St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-05-24
The killing of C. C. Traweek.

we mentioned the killing, on the 9th O.
last month, of one G.. G. Traweek, {
fugitive from justice from Leon county
Texas. AS it was proper for him to do
the said deputy, through his attorney, 6
few days after the homicide, petitioneo
the court as follows:
To the Honorable, the Judge of the 18Th
District Court of Louisiana, holding
! session in and for the parish of ST.
Landry.
The petition of Edward X. WalIior, a
resident Of the parish and State afore-
said, respectfully represents that on the
9th of April last, while attempting to
arrest one c. C. Traweek, in this parish,
under aud by virtue of requisitiOn
signed by the Governor of the State of
Texas, he was compelled in defense of
his own life to shoot said Traweek, from
which shot he died almost imme edlately
thereafter.
Petitioner further represents that a
c0roDers jury, after investigating the
circumstances attending the homicide,
returned verdict that the deceased came
to his death by a pistol SHOT fired by your
petitioner, ana their finding now re-
tNa bNo ouo uSpOSitSu III shO oAiSO vi
the Clerk of Court constitutes q charge
against hin, which it is the duty OF this
Court to examine into and to proceed
with in accordance with law. Petitioner
further represents that, at the time of
attempting OF said arrest, he was acting
as deputy for the sheriff of this parish
and under his orders, and he, upon his
OVID part, desires to have a full investi-
CATION made of the circumstances 10
order that, if lie be blameless, no re-
prOach shall come upon him as a man
Or as an officer of your honorable court.
wherefore he plays that your honor
able court will order an examination in
the premises according to law and for
general relief.
by bis attorneys,
Tnos. II. LEWIS e. Son.
Acting on the foregoing Judge E. T.
Lewis gave the following order:
Let an examination be had, as prayed
tor IN the foregoing petition, on the
10th day of May, 1890. at 10 H., aud let
the District Attorney be notified hereof.
The District Attorney being absent
from the parish ut that time, and not
returning before the 10Th the cxamlDa-
tion did not take place ON that day but |
W DO lShACu 1Ol tuC 1Ottg VII blCt udf
after thorough examination of the
case. the following order of court was
given:
Having caused all the witnesses on |
behalf of the State and the accused to |
appear before me, and having heard
heir statement under oath, in open
court, in presence of the District Attor-
ley on behalf OF the State and of the
rxsfl, hsa tho onnoln- |
lion arrived at, after mature eOnsideIa-
ion Of the facts, is, that while possibly
he shooting of the deceased might have
'rcn avoided, yet it would have, under
he circumstances, been running great
isk of losing his own life for the &C.
used to have delayed longer in taking
Iecisive steps.
The deceased had refused to saFTen-
Ter in obedience to the demand of the
fhcer; was endeavoriDg to enter his
lOuse was warned several times to
top or be would be fired upon, and he
lad reached the door OF bis house with
lis bands raised towards the top Of the
|0or, at which time the officer fired. A
oaded gun was found Immediately over
his door within arms reach, and when
{ is considered. in addition to this, that
he officer had been warned that de-
eased would resist arrest; that he was :
fugitive from justice in the State of
reEas; that he was charged with arson,
nd that be was trying to get into his
wn house while yesisting arrest, | am I
t opinion that the accused was legally +,
lstified in firing. To have delayed
,nger would have involved a probable
allure to execute the writ OF arrest.
nd great danger Of loss to life OF limb i
q the part of the accused. 1t is, there
ore, ordered that the accused be dis ,.
harged in the premises without day.
Done, read and signed May 10th, 1890.
L. T. LEWIS, {
Judge 18Th District, La. I
We have given the details so that the {
eople of St. Landry be properly in
,rmed on the subject.