The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-03
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Postponement Of the Execution of Robert
Robertson at 0pelousas The Crime
for Which He Was Sentenced
to Death.
[Spscial to the Democrat.I

OPELoUsAs. April 2-The scarold intended
for the execution of Robert Robertson was al
most completed yesterday. when the sheriff re-
ceived a dispatch ftom Gov. l.. A. Wilt. In
structing him to postpone the execution until
further orders. Large numbers OF country
people, principally colored. flJcked into town
this morning. but were disappointed.
The circumstances of Robertson's crime are
as follows: On tho night of February 81 last
negro dancing party was givon at the Baduui
place. in st. Landry parish. and quite II num-
Der OF the hands from ali the nelghborlrg plan
tations were assembled to make things hot"
1t was evident from the very moment tho ball
opened that there was to be a great old time
generally, and every member Of the company
was In the highest Of spirits and hard drink
ing was one of the orders Of the night. Two or
three fights came off early In tho evening. and
more than three-fourths of those assembled
we're In the maddeet state OF excitement long
before midnight arrived.
Among the women present there WAS one In
particular who. beyond comparison. was the
belle and beauty of her race and color over all
the rest in the whole parish. For more than q
year past-An fact. varsnce her first advent on
the plantation she had been the constant cb-
iect Of contention among the bucks" and
struggle to secure her favors had brought
about.
In the list Of those who asplred most for the
| honor of her preference were Robert hobert-
| son and Eugene Bell
| The first In most positive aud direct contra
dicdon to the historic murderer is a rather
| good looking negro, of qulst. amiable disro-
| sition. and was known to be quite q favorite
| Ia generally surmlsed that envy. as we'll as
jealousy: was the cause Of hi, present trouble.
tp strkine contrast to TO thu Was man
countenance. who was known sll over the
parish as being one Of the S worst subjects
cause Of the trouble wnich lead to tho murder.
being belle. was very much eourted. aud it Is
affair on the part Of her other admirers to get
either Bell. or Robertson. or both OF them. out
On the hight Of the murder, af,er one of the
free fights. which seemed to be- peculiar part
of the anus ements. had come Off. Bell WAS a
good deal worsted. No. ono appeared TO know
| who was the man VINO punished him. His
muddle3 intellect. however. thought proper To
settle upon Robertson as being at the bottom of
the bn nnd at ne swoT9 % Rn bm bat
While the great ugly bully was staggering in
pistol was heard and Boil, In the heighth OF his
clustering. tumbled heavily upon the fl ,or. He
said that hts thigh was broken. and died almos'
|
The doctor Was sent for but. of course he
came too late. On examination 1t Was found
the dead mans back. and not his thigh. was
| shattered by the merest mite OF q shot. the
smallest, the doctor said, he had ever known to
produce such fatal consequences. On careful
| survey OF the room 1t was found that Bell was
shot from one OF the windows of the ball room
where small hole, not the size OF the smalles
pea. was discovered in one Of the lower psnes
No one saw the man who fired the shot. anC
so several arrests had to be made somewhat q
random In order TO get at the murderer, Wher
and had the appearance at least of being fas
asleep. On trial the evidence was very stronl
against this prisoner. One witness 10 particu
lar testified tnat he had avowed to him that hs
had killed Bell. When the case was closed The
Jury com posed half Of white men and half d
negroes brought la verdicr of murder only &
Few minutes after leaving their seats.