The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-06-21
JUDICIAL sOLEMNITY.
a Death Sentence in st. John.

triet Court OF st. John Parish. The death sem
fence was passed on @ criminal. the first
sentence OF that KIND IN that neutrality-suspicious.
fort5 yeafs. e |
Amos Seaton, colored man, aged about |
thirty-fiye years, rs the unfortunate man whose 7
life the law claims. lie was convicted OF muir |
der without ouaif cation. The facts are as !
follows: About the third of September 1882,
on a Saturday evening, SeatOn entered
country store near the plantation on which he
| worked and without any cause struck eOlored
man named Charles Williams The latter
| knowing SeatOn to be the "better man" rOwdy
aud desperate inicharacter, immediately left
and went to Cufeaud's Hall, at which fair
was heidi White in the front yard the Hall,
he met several friends, among them Abraham
Veal, also colored, aud told them of having
been struck; while thus cOnyersng, Seatopwho
had followed him, stepped into the crowd, and
i said to Veal, id0 you want to take it up
Veal answered mo. only want to know why
YOU struck WilIiains}" With this, firing cun-
menced, and Seaton was seen running at Veal
With a pointed pistol shouting where is the
BASTARD" and shooting two or three times.
One oil the balls entered the brain OF Veal;and
he died nextday. DR.. Donaldson pronouncing
the wound fatal. Veal was not armed, and
had made no threats or assault SeatOn next
morning disa Jpeared, and WAS only arrested
lately in New Orleans where lie was dis
, covered by some relative Ofthe deaeeased.
When DIR Huard, the coroner, held the
inquest, some OF the witnesses declared they
knew little or nothing bout the killing. On
7 the trial of the case, however, they testified
fully as to all the particu airs, explaining as a
reason Tor the discrepancy in their statements
= that while SeatOn was at large they were IN
Q dread of him and did not dare to give the
full facts. Their testimony on the trial was
corroborated by the other Witnesses But this
discrepancy on the part OF SOME witnesses was
I the principal ground OF argument tor accused.
1 n When Seat0n was arragned Judge Hahn
asked him ii he had counsel and answering
Automatically, the case was set down Tor trial
: several days later, On the day fixed for the
trial he sta ed he had no counsel The Judge
/ then assigned him Messrs. BaQuie, Leblanc
and Burlington as counsel, and granted them
7 time To consult with accused. They prepared
an affidavit fJr Il continuance, which was de
clared us legally Insufficient by Judge Hahn,
but in view OF the gravity OF the case he al
d lowed q continuance of one week. The jury
i was about equally diyided in color, and was
: Who're than usually Intelligent Every one had
( been, examined on his UOir DIRE as to having
seruples against capital punishment, and AN
J. swered "no.' District Attorney Leche was AS
sisted by l.. DePoOrter, Esq, and the
accused by the three gentlemen assigned him
? by theJudge. Thejury were out about One-hal
. hour, and returned with a verdict of guilty
q signed by G. A. keting, foreman 4Ili
A motion for new trial was made and ar
q gued with much zeal and ability. Judge HahI
!, reviewed all the points at length and over
rdedthe motion. 3
a.. When the accused was about ttbe sentenced
= to the usual question he said u only ask you
n Honor for mercy" The court room wa
otowded with quiet, serious audience. an(
Jf every face bore solemn aspect. Judge Hahi
alluded to the extremely disagreeble duty i'm
posed on him. This was the first capital sen
Il tence ever passed by him. He felt the weight,
- responsibility and had examined and pondere'
al over the facts OF the case frequently seriousl,
and quietly with the desire to find some linz
Il, ia the evidence missing, or some reasonabl
. doubt o ttad So that this dreadful duty Nigh
- be spared him. He was sorry the case was 81
n. clear; and he could not help agreeing with til
