The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1883-10-06

to await further information from Geor-
gia concerning alleged crimes there.
Sheriff Duson spoke in high terms OF
the courage of his deputies, Hayes and
Mckinney, in this desperate tight
We forgot to state that shot frou
Mckinney had struck Lane in the sboul
der before Dnson gave him the coup de
g'Wce.
THE PRISONERS STATEMENT.
On being interviewed in his cell last
Wednesday evening, the prisoner gave
us the following statement:
My name is B. Wood Brown; am
20 years old, ii native Of North Carolina
and farmer by occupation. Lane and
myself had been engaged by Mr.. Payne
to do some work on his sugar house. ut
$3.50 per day. After working one day
at that price NJ. Payne told us that as
we had no tools, and were not good
mechanics, he would only allow lis 75c
per day and board, which we agreed to
take. On the evening of the fatal oc-
currence, during the absence OF Mr..
Payne, Mr.. Nicely, with whom we had
had no transaction, and did not know
as having any authority asked Lane If
he was going to stop a certain leak IN
the roof Lane answered that he would
do what Payne directed. Nicely then
said he had to get out if he refused to
do the work he ordered. and then turned
to walk off Lane then made the remark
that if he wanted to boss him he was
mistaken in the MAE. Neely came back
aud asked Lane what was that he said,
when Lane repeated it. | am wing
you These facts just as they were related
to me By Lane, for while this was trans
piripg was at work on the roof OF the
sugar house. I then heard (the first
words had heard distinctly "God d
you, get OUT / an rot positive who
spoke, but believe it was Nicely, and
immediately after this heard the shoot
ing. Lane then called to ME to come
down, Which did, and then asked him
what was the matter; he replied that
> he had shot that man. asked why he
had done so, and he answered that be
> had been ordered out, repeating, VOd
: d-n you, get out" aud he believed that
! Neely was armed, and he felt that hs
could not cope with him except with hi
plstol, anu no suOV nlW'
. Lane was cousin of mine, about q
, years Of age, and also a native of Nortt
Carolina. Having been life long friends
G I considered it my duty to stand by hin
. in bis troubles, and was determined tt
I defend him under all circumstances a
i long as my assistance was needed,-al
J. though not approving of his act, and
$ am satisfied that the crime would no
q have been committed had been nea
|, to him at the time.
Il Although poor, friendless and un
G known, striving to earn an honest livin
e by hard labor, is ii strange that "
g should be unwilling to submit to treat
e ment any thing but humane; and ca
n my friend bo blamed for at least show
= ing natural resentment for Neely's un
IS provoked insults? | ask this Questio
d in all caDder, without-as ! have sal
lie before-appreying the harsh step take
y by him, but only to show that there We
10 at least some provocation.
rs The prisoner then gave substantial
, the same version of what occurred aftt
IS the killing aud at the rencontre betwee
70 them and the sherff's posse, as al
l. given above, and then adds:
y have DO complaint to make OF Il
re officers who arrested me: think tbs
ae done their duty, and considering ii
le terrible reports that had been mad
20 CONCERNING our characters, certain
le had no right to expect that their actioI
20 would have been as fair as they wer
1T | consider them brave men and comp
re tent officers I have been we'll trcat'
LII by them since my arrest.