The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-07-15
NAPOLEONVILLE LETTER.

A Complete and Impartial Account Of inc
! Great Scandal Case which Occupied the
Time of the Twentieth Judicial District
Court for Two Days and Nights-A Holy
Man Charged with an Unholy Action
Pen Pictures of the Court, Officers, Ear
and Participants.
NApoLEoNvILLE, LA, June 90, 1882.
DEAR CHIEF:
On Friday, the 23rd inst, your cores
pondent boarded the splendid steamer
st. Mary, Capt. S. b. Bell commanding,
for this town. 1t is superfluous to say
that was courteonsly received and ell
tertained by the gentlemanly officers OF
this popular Lafourche packet was,
moreover, grateful. to FIND Catherine Cole,
the talented correspondent of the New
Orleans Picayune among the lady passen-
gers, en- route for Thibodaux. She seemed
inlustriously engaged in taking obser-
vations of the various objects of interest
with which this lovely Lafourche coun-
try is replete. She is not particularly
prepossessing in person, yet there was
great deal strikingly fascinating il her
large, bright blue eyes, auburn hair, we'll
developed celestial-not turned up--nose,
icapacious mouth, that universally con-
coded index of mental force, which, to-
'gether with small, neatly formed foot,
tastefully incased in an exquisite little
gaiter made up Il tout en- semble entirely
acceptable to the most fastdious critic.
On reaching this place | discovered
the ownintensely agitated over the most
fragrant scandal that ever figured in the
criminal records of Assumption of which
I will endeavor to draw brief sketch,
rivesting it rs nearly as can be accom-
plished, consistent with the facts of the
case, of its revolving climbs and -four
ishes."
Father Cyprien Venissat, who has been
for the past twenty-five years Curate in
charge Of St. Philemene church at Laba
'dieville, and two young girls, Octavie
and Olivia Devilliat of Thibodaux,
both pupils Of st. Philomene Convent
located about two miles below the afore-
said village, were the principal characters
in what might be appropriately demons
mated the great sensational drama Of
st. Plilomelte Convent. Upon my arri-
val at this centre of civilization, | was
automatically informed that the veneer
able Father was in the custody of the
Sheriff, a warm, personal friend, with
one of whose deputies he was observed
perambulating the streets, usually oscil
Eating between the Court House and the
st. Napoleon presbetery, the residence
of his host, Father Welte.
The Father is a stoutly built, vigorous
looking man, with dark complexion,
small black eyes, sharply pointed nose
and thin, closely compressed lips. There
is nothing absolutely sinister in his
facial expressions; forsooth, when he
smiles, bright rays Of benevolence illu-
mine the countenance. Although he is 50
years of age, he appears much younger
and would be taken by the uninitiated for
a hale, hearty, we'll preserved man of 49.
About a quarter of 4; century ago he was
placed in charge of primitive little
structure, surrounded by frog pond, in
the delecrable village Of Labadieville.
This house Of God scarcely merited the
name Of chapel at the time he assumed
its control, but was probably so designa-
ted; subsequently small brick church
was built on the site of the ruins of the
cd one. The latter was in the way Of
a cyclone several years ago and expert
enced considerable injury for its temer
ity, evidences Of which still exist, the
cyclones ugly damages never having
been repaired. The front of this totter
ing ediice is guarded by a duck pond
and entrance to its sacred precincts cal
only be effected by a narrow one plank
bridge. Father Venissat's circumstances
upon assuming the functions of Curatt
of the original church, were very limited
but by dlnt of indomitable energy, fore
sight and prudence he has accumulated
considerable wealth. The Convent wal
duly inaugurated under the auspices o
the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
and by reason of a liberal patronage wa
placed upon solid basis and is nov
tlourishing. This institution, Fathe
V6nissat | am, reliably Informed, ha
donated to the Sisters, and still sustain
it with Il generosity characteristic of hi
liberal disposition.
The preliminary examination was tixe,
for Tuesday, eth ult., at 10 A. NJ, b.
Judge Knoblock. Long before the tim
named tho roads leading to Napoleon
vile were teeming with people who ha
brought into requisition every conceiya
ble mode of transportation. Such mas
of white males has never been witncsse
i'll this town. The immense number q
attendants from Assumption was pei
eeptEhE increased by the citizens G
Lafonrche and Ascension. An unfuishe
snit in progress the previous day wa
RESUMED Oh Tuesday, and was not dis
posed of until late in the night of tina
day. 1t was shrewdly suspected tina
The case was pnrposely spun out
weary the dense crowd Of spectators i
tho hope hat many of them might retr
10 their homes and possibly not retm'
The following day. Whether this snsp
tsi"n was we'll founded or not, it wa
evident That the postponement Of til
,saan until G c'clncls Wednesday nernin
Tad the desired Eject. At an early ho,
.n wednesday the Court House va