The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-08-02

regular pannel were not called from
he door of the courthouse. Louis
Jollins was killed. Steve Bridge, an
,ther negro, was In Jail short time,
.harged with the crime. He was sub
released, and gave in the
evidence that convicted Tom Ross. In
Ross's cell, we found the following |
tote, written on the reverse side of an
I'D envelope, in a very bad hand
writing. Two spades and a coffin arc
lrawn in pencil on the note, and the
note ends just as printed
b 1873 Mr. Steve Birge Dear frind you
get o way from here in Is fifteen days
II not you will Be hunge to a linn or
shoat to Death for you and Thomas
COllans and tom will Be killed If he
gifts out and
Jim Beatty had been tried and con.
victed for the murder OF Constable
Fitzgerald of Trenton, in this parish,
and would have been taken to-day to
tho penitentiary for life. Atkins and
Phillips were apprehcnded some two
months ago near Port Hudson,
as parties concerned in the murder of
Fitzgerald. These three were all en-
ployed on Hasley's place, above Tren-
ton. Fitzgerald heard some shooting
In rear of Trenton, and went out to
ascertain the cause. In pursuit of
these men-having ascertained that
they were the offenders
was shot down, and he died in a few
minutes. Mr.. Fitzgerald was a worthy
citizen and good officer. His wife
and three children survive him, and
he was their only help.
There was special venire of jurors
after the regular session of
tho District Court, by Judge Parsons,
TO try Atkins and Phillips. At first,
the jury stood eleven for conviction,
and one, Duncan Hill Cody for ac-
quittal. Finally, the five colorcd men
all favored acquittal, and the seven
white men were for conviction. There
was mistrial, as the jury could not
agree, and Phillips and Atkins were
remanded to Jail. 49, ..
We annex the proceedings had at tho
investigation held by tho Parish Coro-
ner, Mr.. L. w. Surghnor:
CoRONER's INQUEST.
MONROE, La, July 3Oth, 1873.
State of Louisiana, Parish of Qua
an inquest held this day
upon the bodies of Jim Beatty, Pies
Phillips, Tom Ross and Henry Atkins,
there lying dead, and after summOning
and empanneling the following named
persons as jurors of inquest, j. +. Vim
son, w. p. Vinson, H. G. Downs, J. l..
Graves and l.. F. McClendon, the jury
being sworn, the following testimony
was had. s -.r
VIM. H. Richardson, being duly
sworn, deposes as follows:
Somewhere between one and three
o'clock this morning, was in bed in
the back room of the Sheriff g Office.
was not called up. The parties who
came into the Office forced the front
door Of the office, and three came into
tho back room between the door and
the bed, and without saying anything
at all as to good morning or good
in the words, ssWe demand OF you the
Jail keys" told them didn't have
the jail keys. They then asked where
they were, and told them they we're
in the desk in the front room. They
asked whereabouts in tho desk. I
told them in the top of the desk in the
front Office. They went out, leaving a
guard in tho middle room and also on
the sidewalk. AS soon as they got
through at the Jail they brought the
keys back to tho office. I got up and
looked through the two holes in the
door and saw n light in the square, and
what they done we can SEQ this morn
ing. Did not know any of them, nor
did I recognize any of their voices. 1
never heard any hallooing as if any
ono was in distress only heard light
talking in the street. Heard no gun
fire, and all the persons l could see by
the lamp werc a-foot.
w. II. RICHARDSON.
Henry j. Crawford, being sworn,
deposed rs follows:
am night police of the city of Mon
roe. I was near the bridge at tho
Catholic church this morning, between
quarter to one to half-past two O'Clock
1 saw about six or seven persons about
that time. think ! know ono person
that passed by me. 1 heard no noise
or confusion last night-not more thar
usual. 1 was no nearer the Jail las
night than rs above mentioned. die
not see the hanging of the parties nov