The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-09-04
Letter from New Orleans.


Letter from New Orleans.
The Defiance MIX Murtler--How Morris
Marks made asScapegoat Of Thompson
Brown-West End-POlitical Dots.
New ORLEANS, La, Sept. 2. 1880.
EDIToR CHIEF:
Hardly had the body Of Robert Burton
been laid in the grave and prayers of the
chnrch been said for the repose Of his
soul, than the Crescent City was again
the scene Of one Of the bloodiest and
most barbarous murders known in the
criminal records of New Orleans. The
murder of Robert Burton, i. poor old in
offensive colored man, was perpetrated
at the midnight hour by vulgar crimin-
ais whose motive was robbery Of few
cents possessed by the old Negro. These
tiends were known as very bad men
who would hesitate at nothing where
the acquisition of even few cents were
concerned. They were known to the
police and their faces were no strangers
to the walls Of the parish prison. The
last named murder was one very similar
to the Burton murder, excepting that
the murderers claim to have acted iusti-
tiably, and that justification is the in
suit to the honor and good name of their
family. Edwin c. Mix, Jr., the MUIR
dered, was very popular young man,
with high family connections of great
influence i'll this city. w. II. Renaud,
Esq, Of the large grocery house of John
l. Adams & Co., is brother-in-law of
the deceased, and OH none does this ter
rible calamity fall heavier than on the
venerable head of w. II. Renaud. The
young man had been advised not to see
the de RANGES, unarmed, as they were
known as desperate men. Young Mix
needed not the fatherly Warnings, and
asserting that he was guiltless of all
wrong, proceeded on the road to DEATH
l need not 80 over the incidents of this
atrocious murder, as they were fully
given in the daily papers. Suffice it to
say that Mix and his brother proceeded
like gentlemen to the de Rance house
where they saw the eldest son, Fernand,
who, being in his shirt sleeys, requested
them to wait until he got his coat. Fer
nand returned accompanied by his broth
ers Henri and Armant, and advancing
within twelve steps of Edwin Mix, Jr.,
said, "This is what have for yon," in
simultaneously pulling his revolver out
and firing at Mix. They fred until he
fell, and when Mix, PROSTATE upon his
back, begged for mercy, they gave him
cold steel with an additional bullet in
his head. Henri de Rance, the brother
who stabbed Mix after he fell, is but
mere boy. He is scarcely eighteen, but
u glance at his face will convince one
that he would buck against" any one
and any thing and is "better man
than thousands old enough to be his
grandfather. It is characteristic of the
Southern people that they are quick to
resent any insult offered to the fair
namo of q female, and although am no
advocate of such extreme measures as
those adopted by the dc Rance brothers,
and do not wish to place myself in the
light of an apologist for such barbarous
deeds, I do say that the de Rance Mix
murder will do a great deal towards do
terring from their vile course the nuner-
GUS libertincs aud seducers who infvst
the city OF New Orleans, and you will
agree with mo when I state that the
early CELEBRATION of that class will be no
loss to the country. 1t is {: matter of
common notoriety that the de Rance |
brothers are not without their friends |
who openly boast that there is not a
jury in this State that can be found to
convict for such d murder as the de |
RANGES stand charged with. They con-
tend that it is infinitely more cowardly |
for u married man to enter the home of |
orphans and take advantage of circum-
as they assert was done by |
Edwin Mix, Jr., who, although warned
to desist, needed not, and, needing not,
forfeited his life. 1t is best to give both
sides of a story, and, as long as l tread
the paths Of journalism, both sides of a
story shall my readers read
Last weeks letter stated that would
give you something rich, rare and racy
the now solemn Morris
Marks, who has become so conspicuous
over the country for his inlefatigable
attempts at securing Congressional hon.
ors at Thibodaux. Marks shouldn't
think that by the country mean this
broad Cnlou. Oh, no, I mean the par
of tho Third Congressional
District. Marks doesn't deserve such.
extensive "doings" as I have given him
and intend to give him gratis, but he is
such ccnceted ass that l believe it
will be beneficial to the country and to
The people to show him up i'll all his
'hallowness and self-sufticiency might
succeed in reforming Morris and bring
ng him back, or knock the lying pro-
,ensities he has about him. My readers
ire probably acquainted with H. T.
Brown, Esq, Of Ascension, who was once
lnder Marks in the Internal Revenue
lena ltnaut of 10 l,.,sfo.,a 1Io,,a.a u.a.