The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-10-10
LETTER FROM MORGAN CITY,

A Mysterious Murder-l3utcher Hughes to
Try the Insanity Dodge-Cheap wharf.
age at BeJ wick-Remoyal Of tho Nor xsn
Machine shop-Heavy Robbery-specisl
Tax Election, etc.
MORGAN CRY, La, Oct 6, 1885.
EDITOR CHEF:
Our town is all excitement this evening
over the finding of body, or rather the
skeleton of man in strip of woods about
nile below here and not far from the
railroad. Many are ih6 HI couje ec&&ures as to
whether foul murder has been committed
or not; the predominant opinion is that a
murder has been perpetrated. The skele-
ton was discovered in the hollow of a log,
lying on some palmetto and other leaves,
which we're placed as if the man had fixed
them for bed. Near by were found pis-
tol and several pocket t-knives, also the rem
nants of valise which had been burned up.
There was no flesh on the bones to tell
whether he was white or colored man, but
new pair of shoes and some clothing COW
cred the bones of the feet and body. In the
watch pocket of the pants about five dollars
in money was found, and an examination
by our Coroner, DR.. Wise, showed that the
skull had been broken in several places and
that the brain had oozed out through the
crevices. With such fractures of the skull
it would be impossible for man to move
himself from the spot where he received
the blows, and it is quite evident from this
fact that some one or more parties dyed
their hands in the victims blood for the
purpose of robbing him, and then placed
the body in the log to conceal the crime.
The murdered man was probably q pedler.
Joseph Hughes, the inhuman monster
who shot and killed young Dugas, has been
removed from the franklin Jail to that of
New Iberia, the former being insecure and
it having been reported that his friends had
threatened to release him by force. Hughes
will attempt the insanity dodge, but it will
hardly work in his case.
Our sister town, Berwick, is having
wharf built where boats can land without
being charged exhorbitant wharfage. This
will give the over-the- Bay people decided
advantage over Morgan City, as they will
receive freight much cheaper and will not
be dependent on our great railroad monop-
oily. Perhaps this will open the eyes of our
citizens, else the old adage of None so
blind as those who will not see" will be
verified.
The blacksmith and machine shop of the
Morgan railroad at this place has been re-
moved to Alsiers.
Mr. Pat Whalen, blacksmith and ma
chinist who has been employed in the Nor
gan Line shop at this place Jor a number
of years, was robbed of 5000 by some thief
who entered his bedroom during the night
of the 28th ult., and took the money from
under the mattress, where it was concealed
in little bag. The sum was the accumu-
lation Of many years Of toll and its loss is
keenly felt; $170O was in paper money, the
balance in gold.
A proclamation has been issued by our
Mayor calling special election, to be held
on the oath inst, wherein the tax payers of
Morgan City will cast their votes on the
proposition to assess special tax of five
mills for the purchase of steam fire en-
gine. It is to be hoped there will be solid
vote cast for the assessment" This town,
unlike most country places, has good hard,
shelled streets for the engine to run upon,
and good supply Of water. With such a
protection against FIRE the property owners
might be able to get out insurance policies,
and at fair rates, while as it Is now, no in
suranos company will take risks here at any
rate. ga word to the wise is sufficient
Several other families move from here
this week and one or two come to replace
them. SNOOZER,