y jury in their opinion OF the guilt There wa
" no possible room for doubt. The Judge wen
T. over all the facts of the case, showing tlat tn
Vi accused had "a heart regardless OF social dut
=, and fatally bent on mischief" The unprt
=" v5ked striking Of Williams, a fellow laborel
10 one Ut his own color and status, i'll life, on
entitled TO his sympathy and friendship, wa
ne described; then tue lnagignant following {
q Williams to the Fair where we're assemble
VI many men, women aud children, inp0centl
h. enjoying themselves, as they had a right to 4
, and where the entertainment of good and quite
~ people, after the lahors of the week on tin
sabbath eve, was interrupted and broken u
by this, desperate, was alluded to; and til
q. meek and gentle conduct of Veal, who did NJ
= wish to take up amy quarrel, who was in til
S1' peace of the State, unarmed and inoifensiv,
, and the dastardly shooting of him, were de
ly cribed. ThephilOs0phy of capital punshmeI
was reviewed. and the Judge said that ii
though many refined and well-lneaning Peep
:, were as o rule opposed to capital punishment
III yet no man, no matter how tender-hearte
To would or should be willing that Il wild bea
should be permitted to live which followed
lis reckless life OfdestructiOn and murder. Thi
3 every rule had it's exceptions The scripture
u declare that "YhosO shedeth mans blood, |
=. man shull his blood be she'd Aud now "a
~ ask for mercy! On that fatal night when DO
or Veal, quiet, inottensiye with nothing bat kin
ness asked why You struck u fellow creatn
be and disclaimed any idta of having fuss, h
poor man, who labored 10y the sweat of b
vi brow to earn AN honest living, man of yo
race entitled to your friendship, wien he sto,
there unarmed, you showed him no mere
Even IT were, disposed to extend mercy
you, the law leaves me no such power. T.
law and the jury have fixed your punishme
ots III am not permitted to alter it. While t
Judge was admonlShing the prisoner that b
ell o short time was allowed him on EARTH al
that the terrible pangs and torture betwe
les now and the day of execution might be SO
la, ened Dy resort to religious reflection al
oS devotion, the utmo at sOlelnnity pervaded Il
al court room, many persons even officers 81
attorneys being in tears. the Judges voice W
all gradually becoming more hoarse and talteril
- anu nnaily he was SO much overcome by Ell
tlon tpat he could continue no further. Aft
A,l iew seconds, he handed the Judgment to
-" clerk to be read. 1t is thus; l3d
OF IN tins case considering the verdict
e equity against the defendant, charged wi
lry the CRIME OF murder and sections 1874 9S3 a
49, tVu1 @hu hUu0 OF inc I[eVlSou OJaGuteS OF
Ou- State of Louisiana, and the motion for "a n
no trial herein having been heard and overrul
: q and no motion or proceeding being now Def,
mt the court to arrest Judgment, 6H
II is ordered, adjudged and decreed Il
ON Amos SeatOD. the defendant, do suffer the p
atty OF the law for his aforesaid crime OF m
bre der. and that in accordance with the law
~ sutf.gt the punishment of d, ath by hang
Lue by the neck until he be dead, ON 81
tha day as his Excellepcy. the Governor of
State Of Louisiana shall designate, after
the titled copy of the whole record OF The prOoe
ings in this case shall have been sent to him
u Governor and his warrant for that pnrpC
Tho under the seal Of the State shalt be issued
the sheriff ofthis parish, all in accordance W
mn the provisions oflawp.
~ Thus done, rendered and signed in open col
INC and in presence of the accused, at the Coz
= house in the Parish OF Sid ohm the BAPTIST
)he l4th day of JUNE, 1884 being the last day of
jury term OF Court"
ing NJ. HAHN.
We El Judge
During all these proceedings the priso
u showed no emotions. At the conclusionMr
~, quie, OF counsel, made a feeling speech and
'eiI . final act asked for an appeal to the Supre
Court which was granted. As the case prese
id scarcely any legal points the Judgment of