The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-22
DRAINED IN HIS BED.
AN OLD COLORED MAN MURDERED AT
MIDNIGHT AND ROBBED.

AN OLD COLORED MAN MURDERED AT
MIDNIGHT AND ROBBED.
who Committed the Deed No One Knows
The Ratchet the Instrument of Death.
AT about o'clock yesterday eolored boy
named Andrew Morberry, aged IA years.
brought to light one OF the most diabolical
cases OF robbery and murder ever committed
In this city.
This boy, 1T appears, resides on Annuncla-
tion street, within few squares OF where the
murder was committed, and has been in the
habit Of bringing meals to colored man
named Robert Isaac Roane who resided in n
room on the back gallery of the two-story
frame house located ut the corner Of Gaiennie
and Annunciaton streets.
Yesterday at the hour above stated, this
boy went as usual to (as he called him Uncle
Isaac to carry him his dinner. When he en-
tered the room he found Uncle Isaac, as he
supposed, sleeping on the floor, covered over
with a blanket. As his feet came out from
under tho blanket, the boy thought to have
little fun, and he would awake him by tick
ling his feet He entered into this with a
vim. but as Isaac did not move, he started to
awake him in a more appropriate manner
and to do SO pulled the blanket from off tho
sleeper.
AS he did 80, it revealed Uncle Isaac muir
dered, covered with blood. Tho boy becom-
ing frightened, rushed out of the room hall
Iooing and crying. He was met by Mr Sal
vador. man who resides in the same house,
aud who is the proprietor of the confection-
cry which Is in the same building.
Mr.. Salvador asked the boy what was the
matter, and he replied by saying "Unce
Isaac is dead p "Uncle Isaac Is deadr'
This gentlemen looked into the room to see
III the boys tale was true and immediately re-
ported the facts to the police authorities.
Sergeant Murphy, as soon rs he was in
formed OF the affair, In company with DEM
OCRAT reporter, visited the scene. Upon
reaching the house the reporter and officer
were ushered through a side gate into yard,
then through another gate that was kept
closed by u weight attached to tho end of a
string that worked on spools, instead fpullers,
then into narrow paved yard, thence up
pair OF winding steps into an inclosed bal
oony; then we passed down a long, narrow
gallery until we came TO the last room. In
this room the almost unparalleled tragedy
had been committed. The door was closed
with the key. on the outside. We turned the
knob of the door, entered, and most revolt
ing scene met our gaze.
was about ten by eight feet, with
one door, and window in it; the
It; the window was down. The furniture in
the room consisted Of a table Of oak, q bed
the wall to form d shelf. The table contained
some dishes, q cup and saucer and O lamp.
they being silent witnesses of the last meal
taken upon this earth by the victim. The
shelf contained some few ornaments and two
neatly bound leather-back Bibles
One OF the Bibles was open and contained a
mark, showing where the dece ased had been
preparing himself for death he did not ex-
pect. On the bed, which was tumbled, lay q
tin box. an empty pocket-book and two keys
on ring.
These were also silent witnesses that i'm
pressed us more forcibly than words, as they
seemed to say that they were the cause Of
this unnatural murder. They seemed to say,
TO get what these once contained we killed
him. and thinking of himTwe cast our eyes on
the floor and beheld the body of the murdered
man. AS he lay upon, the floor, robed only
In his checked shirt and drawers his c0unte-
nance made horrible by being besmeared with
blood and brains, which had flowed from two
holes In the head, which were a sckenng
sight.
Here the question arose what instrument
could the murderer have used to have in
ticted these death wounds.
Looking under the bed we discovered the
instrument of DEATH 1t was Ratchet, and
upon Its being drawn forth it was also found
to be besmeared with blood and brains. The
victim had not been cut in the head, but his
skull had been fractured by blows from the
blunt instrument.
This ends this murder and its particulars
and the sum and substance Of this whole al
fair Is that this unfortunate colored man was
sleeping in his bed, when his room was en-
tered by the wretch OF wrctches, and he was
foully murdered for few paltry dollars
that he had worked hard for and saved. Now
comes the question, who was it that entered
this room and committed this terrible crime
Whoever it was, he was the boldest Of the
bold in his sphere in life. as will be
ing nerved himself to the terrible task
before him in stocking feet he moved into tho
room, approached the bed where his intended
victim lay and dealt him q blow with the
Ratchet that was already in the room.
AS the first blow did not have the desired
effect, the victim jumped out of bed, and as
he did SO his murderer struck him a second
blow, which ended his career upon this earth,
and with thud Uncle Isaac's Iifeless body
fell upon the floor. His murderer then tore
meath the dead mans pillow and ritiled it of
the few dollars; he then took the small
change that was in the pocket-book and left.
Before leaving, however. not wishing his
crime to be discovered too soon, he wrapped
his victim head In the bed clothes to pre-
vent the flow of blood as he did not wish the
blood to drop through the cracks of the floor
into the room below, as he did not know if
WITNESSES INTERVIEWED.
Lazarus Ingraham, a brother in-law of the
deceased, said that the deceased was one of
the most Industrious and sober men he ever
saw, and that he was a very religious man;
that he had been preparing himself for bap-
tism by continually reading his Bible; that he
may have had some money, $50 or 500, as he
was saving his money, as he intended to
marry colored girl named Annie Carter.
He continued to say that Roane worked on
the barges and always got good wages, as he
was liked by the mates, and was very polite
to white men.
JOHN WILLIAMS,
colored-I worked with the deceased on the
barges. l have the room adjoining his |
had worked very hard on Wednesday and
not hear any noise or scuffling in Uncle
Isaac's room; for had T. would have gone in
there to his assistance l am awful sorry he
is dead for he was precious good man.