The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-22
LETTER FROM "0CCASIoSAL., ),
CANE RIVER, NATcuITocHEs PARISH, !
October Is, 1879.

CANE RIVER, NATCuITocHEs PARISH, !
October Is, 1879. {
Editor Democrat =
| For months the pen of your old inva
lid correspondent has taken on thu
same color as the "gloomy habit of his
SOUL" On yesterday, however, it was
aroused into momentary new life By
the CRY of murder in two or three di.
rections. The manager upon the plan
tation of the late Emile Rost, was MUIR
dered last night by negro named Jim
Smith. The plantation, as you well
know, is situated at Monette's Ferry,
between this point and Alexandria, on
Cane River. The man murdered was
a Frenchman by the name of Francois
Jonca, most excellent and worthy
citizen. The negro Smith remained
near the body of his victim until he
ceased to breathe, and then quietly
took up his gun and went to a neigh
boris, and then returned to his own
cabin and there remained until day
light, and then departed ir what direc-
ton is not known. At all events, up
to this time he has not been arrested.
The murder occurred in the night, and
we have every reason to believe, if not
to kno,c, that there was a plot formed
during the few days anterior to the
murder, to commit the foul and damn
| ing deed. The evidence before the
Coroner indicated something of this,
and the statement of some of the ne
groes on the place since, points direct
ly, not only to the plot, but to the aid
ers and abettors. Fears are entertain
ed that the outraged people will visit
summary vengeance upon the murder
GUS clique, if they can be caught, and
a pretty correct rumor says Smith was
seen this morning.
A day or two since Mr.. Whit C. Cur
ry had difficulty with one Jim Akin
son, the same who was tried for the
midnight murder of one Allison, at
our last December Court. He ia the
same man who was shot by negro
last Summer, and had the bone resect-
ed by Doctors Scruggs, Jackson and
Dunn. He was an exceedingly dan
ger0us man, and when under the in1u-
ence of bad whiskey, he was not only
dangerous but actually ferocious. To
show his boldness, he actually took a
wagon and a negro, went to Mr.. Cur
ry's in the open day, filled the wagon
with cotton, which Mr.. Curry told him
on three different occasions, did not
belong to the negro. Mr.. Curry rode
up to the wagon with his gun and said
to Atkinson, "did l not tell you to
keep off of my plantation-did / not
tell you that cotton did not belong to
this negro. and if you took it off
would shoot your" Atkinson simply
told him to ego To HI" and told the
negro to drive the wagon on, at the
same time putting his hand in his
pocket as if to draw Il weapon. Mr..
Curry perceiving this, aud knowing as
he did the murderous character of the
man, he threw his gun upon him and
fired. The whole contents %. the Gun
took effect in the head of Atkinson,
and ere his body lad touched the
grouud it received the other barrel of
the gun. In falling razor fell out Of
his hand. Mr.. Curry went immedi-
at-ly to Natchitoches, gave bond and
returned TO his home. No one re-
grets the death of this man Atkinson,
for he was desperate Of the first wa
ter. Although acquitted Of the mnr-
der Of Atkison, this whole community
are convinced that he committed the
midnight deed. Mr.. Whit G. Curry is
one OF our best citizens, and no man in
this whole community is more respec-
ted. He was one of the most quiet,
sober, unobtrusive, stay at home and
prosperous planters in tile Parish, and
no one here blames him for the unfor-
tunate deed circumstances forced him
to commit.
hardly know what to say to you
about the politics of our Parish. for
really the political appears to be lost
in the local. know not how many
there are for the Office of
Sheriff, but they are about as thick as
'leaves that strew the vale of VaIam-
orosa.n
/ am sorry to write you that a few
If our best citizens have gone off on
he "Brick" Pomeroy and Benjamin
Spoon Bill Butler as members of what
hey call the "Greenback Party" of
The Parish of Natchitoches. They ap-
pear to be quite exclusive, for they
won't let a Radical join their Club
They have their candidates out for
Sheriff, for District Judge, District
Attorney-and in fact for all the offices
IF the District and Parish. That is, l
I'm so informed, and ] believe if it is
not SO, it will be within very few
lays In my next l will be better