The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-10
History of the killing of DIR.
Bazee by Absalom w. Ford.
IN. Q. Picaynne, April 21st.

the Governor, addressed to the sheriff
of Calcssieu parish, requesting to be
informed when Absalom w. Ford would
be in acondition to be executed.
No rof1ance that ever was written,
and no play that was ever penned COM
/ prises stich a variety of incidents of
dramatic interest within the bounds df
reason. as those in the life of this man,
in connection with this case.
Awoman of remarkable beauty; man
desperate to madness; love and jealousy
of rival; a devilish plot and cowardiy
murder-are the leading characters and
Incidents in the FIRST two acts'of this
tragedy. The third eclipses the won
derful escapes and daring bravado of
the notorious Jack Sheppard; the fourth,
pursuit, fight, capture, reincarceration
and confession. The fifth and last act
is now being played; the first and Sec
ond scenes-the requisition, tranpfer to
the jail from whence he escaped, des-
perately wounded and leg broken, un-
. der guard 'iiight end day--are already
enacted; and the final scene, order for
execution and the execution, will con-
clude The woful tragedy
From the evidence adduced at the
trial, and the subsequent confessions of
Ford, the McClures and others, the fol-
lowing history of the affair Is collated:
Helen Ford and her father. Washing
ton Ford, lived on small place in Cal
casieu parish, sixty miles from Lake
Charles, near the Sabine river, which
separates Louisiana from Texas. Mr. ),
Ford was engaged in farming. His
daughter, Helen, a beautiful brunette,
with black hair and black eyes, 90 years
of age, was unmarried. They removed
into Calcasieh from Catshoula parish,
about two yearsago
Absalom w. Ford. although but a
young man of % or 30, years, had earn
ed, even in Texas, the character of
desperate. Quarrelsotne and ever ready
with pistol ard shotgun, it is said that
he had killed several men in that State,
before he SO brutally and treacheronsly
muir rdered this man whose death will at
last lead him to the gallows.
Absalom was cousin to Wash Ford
and second cousin to Helen. As fu-
gitive from justice he stayed at the
house of his cousin when in Calcasieu. 4
Phe black eyes aud viVacio as manners
of the beautiful Helen SO affected the
wflG nature of the young man as to sub
due it for time, Absalom falling in |
love with Helen.
Early last summer he bade Helen and |
her father goodbye and started for
Texas. He had not been gone many
days, when a man named Joseph Bazee
appeared ia that section OF the country,
IN the course of his rafables as a wan
dering herb doctor. camping near
Ford's house. He paid several visits to
the house of Mr.. Ford,
Better had it been for the poor herb
doctor if ne had never looked upon the
beautiful face OF Helen Ford-better
had it been for him to have been warned
in time OF the fierce nature OF Absaoin
and the love he bore Helen, he truly
''met his fate"--in death. Young Ford
returned from Texas, and as usual pro-
eeeded tothe house Of his cousin, where
he met Dr.. Bazee.
On the evening of the 7th of June,
a bitter, wordy quarrel occurred in the
house in the presence of the old man
and his daughter, concerning the latter,
and this being no place 10 settle diff ,
Guilty of this nature, the two men went
into an adjoining field and continued
the quarrel in angry tones. What oc- ,
surred in addition to this, or what was ,
said at this time, is not known. beyond ,
The fact that both men returned to the
ane abreast, and watching carefully /
hat one should not allow the other to {
get behind him, and thus obtain a i
shooting advantage, for DIR. Bazee had
1een in Texas as well as Absalom Ford ,
On Sunday, two days later, the latter [
vent in search OF his friends Heeman i
md Frank Mcclure and Henry Saucier,
md stated to them that DIR. Bazee
wanted to seduce his cousin Helen and {
hen take her to the Indian Territory ,
md sell her there for large sum of
money to an Indian chief; when, it is
4lleged, the four entered into con /
piracy to kill DIR. Dazee. That same +
light Ford and Mcclure slept at the j
lonse OF the latter's sister, Mrs. Pool, e
fter the camp of thedoctor was watched r
hat night by three OF the party to shoot I
lin as soon as he appeared, but DIR. q
5azee did not come out of his camp
ntil morning. a
The plan then agreed upon was that v
Ieenlan Mcclure should call on DR.. 3
sazee and represent that his sister, 4
frs. Pool, was sick and required the a
Doctors services. That Mcclure should il
etarn immediately, before DR., Bazee |.
oald saddle his horse, in order that be L
aight join Ford when the two We're to b
eerete themselves in the yard, when v
hey should FIRE upon and kill him. u
Heeman Mcclure called upon DR.. d
'azee, stated the nature OF his errand, v
nd left as soon as be saw the doctor &
proceeding to saddle his horse, Mcclure
living as q reason that he wished to re- :
al3l without delay Dr Bazpe repliad