St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-06-19
| WALKED OUT
OF COURT.
Obe Gill and the Banl-
berts take to the Swamps.
Special to the Times-Democrat :

Special to the Times-Dem0crat:
Amite City, La, June l2.-
Once more has the parish of Tangi-
pahoa been brought into disrepnte
and outraged law trampled in the
dust, and men charged with grave
crimes made their escape. Late
this evening ODE Gill, Monroe and
Otto Bambert, accompanied by
seven or eight of their friends, de-
liberately walked out Of the court
house and made their escape with
out hindrance or resistance. After
the three accused had been arraign-
ed and the case assigned, Sheriff
McMichael, as favor to Monroe
and Otto Bambert and ODE Gill
and the man Leard, permitted
them to occupy room in the court
house to-day with the understand
ing that tonight they were to be
placed in Jail just the same as any
other man accused of crime.
One hour before the accused
made their escape ODE Gill was
visited by the Times Democrat
correspondent, and he expressed
every confidence in the officers,
and stated that he and the others
were determined to stay here and
stand trial. Later they evidently
changed their minds, for the three,
with seven or eight friends, in
formed the two deputy Sheriffs
that were guarding them that they
desired to 90 to the closet, which
is down stairs, and about twenty
five yards from the courthouse.
After getting down stairs they
formed in line, and when near the
closet break was made, and all
ran, going north, when ODE Gill
was heard'to give the order to wheel
to the left, which was done, and
they soon reached the swamp and
were lost to view. Several depu-
ties followed them some distance
in an endeavor to recapture them,
but their. efforts were useless.
Frequently during the day the
Times Democrat correspondent
heard good citizens compliment
ODE Gill and they had formed an
extremely favorable opinion Of
him, aud why he SO suddenly
changed his mind is Il mystery.
Some are of the opinion that he be-
came frightened, and concluded to
take leg bail and go while he
could.
Judge Robert II. Reid, with one
or two attorneys who were to de-
fend the Bamberts and ODE Gill,
were in one of the jury rooms and
saw two deputy sheriffs near the
prisoners and saw all of them start
out Of the courthouse and under
stood they were going to the water
closet. One of the attorneys was
just at that time saying that the
sheriff should repose more conf
dcnce in the accused and trust
to their honor. He said if this
was done there would he fewer
escapes and more men arrested.
Judge Ried was seated where he
had 4 full view of the closet and
had observed the accused and their
friends approaching the closet.
They were walking eight or nine
abreast, and just AS the attorney
finished the above sentence he saw
the men break and run and he re-
marked that too much confidence
had been reposed in the gentle
mans clients. Judge Reid fur
Their said that some people had in
timated that ODE Gill and his
friends would not Ike afforded pro.
lection while here. He said that if
their attorneys would state that to
him he would call on the Cover
nor for troops to he here tonight
to defend the men against any
possible attack. The attorneys
did not desire this. He then Of
fered to have the men taken 10 the
Parish Prison in New Orleans.
The lawyers did not want this
either, as they wished to have the
men here SD that they could con.
suit them when they desired.
Gill and BamLerts were charged
with the murder of w. Il. David
sou at Tangipahoa Station. Dec.
-, 1896, and the ease was to have
been tried last Thursday. They
had engaged the following attor-
neys to defend them:
Judge w. d. Kemp, If Amite
City; Judge Milton a. Strickland.
Of Greensburg; Senator Clay FL
lott, Of Covington, and Prentice
i. Carter, Of FranklintOn,.