Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-09-18
LYNCHEO BY A MOB
Three Negroes Were Taken From
Jail and Strung Up.
REFUSED ToMAkE CONFESSION
Their Brosher Shot Judge Estopinal
and They Kept His Hiding
Place = Secret

~.A :" >fA%@~*-@-~~Ht - ~ . :" =
triple lynching almost within the
shadow Of the city last night The VIC
tins Of the vengeance Of the mob were
three negro brothers named Julian and
the crime which they expiated in 80
summary a manner Was the shielding Of
fourth brother. Roseiins Julian. who
on Friday afternoon shot Judge Victor
Estopinal 70 death while trying him for
a trivial oifense. seriously wounding the
judges son and then made good his es-
cape. The shooting occurred In the
court room and the murderer continued
firing until the judge who followed 10
close in upon him. fell mortally wounded
Immediately outside and TO the left of
the building. The brutal negro then
stood over the prostrate form Of his vic-
tim and fired fourth shot which Is
supposed TO be the one that passed
through the heart
Escaped 10 the swamp.
The negro made fer the swamps in
the rear Of the city and being perfectly
familiar with them was soon In safe
hiding. Posses were Immediately or
ganizsd and all night and all Saturday
the surrounding country was secured.
but the searching was fruitlese SO far Gs
the real criminal was concerned. The
mother, two brothers and two sisters Of
the negro were arrested yesterday after
noon at the Black ridge in the rear Of
the city by the city police and were
then taken To the little Jail on Judge
Estopinal's place about Southport
Another brother was arrested later In
the day in the came neighborhood and
taken 10 the same Jail. What caused
the arrest of the mother and two sisters
yesterday was that on a visit being
made 10 the house these females were
found wrapping up some clothing and a
loaf OF bread. This aroused the suspic-
/ ion that the articles were TO be con-
veyed TO the fugitive. The brothers
were discovered going over the Black
ridge and had shirt bundled up as il
it were intended for Julian. This nat
urally aroused suspicion against them.
The two brothers were caught coming
out Of the swamps and as they persis-
tently refused 10 state whence they had
come they. too. fell under the bane of
doubt. Hence all the arrests.
Mother and sisters Released.
The aroused populace was generally
In favor of taking no harsh action
against the females. but as 90 the males
they appeared determined TO string
them up or make them talk. About ii
o'clock a body consisting of about twen-
ty-five men. some armed with rifles and
shotguns came up 10 the Jail. They un-
locked the door and then held a confer
ence among themselves as to what they
should do. Some were in favor OF hang
ing the whole tive. while others raised
objections and insisted that only two OF
the brothers, the short one and the tall
one. Valsin and Bakile should be taken
out and strung up. This was finally
agreed To and several of the men went
into the Jail and coming out afterwards.
brought with them the two doomed
negroes. They were hurried across to a
pasture, 100 yards distant and then
asked to take their last chance of saving
their lives by making a confession. The
negroes made no reply.
Prayed Before Being Lynchcd.
They we're then told To kneel down
and pray. One did SO, the other re-
vently. The taller negro was then
uOtrktti up tlb fClnuinNA
five minutes before the second one was
hoisted. The shorter negro stood
gazing at the horrible death OF his
brother without fiinching. The mob
remained standing al the place for
about half an hour when some one sug-
gested that they go back and hang the
three others. This was opposed by
several and il was finally decided that
they should 90 back and take the re-
naming brother out 10 hang him. The
other two were to be taken out and
'fiogged with an order To get out Of the
parish in less than half an hour. The
mob then started back 10 the Jail to put
their threats into execution. The third
brother. Paul. was taken out and
hanged 10 tree. his body hanging in
full view OF morbid crowd during the
day.
The lynching was conducted very
quietly. and not shot was fired during
the entire proceedings. In the mean
time the real murderer Is at liberty. and
his brothers who died 20 save him from
the fate which they met will soon be
|. resting in unmarked graves heroes of a
peculiarly distinctive type.
Plot to Murder the Judge.
The murder Of Judge Esiopinal was
the carrying out OF preconceiyed plot
The judge had been very strict in his
rulings when tho negro tough element
az the parish were brought before him
90 answer charges made against them
Ii Is believed that Julian precipitaisxl
too hastily what might have heon con
cocte.l 20 bc carried out later on. or II
may be that the other negroes. parties
/ 10 the plot became weak kneed At the
the last moment and left Julian 10 acl
himself.
Judge Estopinal once saved the life a
Julian. The part he took in politics ai
the last election was displeaalne t'o q
/ white element who lived in his Neigh
horhood. and they were taking him on'
in a wagon 10 put an end 10 has life
The dead judge interceCied and Julian
was allowed TO come hack 10 Jefferson
parish. A negro named Houston uas
In opposition 10 Estopipal Tor The placs
held by the judge al the time q hH
death that II Judge a the Eth iustics
court Of jefferson parish.
Julian vac a supporter ~ Honston. ~
vas nearly all the negroes. and slncs
H0ustons defeat there has been bed
blood between the opposing parties and
trouble had been expected Tor iona
time. Julian wss Houstons chief heu
tenant.
R0w AMONG. TDREsTFIte-