The Opelousas courier., 1882-05-27

0nO' H10 oeSh inau0 TO DloW open tne
iror safe with gunpewder by the bur-
giar. He was requested to come down
and investigate the matter and if pcs
sible to trace out the guilty party.
He in company with deputy sheriff
Mckinney Immediately responded to
the call. Upon their arrival Sheriff
Dason repaired to the building and
found the door broken open, and frem
the marks on the door and door facings
was satisfied that it was done with an
inch and half chisel with gaps in it.
In front of the safe he found about a
pound of powder scattered en- the floor
and the remnant of newspaper used
as fuse still sticking in the key hole
and partially consumed by fire. Upon
examining this piece of paper he found
it to be printed in language unknown
to him. Thinking that this might give
a clue to the robber he took the piece
of paper and went around to ses if any
one could read the language or tell
where it came from. A German resi-
dent of the town knew nothing of the
strange tongue. He next called upon
the Jesuit Fathers at the college and
asked them if they could decipher the
singular print or tell him where it had
come from. AS soon as they looked at
the paper, the president of the college
exclaimed "Where did you get this :!
We received this paper last Thursday
by mail, and | do not suppose that an
other such newspaper has ever been
received in the parish. The paper is
published in Russia and is in the
Sclavonic language He then brought
other pieces of the same newspaper
frem private apartment of the college
grounds. Sheriff Dusan told him all
of the circumstances connected with
the partially burnt piece which he had
shown the president, and asked him if
any strangers ever had access to said
private apartment where this news
paper had been taken. He replied
that they had not, and that there were
three or four fierce dogs within the
college premises that would not allow
any stranger to come in, day or night.
Sheriff Dusen then asked him what
parties were living within the college
enclosure who were in the employ of
the Jesuit Fathers. Hsreplied that
young man by the name of Willie
Buchanan was working for them and
occupied room in the college build
ing. Sheriff Duson then returned down
town and found Buchanan in company
with deputy Sheriff Mckinney, whom
Mckinney reported had been acting
very suspiciously, by his begging Nc
Kinney for him and Duson not to think
that he, Buchanan, had anything to do
with the burglary. Buchanan contin-
ued to talk about the burglary and ex-
hibited great uneasiness about the
matter, although the subject. had not
been broached by either officer. Sher-
iff Duson then told Buchanan that he
was the man that committed the bur
glary, and told him that he had broken
open the door with an inch and half
chisel which had gaps in il. He then
asked Buchanan where he had pnt the
chisel, and where he had concealed the
money that he had taken from the
drawer in the store. He first denied
all knowledge of it, but finally confess
ed the crime, told where lie had thrown
the chisel and concealed the money.
beth of which the Sheriff found in the
places designated by Buchanan.
There was only $l.50 in dimes and
nickels taken from the drawer; while
in the iron safs there was $1,000 which
he failed to get. The Sheriff brought
him to town and lodged him in Jail to
await his trial. All of the circnin
stances coupled with his own confes
sion are against young Buchanan in
this terrible crime but since his in
carceration he has persistently declar-
cd that after lighting the fuse he be-
came conscience stricken, and returned
ut the peril Of his life and extinguised
III. He has fled his statement and
petition, throwing himself upon the
mercy of the court, aud asking for a
mitigation of the penalty visited by
the law in such felonies.
On Thursday morning Judge Huds-
peth sentenced him to ak years. hard
labor In the penitentiary.
Buchanan is only about 20 or %
years Of age. aud was taken from an
asylum in New Orleans in his chlldheod
by member of the Petetin family.
He was always treated kindly By them,
and was generally liked in Grand Co
team, where hs was best known.
The court in banc yesterday denied |
Gniteau new trial, and affirmed the
Judgment cf the lower cengt. His8
counsel, it III said, will sue out d writ
il habeas corpus before the Supreme
Cenrs, but the impression is that moth
O.. Al. II I