The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-02-10
Capture Of Gustaye Harris.
The Murderer of Erwin Garrett Arrestes
in st. sIamaa.

osSpIukO VI sSs
The Murderer of Erwin Garrett Arrested
in St James.
Gustave Harris, alias Yank, the youth.
full mulatto who shot and killed Isaac
Erwin Garrett, young white man, i'll
the adjoining. parish of Assumption, on
the 9th of November, 1882, and for whose
arrest a reward of 500 has been offered,
was apprehended yesterday on the plan
tation of Mr.. A. NJ. sobral, in st. James
parish, by Mr.. Frank Dalferes -Jr., and
Deputy Sheriff Jones, both from AS
sumption. Nj. Dalferes, through whose
efforts the murderer was caught, keeps
store on the Sobral place. On Thurs
day Harris entered the store and his
appearance struck the proprietor as ac-
cording with the: published description
of the fugitive criminal. Engaging the
man in conversation, Mr.. Dalferes found
that the fellow was familiar with many
persons and places in Assumption, and
particularly in the locality where the
Garrett homicide took place. Without
doing Or saying any thing to indicate his
suspicion, the storekeeper promptly pro
ceeded to Napoleonville, where he ac-
quainted the Sheriff with the Object of
his mission, and deputy Jones, who had
known Harris, was detailed to assist in
arresting the suspected party. Coming
to Donaldsonville yesterday morning,
the officer and his companion took the
early train for st. James, and lost no time
in making their way to the Sobral place,
where they captured Harris-for it was
indeed him-while he was at work in the
field blowing. The first intimation the
man had of the purpose of his visitors,
was received when they covered him
with their revolvers and demanded his
surrender. Tho fellow was completely
overcome and nearly tainted. He made
no attempt to resist, acknowledged his
identity and freely confessed to The kill
ing. He was handcuhted aud brought
to Donaldsonyille on the afternoon train,
and taken from here to Napoleonville in
hack. The Jail at the latter place is
insecure, and the captured murderer will
probably be removed to either the Don
aldsonville or Thibodaux Jail Cor safe
keeping. @
The circumstances attending the MUIR
der of young Garrett, as described in the
CHIEF just after the occurrence, were as
follows. Harris had been employed as a
laborer on tb;S; plantation of Mr.. Stephen
Garrett, ErEsin's uncle, and was. dis
charged for misconduct. AT the request
of his uncle, ErMi in mounted his horse
to superintend the removal of the mans
household effects from the place. One
load of stuff was hauled ont to the levee
aud Harris coolly informed Erwin that
when the next load was brought he
would shoot him. True to his threat, he
opened fire oESpss young man and shot
him through the heart, killing him al
most tarteneously. Running to the
bayou, pursued by several persons, he
swan across the stream and disappeared
in an adjacen Scane field. A number of
shots were fred at him, but all the balls
few wide Of their mark.
DR.. w. NJ. McGalliard of Donaldson
vile, brother-in law of the murdered
youth, promptly advertised II description
of Harris and reward of $500 for his
arrest, and Gov. McEbery shortly after
ward issued a proclamation offering 5000
for the capture and conviction of the
fugitive, Several men haye been ARES
ted in this vicinity and in distant parts
Of the country who resembled Harris,
and tidings received from time to time
indicated that he had made his way hun
hreds of miles from the scene of his das-
tardly crime, but it now appears that he
has been near here every since the murder
was committed. In fact, he was met and
accosted by DR.. McGalliard on the Bayou
Lafourclle road, short distance below
this town, only two weeks ago, but as
the murderer had his face mufaed up un-
der pretense of suffering from toothache,
and gave prompt ana satisfactory replies
to number of inquiries as to his place
of residence and Notwithstanding that
he was employed on the Belle Alliance
place aud lived in Smoke Bcnd-the
Doctors suspicious were allayed and
Harris had a narrow escape from arrest.
The open, deliberate and premeditated
character of the murder leads to the
general belief that Harris will be con-
victed and hanged. Mr.. Dalferes, who
is a very worthy young man, will prob
ably have no trouble i'll getting the re-
ward offered by DR.. MeGalliard, and he
has many friends here who rejoice in his
good luck in this regard. 1t is doubtful,
however, if the 5000 offered by the Gov
ernor will be paid, as the proclamation
was intended to cover period of thirty
days from the date of its issuance, and
that period has long since expired.
Since the foregoing was put in type
Gustave Harris has been bought to
Donaldsonville and placed in Jail.
BLIND ToM.-This musical phenom-
enon, a blind. -full-blooded Negro, whose