindicate the same when so grossly out
ragged as in the present issue, that pro-
ceedings be had BY due course Of law to
suspend from the Office Of the sheriff Of
the parish Of ST. Charles aforesaid tbs
said George Essex, sheriff aforesaid;
wherefore petitioner prays that the said
George Essex, sheriff as aforesaid, be duly
cited 70 answer this complaint, and that
after due proceedings had, he be con-
demned By your honor to be suspended
from the Office and exercise Of the duties
Of the ofice Of sheriff Of said parish Of
81. Charles, and for such other and fur
theT relief il the premises petitioneK-will
oveT pray, and further that your honor
fx ne day foF the hearing Of this COM
pIQink and that after dne notice 10 the
Haid George Eaasx, sheEin. as aforeaAid,
be do show capse on hat day IL any
Why ths plsyez & yOaz pslioaeF should
R.R nAnHARI,
DIrIct fl,o5 EpaFsa Judicla DiG-
~ Ls1