The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-05
CHAPTER ".

John a. Niurrcll ard his influential
coallutors all through the Southwest
had set up state Of affairs altogether
anomalous. Tho history of mankind
Goes not show another example OF wide
spread and perfectly organized lawless-
ness to compare with it in holiness Of
design and accuracy O. execution.
Murrell appeared upon the scene in
Alabama. NJ ssissippl and Lou siana
few years after Burr':; scheme had come
to naught. and he found that the arch
conspirator, together with such men as
Wilkinson on one hand and the La
Elites on tho other, had educated a
large constituency in the various
This was Just the wind for the great
robbers sail, and how he utilized it is a
ma ter OF history. One effect OF his
oryaniiatio was this: It became so
formidable that even the officers Of the
law in many places ware its OILS, and
the elections were controlled by it, OF
course, !. conEinat on SO powerful in
tilniaatcl the good and fascinated the
bad 70 person was strong enough to
cUIUlilU Ultl.C IA lttINCltC 81 oCCltU,
yet SO bold, so widespread, yet invis-
iblc, SO stlcas and yet so hard 10 dis
cover. Mon O: otlcrwise .spotless char
aoter were drawn into passive, if not
active. relations with tho robbers. and
it soon came to pass that u large
part cf The Commercial! activities of the
interior. especially those connected
with New Orleans, wero more or less
controlled by AIuIre}l and his men.
The coming OF Mattin Lawrence to
New Orle ans happened 20 toH h scnsi-
tive point in the c;r:lo Of illegal opera
ions, although the young man was
wholly ignorant Of the fact. At that
time Murre.l's kingdom was topping to
its fall. The attention OF government
had been attracted to his doings in such
a way that he WAS finding it diffic lit to
quiet the fears and retain the conf
dcnce CT his less desperate adhereEts.
Now the affair that Lawrence had come
to look after was on its face mere
breach Of }aith-a mild form Of shrewd
svind:e; but it connected itself with
certain operations involving enormous
sums Of money. and affecting the honor
and indeed, indirectly, the lives of
some of the richest, most enterrrising,
influential, and highly respected men in
the business circles OF New Orleans.
The word went out, mysteriously if not
electrically telcgraphe through the city
and country, that dcep-laid plans were
forming to expose and bring to grief
the principal citizens who had directly
or indirectly aided or abpttcl Murrells
schemes or shared his illegal gains. A
quiet, terrible CONSERVATION seized
many mon who heretofore had lived in
security and aT!uence.
Some who had gone no farther be-
yonl the limit of propricty than to prac-
t;cc little in the ways OF the smugGler
and the dealer in goods and cha'tels OF
Questionable ownership were frightened
almost TO the point Of offering tHcln-
selves as state Witnesses with lIe hope
OF securing pardon. -
: In as nit ig ORANGE of.sll this as he
was innocent OF any u]tIsrior design be-
you'd securing bis ,clicnt's money and
Fighting up some records that had been
tampered With, Lawrence went alb ut
feeling that The very atmosphere around
him vas heavy .7i,h mystery.
When upon turning at the bottom Of
the step and looking up he saw LucIe at
q chamber wint6H, it scarcely srrpris d
him, so rapid. WAS his mind accomEo-
dating itself to is strange surroundings.
Tae girl made assign to him to wait ana
in little time noe was placed IN his
hand by lit 70 slave giri, WHO came
round the outclj wall of the court (Which
in those days VI is part of almost every
re. pectabe creole residence in New Or
leansl. and iu?ive]y delivered it.