The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-12-04

called the old man to his front gate
earlY in the morning, and with the re-
mark, 4 have come to kill you, Son
nier drew his pistol. The aged victim
begged for mercy, but Sonnier had
none in his composition, and shot him
to death. Sonnier fed and secreted
himself, and was protected by some
relatives.
'sSheriff Hayes was sheriff then and
made several attempts to capture Son
nier, but was unsuccessful. While
hid in the woods be waylaid and muir
dered an old man named Runyon, who
was returning after selling lot of
wool, etc, and robbed the body of
SPAS, leaving the watch and empty
pocketbook behind. Sonnier on shoot
ing his victim, fired the bullet through
three of the bills which were in one
of the old mans pockets. He subse-
quently gave the perforated bulls TO
his brother Beske, who foolishly at
tempted TO have them exchanged in
the neighborhood.
"Beake was made witness and his
testimony fixed the crime on John
Sonnier. This murder occurred IN
Calcasieu parish, and the Indictment
still hangs over Sonnier's head IN
tried.
ain 1874 ! became sheriff, and made
several attempts to capture the &C
cnsed when he made yearly visits to
his relatives. On one occasion cap
tured his horse and coat, but he es-
capped with gun by fording a creek.
Sonnier, after this close call left the
State. ! notified the authorities of
Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Miss
issippi, yearly, and offered reward
of $3.50 in cash for any one who
would inform me of his whereabouts.
ale was finally located at Sandy
Point, Brazoria county, Texas, under
the name of John Miller, where he
was guarding convicts for Mr.. Cash on
the Cash plantation. He had been
employed there for overtwelve months,
and had been twice discharged by the
Board of Control for cruelty, but he
was reinstated each time, as Mr.. Cash
said that Miller (Sonnier) could get
more work out of convicts than any
other man. His position there pro
tected him from suspicious, and at the
same time allowed him to be fully
armed.
an March, 1880, myself, Sheriff
Noble, of Harris county, Texas, now
deceased, and his deputy J. ]. FAINT,
since sheriff, arrested Sonnier by com
ing upon him suddenly in the Cash
sugar-miIl. Notwithstanding that the
muzzIes of our three revolvers were
cooked and pressed against his breast,
he seized his revolver and half drew
it from his holster before We could
grab him. 1t was then as much as
we all could do, without shooting him,
to overpower and disarm him before
he could use his weapon.
'Leaving Sheriffs Noble and FAINT
at Houston, returned home by way
Of Galveston and brought Sonnier to
St. Landry and lodged him in the
parish jail at 0pelousas, but that
being considered too insecure and be-
lieving he would have assistance from
the outside, procured an order from
Judge Hudspeth to remoVe him TO
the parish prison, in New Orleans,
where he was kept until his final trial
and conviction, the jury standing
eleven for hanging and one for i'm
prisonment for life.
"When the jury returned the ver-
dict-'guilty without capital punish
ment-he remarked, turning to me
Sheriff, I'll stand that they cant
keep me in the penitentiary long
"Sonnier shot Prudhome because
the latter switched nephew Of the
former a boy eleven years Of age.
The description sent by the peniten.
tiary authorities is excellent, with the
exception of soar on the top Of his
bead where he was struck with bar
rel of a gun. SoBnier is known to
have Killed an Old man at the close OF
the war, 10 oblige his then FREED
Ranyon, who he subsequently killed
in Calcasieu for his money
"He is believed to have aided IN
the murder OF old man Evans and his
two sons, on Fine Island, ~ Calcasleu.
These three men were al called 70 the
door by the assasslns, under the pre-,
shot to death.
oohnier ana . Iriene = went = mr.