The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1894-08-03
Poisoned.

One Of the most dastardly deeds ever
committed in this section resulted In the
death Of Thomas +. Monroe, collector of
customs at Leesburg, Cameron parish.
Mr.. Monroe boarded with the family of
Judge Henry and lodged in room back
of his office. On Thursday evening" the
25th nit, as was his custom, he drew
from the Cistern pitcher of water and
took it to his room, and then went across
the street to Judge Henry's, where he re-
manned for sOmO time. In his absense
some unknown party emptied into the
picher bottle of strychnia crystals.
After returning to his room he drank q
small n small portion of the water in
which he detected bitter taste. Soon
after, feeling very sick, he started back
to Judge Honry's house, but was taken
with commissions before reaching there
Miss Henry having occasion to go to the
back part of the house, heard his grOans,
and going in his direction found him I'M
conscious. lie was taken in Immediately,
and soon recovered consciousness, when
medical aid was procured. He seemed
better for time, but was again taken
with commissions.
DR.. Z. J. Lyons, of this city, was sent
for, and went to Leesburg last Friday,
and everything was done for the unfor-
tunate man that was possible, but with
out avail, and on Sunday morning he
died. The remains were brought to this
city, and the funeral took place from the
Catholic church last Monday.
In the pitcher of water from which Mr..
Monroe took the fatal draught was found
about a teaspoOnful of the strychnia crys
tails not yet Dissolved, thus removing al
doubt as to the nature of the poison.
Mr.. Monroe was gentleman well
known and highly respected in this and
leans. No clue has been discovered as t.
the author of the dark deed. Mr.. MOnrO,
seemed to have suspicious but did no
communicate them, thinking he wOulC
recover. When taken worse it was too
late to obtain any information from him
The question of the city market is still
occupying the attention Of the people OF
this city to considerable extent, ant
the city council will probably take somt
action in the matter before long. 1t hal
been the custom from time immemOra
for municipalities to control the public
markets. This was so in ancient Rome
and commenced with the dawn Of civil
zatiOn in England, France, and Germany
| 1t is the custom also in the United States
and nearly every city Of considerable siZ,
has its market house, As matter 0
fact it is almost impossible to enforce
sanitary regulations in regard to the sal,
of meats and vegetables in the absense o
a market house. The writer has been Il
some pains to Obtain the views of tn
principal business men and property own
ers on the subject and found a larg
majority Of those who expressed an Opin
ion, favored the acceptance Of the prOpO
sition Of Mess. JOLIET & Gueble, A few
were Indifferent on the subject, and few
opposed.
The proposition referred to is not ii
was stated in the ECIlO last week
that having been Withdrawn, but i
as follows; Mess. JOLIET g. Gueble pro
pose to give to the city twenty per cen
Of the gross receipts of the markets hOus
for period Of twenty-five years, and Il
the expiration of that period to make tn
city clear title to the property.
As said before, a large minority Of on
people seem to favor this plan, and tn
prepondeTeuce of opinion among tn
legal fraternity is that the city COunci
have power so to do. Of course this mat
ter can easily be determined to a certain
ty by careful investigation of the law
and if the power is lacking under tn
proposed new charter, it could be change
to cover this point. 1t is of great i'm
pOrtance that the matt Ell should be def
nitely settled, and we trust the presen
prOgF essive council will take hold Of til
matter in earnest.