The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-10-19

KILLING OF A NEGRO BY A WHITE
REPUBLICAN,.


The Donaldsonville train last eve
ming brought exciting news from the
town of Halnville, parish of st.
Charles, the details of which are
learned from a gentleman who came
to the city from the scene of action.
In the grocery store of one Belsom.
u white man, near the court house,
IA quarrel arose Oh Saturday evening
between young white man named
Valcour st. Martin, and negro
named Charley Baptiste. The lat
ter, urged by others of his race it is
thought, picked quarrel with st.
Martin about some trivial affair. st.
Martin, who is "a Republican, and is
spoken OF as very good natured. and
generally popular, ut first did not
pay much attention to Baptiste's in
sulting manner and acts. Presently
Belsom came out from behind his
counter, and spoke to st. Martin in
French, abusing him in very severe
language, for allowing negro to
treat him SO roughly and rudely. st.
Martin then, suddenly exasperated,
drew dirk knife and stabbed Bap-
tiste, killing him instantly. st. Mar
tin was ut once arrested and locked
up in the Jail, new brick edifice
near the court house.
Ii being IA half holiday, the negroes
from the plantations were IN town in
large numbers. Fhe news of Bap-
tiste's death created the greatest ex
c,tcment among them. They gath
cred in groups near the court house
jail, angry and making many fierce
threats of breaking open the Jail and
using violence on st. Martin. The
sheriff, George Essex. IA c0lored man,
and one of the leading spirits of the
Republican party in the parish, was
on the ground. and was informed of
these threatening demonstrations.
He took no precautions. however, to
protect the Jail and the prisoner
within.
About 10 O'Clock at night mob of
negroes gathered around the court
house, the grocery aud the Jail. All
were armed, some with shotguis,
others with muskets, Others with re-
volvers and many with clubs and
cane knives. They demanded of the
sheriff to hand them over the keys
of the Jail He at first pretended
that the keys were at his house,
which was some distance off, and
tried escape from the scene of dan
Ger. The Infatuated mob could not
be deceived, however, and would not
be be estropped in their revengeful
purpose. Finally the sheriff, fearing
for his life, ordered the Tailor, or his
assistant. who was within the build
ing, to open the dooas. This was
done and the savage crowd rushed
into the Jail. They speedily drag
ged the unfortunate st. Martin out
into the court house square and then
killed him. His body was riddled
with balls and buckshot and then
mutilated by blows from clubs and
knives.
OF course, las the news of the double
crime flew fast and wide, the great
est excitement was created among
both whites and blacks. Yesterday
morning coroners jury was sum-
moned, the result of whose delibera-
tions was not learned, but it may
easily be surmised. 1t is stated that
the sheriff testified that he did not
know any of the parties who broke
into the lail. This, from his politi-
cal position and loTy residence in
the parish, is not considered at all
probable. At all events, it is the
opinion that the sheriff proved HIM
self signalIy inefficient. The law
is plain in such IA case. The people
of st. Charles expect the district
Judge, Mr.. II. l.. Duti'el, residing in
Donaldsonville, to remove in officer
so unworthy of his trust. Judge
Duffel. it is alleged, has the power
to do this. Gov. Nichols conld then
appoint a sheriff able TO meet all
emergencies.
The negroes endeavored also to
get hold of Belsom, whom they
charged with melting st. Martin to
kill Baptiste, but Belsom escaped ere
they could carry out their bloody
design.
st. Martins father was sheriff of
tIs, u,risb hetorp the war aud il now