St. Landry democrat., 1889-05-18
VILE PLATTE WHITE CAPS.

The following specials from our tow 4
to the Times Democrat. the first from
an unknown source, tie other from
Sheriff +. S. FOntenot, are herewiti
given for the benefit OF our country
readers, who do not have access to tue
big city papers.
! May l3.-The town wore somewhat Of Il war
! like appearance this morning; parties could be
sccm III the Courthouse square armed with SHOT
! guns and Winchesters The court house and
! recorders offices looked like an arsenal. The
| toliing of the courthouse bell calling these
meetings had worked many CT the people up
| to 4 high STATE or excitement. All this wat
caused by the report that the regulators OF
White Caps Of Flne Platte were expected in
| town this morning to rescue three of their
! number who were custody under Charge
! not hailabte. and were to have al examination
| to-day. ihe charges were shooting into
houses in the night tlne with intent to murder
| The friends OF the parties were interviewed
/ by tile THE IIMEs-DENOCkAT correspondent,
and they said they han ndi come tor the pur-
pose oi resculnG the persrlts to-day, bat that
they came to see that they were admitted to
Daii: that lnany persons Wno have Sized human
blood i'll that vicinity have not been n.0lcStvtl,
aud other offenders vino, III cold blood, mus :
Gered persons, have been Released entirely or
bonded, and as ti4cse We're allowed bond for
killing Niie Platte men should be bonded or
they would reluaSa them.
The examination was held and the prisoners
! Were buud,,i The bond was fixed at $1,000.
They and their friends have returned HON,
Some forty OF the town people rendered their
services to tle authorities. The majority. low
ever, armed themselves and preferred to pro-
teet themselves and their homes if involved
without cooperating with the authorities
OrhLoUsAs, Lid, May H. l8~9
Relying upon your desire to publish only
the truth, request you to give PLACE To this
correction OF II statement i'll your cuiunns oi
to-day's ssle. relative to the bains of the
Vile Platte White Caps, or regulators. by the
district Judge yesterday and the steps taken
10y the officers and people of this town in anti
clpation OF the threatened interference by the
friends OF the accused parties.
kunors reached the town that largo num-
bcrs of the friends of the accused i4tended to
come to the town armed yesterday " take the
prisoners out of Ey custody in case they should
be declined bail. The citizens of the town OF
OpelOusis, without regard to former political
or Local differences, at once formed themselves
into law and order aSsOciat ion to sustain tn.
officers III maintaining the law. They i'll
formed me that they held themseiVG in readi-
ness 10 obey summons AZ o posse coa,itatus. |
accepted the offer ana Summoned thelu, and
ley were present 10 the number of fifty; near
the court building. while JndgG Lewis was
shulding the examination.
The affidavit charged prisoners with break
ing and entering dwelling ouse i'll the night
time With intent to kill. The statute makes
the utfense puni liable with death, and conse-
4uemly not hailablt, If at the time there be
person lawfully within the dwelling house
ihe evidence showed that no person was i'll
the house at he tine of the breaking and en-
terinEi consequently the accused wero en-
filled by lawsto be baiird.
Your correspondent intin!atts that The court
was iiItimidatcd by the friends OF the accused
Nobody here was ltimdated. nor were the
people III high state OF excitement. as stated
by your correspondent. They were prepared,
were determined and perfectly calm.
There is no foundation for the charges OF
your correspondent against the officers OF This
parish. 1t would have been faIrer, if instances
mad been specified wherein the officers have
ialled to do their duty.
Your correspondent reports that tho friends
of the accused informed hlm that they would
release the accused If they were not bond d
This statement jnstities all the precautions
that were taken by myself and the citizens OF
this town.
The law had its course and any attempt to
Interfere with its duties would have been
promptly suppressed by the oifcers and posse
under my command. Had the prisoners been
relnandcd 10 Jail without bail their friends
would have made no effort fo Ieiease Them
seeing that the officers ana citizens of Opeou-
sas We're prepared and determined to resist
with arms any such attempt.
The people of Opelousas were not divided
in sentiment ON this OCCASION as illtimated by
Your correspondent. Th Sc who held aloof
from the support of the officers were few in
number and OF Insignificant influence.
T. 8. FUNTENOT
Sheriff of st. Landry parish.