St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-08-31
aW and Order.

There seems to be a fearful epidemic
OF crime stalking through our land
From every section Of the countr
comes tidiDgs of crimes committed, tha
short time since would have caused
thrill of horror to clcctrify and quicker
the blood coursing through our veins
At present we look upon this fearful in
crease OF crime with seeming indifier
ence, and pass over the narrowing
| recltals, with scarcely a Thought az tt
the causes which leads to this condition
OF things in our midst.
There are now confined iu our parish
PRISON, larger number Of persons
charged with crimes, than was ever
before known in the history Of our par
| Ish. The list numbers thirty five, and
their names and oftenses arc as follows
Ernest Williams COL, Joseph Lee
white, Claiborn Wilson col, Cheney
Linton Indian. charged with murder
Sam. Williams col, Kirk Alexander col.
rape; Buck Jordan COL, sodomy Celes-
tin Levergne, ArviIion Beard, Joseph
Smith, Maurice Smith, Lastie Smith
Cyphrozen Meche, Lastie Meche, Eugene
Meche, Leoval Meche. Charles Me-
laucon, Joseph Meche, Jerome Meche,
Charles Aribi, Ursin Boudreau and
Thelismar Bergcron, all white, known
as the Coulee Croche Regulators, and
who are charged with entering in the
night time with intent to kill and mur
der; Henry Melancon col, cutting and
stabbing with intent to murder; John
White, COL, embezzelmcnt Adolpho
billiard COL, assault and battery John
facio COL, burglary ; Alfred Rideau COL,
violation of Act 81; Lastie Lavergne
white, assault with intent to kill Thos.
Lee COL, Elias Lee COL, j. B. Chevis,
COL, larceny; Duval Guillory white, re-
sistlng an officer; j. t. MayfeId col,
disturbing the peace; A. j. G. Dinker
white vagrant, serving out sentence,
and Alfred Savant, insane, awaiting
transportation to Asylum.
Our most worthy Sheriff, L. S. Fon-
tenot, seems determined to put q dam
per Oh the lawlessness which has 80
long been rampant in our parish, and
to that end he and his efficient deputies
have been, and are now alert in arrest
ing and placing in limbo all known vio-
Iators of the law. All classes should
give him their aid and support in restor-
ing law and order to our parish.
The coming criminal term Of the Dis
trict Court is to he most important
'ne, and the results of its session will,
n measure, determine whether claw
and order" or "lawlessness and disor-
ier' shall reign supreme in our parish.
Let our worthy District Attorney put
lis shoulder to the wheel, and push for
ward all criminal cases to an issue-lct
'ur jurors. before whom these cases are
o be tried, do their duty and render
ust and impartial verdicts without fear
n favor-let our honored and respected
district Judge mete out to the guilty
uch penalties as are consistent with the
normity of the ciime--let all york in
nison with the determination that no
be he Of high or low estate,
ball escape the penalty due to his
the lawless element in our
lidst be assured in no unmistakable
ern1s, that the public good demands,
nd Justice will administer swift and
Ire punishment to all wrong doers, and
|awlessness and disorder" in onr midst
ill be among the things that were, and
law and order" will hereafter reign !
lpreme throughout our parish. :