The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-05-18
PORTER BROWN!
MURDER OF DIR. W. H. EVANS!
History of the Killing of DR.. II. W,
Evans by Porter Brown,
MARCH FOURTEENTH, 1877.
(Sabine Southron.)

\tciDIL0 COululOH.J
On the 18th day of March, 1877, Ben
Goodloe crossed the Sabine River at Sa-
bine Town Ferry, on his way from Tex
as to Sabine Parish, Louisiana.
After crossing the river, having with him
double barrel shot gun, he fell in with
j. F. Beavers, and, together, they
rode to the place of Mr.. Leon Brown.
When riding together, Ben. Goodloe
said to Beavers that he intended to arrest
DR.. H. w. Evans, and that he iu-
tended to kill him, and wanted some as
sistance.
DR.. Evans had, few weeks previous
to this time, married Ben. Goodies
sister. On the day after his marriage, he
was arrested on the
CHARGE OF BIGAMY,
and carried to Hemphill, Texas, where
he was tried and honorably discharged.
After his discharge, DR.. Evans, with
his young and beautiful wife, moved over
in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, and were
boarding at DR.. W. R. Curtis's, on the
Negrete, where DR.. Evans commenced
the practice of his profession, dentistry;
and he and bis young wife were living
happily together. The lovely wife look
ed forward to many days Of joy with him
whom she had chosen as companion
through life's journey. Ah!little thought
she, on that 18th of March, that tie dis
troyer was so close, so near at hand, that
in so short time her happiness would
be turned into wai|ing, her joy into Bit
ter woe, and that she should he called to
mourn over the lost and the loved.
HOW PORTER BROWNS HANDS BECOME
DYED WITH EVANS BLOOD.
On arriving at Browns, it so happen
ed that Ben. Goodloe found several par
ties there, and Porter Brown among the
number. Goodloe addressed these par
ties, stating he was on his way to arrest
DR.. Evans, and wanted some assistance.
Mr.. E. c. Dillon, in the presence and
hearing of all the others, asked Goodloe
if he had any warrant or authority to
arrest DR.. Evans, to which he replied in
the negative. On this statement, all the
parties, except Porter Brown, plainly in
formed Good}oe no assistance Was to be
had there. Brown, however, rode of
with Goodloe, procured a double. barrel
shotgun, and together they rode to the
residence of Mr.. Abram Roberts, about
one mile from DR.. Curtis's, where they
spent the night, having but little to say
to Mr.. R., and never intimating as to
what was their mission. Early next
morning Q4th) both with their guns, left
Mr.. Roberts's, and rode in the direction
of DR.. Curtis's.
GOODLOE BENT ON MURDER.
Ben. Goodloe went to the house alone,
and was met by his sister, who, as on
former visits, kissed him and inquired
after the family. Ben. Goodloe asked,
"where was DR.. Evans p Mrs. Evans
informed him che had taken a stoll up !
the creek, but to be seated, the doctor |
would soon be back J" to which Goodloe !
replied, "Go call him, wish to see him."
Mrs. Evans did 60 and call him, but
soon returned, saying to her brother that
"he did not answer, supposed he did not
hear her." Ben. Goodloe here evinced
some restlessness or excitement, and was
asked, "what was the matter" He re-
piled "there was d-n sight the matter;
that he had his crowd with him, and had
come after Dr.. Evans, and was going to
have him." With this expression, he
grabbed his gun, walked to the gate,
his horse and gave whoop,
when Porter Brown was at once seen to
ride out Of the woods into the road some
two hundred yards from DR.. Curtis's
house, aud it so happenedjust as he reach
ed tho road, from the opposite direction
came DR.. Evans. Brown Immediately
presented his gun upon Evans, telling
him if he moved he would kill him ; that
he was prisoner. Mrs. Evans and DR..
Curtis tried TO prevent his doing so,
Goodloe threatening to shoot his own sis
ter if she ATTEMPTED to 60 to him. Good
|oe and Brown now marched DR.. Evaus
of ahead of them, on the road leadingto
Sabine Town Ferry, aud about one half
nile from the ferry, in Sabine bottom.
DELIBERATELY AND IN COLD BLOOD,
murdered him, and then dragged his body
some eighty yards from the road into q
tense thicket.
Evans's person was then robbed Of