The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-16
A TRAGEDY.
Lynch Law I'm st. Charles PaRlsh-Partlessw.
lars of the Affair.

Lynch Law i'm st. Charles PaRisn-Partaeu~-
HBRs of the Affair.
From gentleman, who left st.. Charles
parish yesterday and reached this city last
evening, the following particulars of
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY,
| enacted In that parish on Saturday, are oba-
tanned.
On the evening Of the day last named
difficulty occurred in q store, nearly opposite
the courthouse, between O. white man named
Valcour St.Martin, g. Republican, and colored
man known as Charlie Baptiste, also Radi~
cal The difficulty oulminated in ST. Martin
drawing a dirk-knfe and stabbing his anita
gonist to death.
The gentleman from whom the information
was obtained was not positive as to the origin
OF the affair or the circumstances attendant
| on 1t, but from what he could CLEAN from wit
| nesses 1t appears to have grown out Of q very
simple matter Baptiste accidentally or irtari-
tlonally stepped on st. Martins foot, and re-
ceived, as o. consequence. q somewhat violent
push. This reused his anger and some words
followed, Ut. Martin treating the matter as
one entirely unworthy Of @ difficulty, and
Baptfste expressing considerable indignation
and desire for satisfaction. After the war
Of words had continued for some little times
some man In the store O. friend of 1T Martini
urged him to resent the language OF Baptiste,
talk to white man in that way and he
should be kicked" st. Martin, influenced by
the advice and taunts which followed OF the
man, drew dirk knife and, attacking Bap~
tiste, stabbed him several times. BaptistG
died in few moments after.
st. Martin was Immediately arrested and
confined in the parish jail.
The affair created consi siderable excitement
among the negroes Of the parish, many OF
whom, it being Saturday, we're in the neigh
bOrhood OF the courthouse, In the stores.
coffee-houses, etc
VIOLENT TALK. AND THREATS
Of summary punishment were generally in
dulged In, but no serious notice appears to
have been taken OF it, although the sheriff,
Geo. Essex, o colored man, did advise and
order the crowd to disperse.
About 10 o'clock on Saturday night large
crowd OF negroes armed with shotguns,
muskets, revolvers and cane-kniyes, pro-
ceeded to the jail, and, arousing the sheriff,
threatened his life unless he turned st. Martin
over to them. He Instructed his assistant to
throw open the doors Of the jail. His in
structions were followed and the crowd
rushed In, took st. Martin from his cell, con-
veyed him TO the courthouse yard, and there
literally
RTDDLED HIM WITH BULLETS,
and beat his head and face to g. Jelly.
The crowd, leaving the body OF their yietim
in the courthouse yard proceeded to the resi-
dence of the man who had urged st. Martin
to make the attack on Baptiste, but he was
not to be found.
ST. Martin was the son Of the present parish
attorney. He was about thirty years OF age,
and one Of the most popular young men In
the parish. He was q Republican, and took u.
more or less active part In politics.
The action Of the sheriff In not taking pre-
cautions to protect the jail and his prisoner is
severely condemned, and his course In the
matter will be brought to the attention OF
District Judge Henry L. Duffel and Gov.
Nichols, and q strong effort to secure his re-
moval will be made.