The Opelousas courier., 1889-08-24
The Coulee Croche Affair.

The following special from Opelousas
to the New Orleans Picayune, dated
Aug 10. concerning the deplorable at
fair at Coulee Croche. to which refer
cnce was made in these columns last
week, is supposed to contain a pretty
correct account of the facts of the case
Sheriff Fontenot returned from Coulee
Croche this afternoon, where he had been for
the last thirty-six hours investigating the
shooting of Mr.. Dup6chain by the regulators,
as reported to you yesterday. Sheriff Fonte-
not brought the following prisoners accused
OF this sEpting, to-wit Lastie Meche, Joseph
Smith, Lastie Smith, CeIestin Lavergne, Eu-
gene Meche, Charles Melancon, Maurice
Smith, Arvilien Beard, Siphroyen Meche, L6-
oval Meche. An individual named Gerasin
Meche was also arrested but inasmuch as
his leg was broken from load of buckshot
from Duplechains gun, he was left in Coulee
Croehe under proper gnard.
The facts as ascertaiued from reliable au-
thority are as follows: Thursday morning, at
about , o'clock, the regulators appeared at
Mr.. Duplechains doors and windows, armed
with guns and pistols, which they held as if
ready for use. Dupleehain asked them who
/ they were. They answered that they were
the sheriffs Dupl6chain then asked them
what they wanted. They answered that they
! wanted Sylvanie Leblanc, the negress. Du-
pl6chain told them he would call her. On be-
ing called she appeared in the room. When
she saw the regulators she begged Mr.. Dupl6-
chain to protect her, at the same time catch
ing hold of him. -
At this point the regulators rushed in the
room and grabbed the woman, Ohio was still
holding on to Dupl6chain, when struggle
followed. The struggle continued until the
regulators dragged the woman on the gallery.
In seutfling toward the front door, the regu-
/ lators having dragged both out, Dupl6chain
! ,l,o1 I ,s1,n !,
/ tors reached the ground, dragging the wo-
man, Duplechain's gun snapped the first
! time, but his gun fired the second barrel on
which one of the regulators fell. This was
! the shot that broke Regulator Gerasin Meche's
! leg.
! The regulators then opened fire on Dupl6-
I chain with shOtguns. riddling him from his
( waist up. About this time the regulators
fred shots from either rife or large reyol-
yer, as the balls that pierced the walls and
/ were fouud in tho house were 4calber.
Mr.. Duplechain's wounds, though serious,
viii not prove fatal.
/ This occurrence is denounced by all our peo-
/ pie. Duplechain is one of the best citizens
of that neighborhood and man of means.
j 1t is fortunate that the rifle balls which
pierced the walls did not hit the child in the
bed.
Too much credit cannot be accorded to our
efficient Sheriff Fontenot for the intelligent
and effective manner in which he worked cut
this dastardly act and for bringing the would
be assassins to justice. 1t is by such dill
gence as exhibited by our XHqrthy sheriff that
these acts Of lawl--5ssst lawl-------S5ss viii be stopped
Our peopleShhl ttT:asC the sheriff has done his
whole du9E Mr. Fontenot was accompanied
baRMessrs1C. F. Garland, John Mornhinvee
aud Lee Stagg, his efficient deputies. 1t /:
understood that the sbteitf has sufficient eyi
denee to w;Sssnt NIB arrests which vii
shortly follow.
On Tuesday evening Sheriff Fonteno
brought to town and lodged in Jail the
following parties, accused of completely
in this affair, viz: Charles Arabi ant
Th6lismar Bergeron of Acadia, and Ur
sin Boudreau, of st. Landry On Wed
nesday, jerome Meche was arrested
and lodged in Jail.
Gerassin Mecbe, the party wounded
by Duplechain, is the constable of th
"a ward Of Acadia parish.
The only defense or apology for thi
remarkable occurrence that we hav
heard of is the fact that the people 0
, the neighborhood were outraged at th
example of miscegenation under thei
very eyes, and emboldened and con
taminated by the lawless example G
, their neighbors just across the line i
Lafayette. While these mitigatin
causes may have their weight in th
public mind, they will not amount t
, much in court of justice.
Attorneys Estilette & Dupre an
Laurent Dupr6 have been retained t
assist the District Attorney in the pros
ecntion.
a.