The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-07
BAND OF MURDERERs
ONE CONFESSED AND IMPLICATED
THE OTHERS.
Four Men HIVE Bccn Killed Whose
Deaths Are Directly Trnceabic
to the Gang OF Negroes.


Davis, La. August 5.--The officers Of st.
Charles parish are rapidly completing the
chain Of evidence which Will convict one
of the most notorious bands OF negro out
laws In the parish of the series of coward
ly murders, which have been committed in
the neighborhood OF Luling within the past
few months. This series OF murders was
begun some nine months ago, when an old
negro. returning to Davis Station from re-
celving his weekly wages at the Ellington
| plantation, was waylaid and his skull
crushed. Another negro was murdered In
the same way and the same locality. he,
too, lost his weeks wages. Then an Italian
body found In the bushes by the roadside
In tho last days of June. Louis Zeigler a
Jewish peddler also met his end within a
| few miles Of Luling. These four murders
have all been committed within the radius
OF q mile and In the same manner.
When Zeigler was murdered Sheriff
Dry determined to break up the band of
outlaws. Patrolman Cantrell OF New Or
leans was employed 10 assist the officeis,
In earnest. dozen suspicious negroes
were arrested, including the wife OF An
tome prichard, alias Creole. The house of
this woman. en- Ashton plantation. was
searched and the greatest portion OF the
peddler's pack was found. The woman
was arrested and the search was continued
from Information received, and on the El-
lngton plantation quantity Of goods were
found in the cabin OF George Washington,
alias Wilson. Wilson and his wife AMI
william Morris. who was paying attention
10 Crcole's daughter. were arrested. Gre
Gle WIS charged with the murder, and sun
day Sheriff Dry offered reward of 500
for his arrest. This arrest was accom-
pilshod early this morning. Creole arrived
ut Hahnvlle on the local train from some
point up tho road.
There was no one at the depot as usual.
and no at once started toward the Hahnvillc
tic camp. This camp is situoted about a
mile back OF the railroad. The negro went
to the negro cabin ana asked for food. Some
of the negroes, among whom We're Abe
Brown and jeff. gave Creole breakfast The
negro remained about tho camp some time
and then started toward ST. John parish.
He had gone bus 4 short distance when
Brown related the occurrsrce to Richard
Dces. ono of the foremen. DecS loaned
Brown pistol and told the negro to ar
rest Creole At once Brown and jeff
StuTltd AFTER treoie ana overlook him in
the woods and with the revolver pointed
at his head Creole WIZ. soon made to throw
up his hands. Ige was safely bound and
taken to Hahnvllle and locked In cell
Sheriff Dry was notified and questioned
the negro, Cne0le protested hos innocence
fret, but soon broke down and confessed
He told how he had waited for Zcizler and
followed him Then the gun barrel was
brought into use and the pedder MUIR
dered. He charged William Morris and
George Washington. alias Wilson. with as
slstnG BIN. CrcSlo also said that his
wife, Lizzie. 'tile wife of John Alexander, a
famous murderer. and Morris wife. had
carried the goods from the field Morris
and Washington both denied the statement,
protesting their complete innocence The
negro will be more closely questioned to-
merrow and II possible made to confess thu
otiie' crime
When Creole told Of Wilson's connections
with the murder Deputy Sheriff Madere
and Robert Perre were at once sent out
10 iind Wilson. He had never been suG-
pected and was found in his cabin on the
Ellington plantation. lie showed no no
sistanct whatever
sheriff Dry feels confident that within,
me next few days he viii have ev.Iy
member OF the gang In Jail and highway
ROBBERY ard murder near Lullng will COM
10 an end