The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-09-03
ATROOIOUS GRIMES.

Besides tho recent lomicidcS commit
ted in various parts of Louisiana, as de-
tailed in our columns under the heading
Of State News Summary, two bloody af-
fairs have occurred in the parishes of
Vcrmilion and Pointc CourGc which, call
for more than nero passing mention
among crimes of comparatively low de-
gree.
Tie Pointc Conp6e Banner reports that
on the night Of tho 18th ult., a party of
young ladies and gentlemen gathered at
the residence Of Mrs. j. B. Garon, on
False river, to have a gumbo. A ball
was given the same night by colored
people in 4 house adjoining Mrs. Garon's,
owned by Mr.. David johnson, and about
II o'clock Il fuss occurred there which
disturbed the entire neighborhood MI.
Johnson, accompanied by Mr.. L. I. Chen
vert and two or three others walked over
to the ball room and uniformed the occu
pants that they must either preserve the
peace or vacate the premises. AS Mr..
Johnson and his friends retired they
were fired upon by the crowd of colorcd
men who had congregated in front of the
building. Mr.. Chenvert was shot dead,
and young Joseph G;,roil, who ran from
his mothers house with q revolver upon
hearing the firing, was severely wounded.
Mr.. Johnson ran to his house, got {,
double barrclcd shotgun and discharged
both barrels, loaded with bird shot, at
the assassns, who quickly dispersed,
several having been wounded by the
small shot. The affair created the most
profound excitement throughout the par
lsh; business was suspended in the vi
entity of tie tragedy and an organized
pursuit of suspected persons instituted.
Sixteen colored men had been arrested
when the Banner closed its report, but
al! save two were discharged by Judge
lolst after preliminary examination. The
'itii iSih W ans" Sl &c vi uCl
are Val Dorval and Leopold Polite.
The 'crnilion crime, the particulars
Of which we obtain from tho .noidioaal,
was still more revolving and atrocious.
Friday night, the 18th ult, VIM. Epper-
son, u drunken, quarrelsomc Negro, en-
tered the house of Pine Henderson, one
OF the worthiest colorc,l citizens of Yer
million, while the latter was absent at
church, and murdered Henderson's wife
and daughter in Il tiendish manner, mu-
tlating their bodies in a way horrible to
think OF. The mother was killed inside
the house, but the body Of the daughter,
who had evidently He'd from the premises
aud was overtaken by the murderer, was
found in a neighboring wood, bearing
marks of british aud lustful violence,
her head crushed by blow as from
heavy stick or some kindred Instrument
When Henderson returned home lie sum
moned the Sheriff and Z deputy and com
municated his suspicion that Epperson
had committed the crime. The fend was
arrested at his cabin, his clothing bear
ing blood-stajns, and he confessed his
guilt with stolid Indifference. He was
taken 10 jail, at Abheville, about o'clock
next morning. At noon a crowd OF citi-
zens, white and coiored, forced an en-
trance to the Jail, brought the black
hearted murderer forth and hanged him
10 the nearest tree The villain acknowl-
edged the justice Of his punishment and
illuu no attp,ntt -r fy.i.lr If