Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-31
JOHN NELSON DECKER.
His Mysterious Death at Lake Prov-
idence.

Elsewhere Will be found a special
telegram from Lake Providence, an
nouncing the death, by poisoning, Of
Mr.. John Nelson Decker. at his hotel,
in that place, Friday evening He
was a native Of Rochester, n. Y He
was about IS years Of age; was an at-
torney-at-law, having license TO prac-
tice in the courts Of New York. and at
the time Of his death was solicitor
general Of the insurance order
Knights Of the Golden Rule, with
headquarters at Cincinnati and Louis
vile. He first made his appearancein In
this city about twelve years ago in the
capacity Of an advertising man, and
was successful in getting up
several advertising schemes, one among
which was single issue Of a news
paper out Of which be made consider
able money. He also did local writing
for the Vicksburg Times. He left
here and went to New Orleans where
by chance he met Miss Anna Sparrow,
daughter OF Gen. Sparrow, a planter of
East Carroll parish, who, with his FAM
lily, was spending the winter in the
city. She fell in love with Decker
and in opposition to her father, who
looked upon Decker as an adventuTer,
married him. The result was
too sad to relate. Within a
year or but little more Mrs.
Decker died from broken heart
leaving twins. After a short time
Decker left his children, which were
eventually placed in the convent In
this city, where they have been ever
since, and are now two interesting and
beautiful children, they being the
wards Of Chris Chaffe, of New Orleans,
who had charge Of Gen. Sparrow's
property after his death. 1t is charged
by friends Of the family here that after
the death Of Mrs. Decker that
Mr.. Decker was preferred and accepted
| $1,000 provided be would relinquish
all claim to the children and any in
terest they might have in their grand
fathers property, and would leave the
country. (This charge was denied
emphatically by him during his recent
| visit to this city.l About two months
since he returnedto Vicksburg, having
been absent about nine years, saying
| he had come back to look after his
I children. He met considerable OPP
position in this. He made
application, and letters of guardian
ship were granted to. Decker by the
chancery court OF this county some
weeks ago for the two little girls. A
few days ago Judge w. G. Wyley, as
attorney for Decker, brought suit
against Mr.. Chris. Chatfe, Jr., admins
TRAITOR of the estate of Gen. Sparrow,
in the District court Of Louisiana, for
one-third Of the entire estate, which
comprizes four very valuable planta-
tions in East Carroll parish, La. and
said to be valued at at least 100000.
n Gov. McEnery orders an Investiga-
tion.
Special to the Times Democrat.
BATON RoUGE, July 26. Gov. Nc
Emery has sent thefollowing letter to
the district Attorney Of Richland par
ish, which explains itself:
Executive Department. State Of Louisiana
Baton Rouge, July "a. 1885.
2. II. Toes, Esq, District Attorney Rayyllle
Richland La.
Sir--I respectfully call your atten-
tion to the reported brutality on one
Philip Riley in the convict camp at
Crew Lake, with the request that the
matter be thoroughly Investigated by
you, if practicable, and that the atten-
tion Of the next grand jury be called
to it. An extract from the Vicksburg
Herald of July IL, is herewith in
closed for your information.
Respectfully yours,
s. D. MCENERY.
The extract alluded to, gave an ac-
, count Of the brutality said to have
been practiced on the conyicts at Crew
Lake by the prison officers