The Opelousas courier., 1897-06-19

Reduction CT Crime in Acadia,
PREDATORY REMARKS BY JUDGE DUrRE
IN HIS CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY.

PREDATORY REMARKS BY JUDGE DUrRE
IN HIS CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY.
That crime is gradually on the de-
crease in Acadia is borne out by the lcc-
ords of the courts, and can be but
a source of qualification to O,ll
citizens when compared with the rec
ords Of numerous murders and other
atrocities HOW Of almost daily occur
renee in st. Landry and other neigh
boring parishes. And we can expect Il
still further material reduction OF crime
| in our community as our sytem of pub
lie schools improve and the masses be-
come better educated The education
OF the masses is il greater factor in the
reduction and prevention of crime than
all the courts that may be established.
In PREDATORY remarks to his charge to
the grand inry last Monday Judge Du-
PIE pays the following tribute To the
prevalence of law and order in our
parish:
Twelve months ago | appeared be-
fore you aud opened my first term Of
court as Judge of this District. | had
then occasion to compliment you on the
quiet and orderly manner in which the
campaign just closed had been conduct
ed, and Instituted a comparison be-
tween your people and the people OF
the adjoining parishes who bad not
been as fortunate. To-day | find rea-
son again to, compliment yon. The
District Attorney informs me that there
is business of very little importance to
Como mp before you. We did not have
much in June of last year. less in Jan
nary of this year, and still Il decrease
to-day. This ia indeed source OF con-
graduation. Decrease OF crime in Il
community means much to the inhabi-
tants so favored 1t not only pro-
claims to the world the rapid strides
you are making 10y way of advancing
your civilization and increasing your
prosperity, hnt it goes further and
means to their people IL decrease of tax
alton for criminal expenses, which lm-
plies an Increase towards the maiDte-
nance of your schools and other public
buildings. Not one murder committed
III twelve months; no rape, no arson
case--!n fact, no atrOciGus crime of any
character occurring within your parish
within the year just closed should be
source of much congratulation to your
people. Lam glad to note this fact, and
| make public acknowledgement there
OF, to the end that your people may be
accorded due praise for this advance in
the proper direction and increase the
coming of those Fastening South with
the hope of bettering their condition.
You offer them safe investment a
home where crime is on the decrease
where school houses and places of pub
lie worship are on the increase; soil
and climate far superior to the ones
they inhabit. and people ready to well
come and extend them the right hand of
fellowship.
Let the good work go on. Encour-
age you fellow citizens to suppress law
lessnes of all kind, and the people of
this parish will ere long point with
pride to the fact that although the
youngest, the Parish of Acadia is fast
forging to the front to take her place
at the head OF her sister parishes for
push, progress and wealth, under the
refining influences of that higher edu-
cation accompanied by it's handmaids-
peace and prosperity.-Crowley Signal
June 12, 1897.
Gen. Gordon said at the reunion of
United Confederate Veterans at Rich
mOnd last year that one of the princi-
pal lines of railroads OF the United
than the whole South possessed during
the late war. Yet 1n the face of this a
four years. war was fought which for
loss of life and destruction of property
was never equaled in the worlds his
tory. The tierceness of the lighting
ami the patriotic earnestDess Of Ameri-
can soldiers may he judged by compar-
ison with the losses of the armies of
Greece and Turkey in late battles. A
loss of 800 killed and wounded is her.
aided to the world as enormous while
at Chikamauga the FederaIs lost
$4,000 aud the Confederates 1900, and
still the combined strength of both ar
mics on that field did not equal the
Turkish army at Domnkos. Other bat
ties Of the American war were just as
fierce, with as great loss rs at Chica-
manga, although at the breaking out
of the war the South did not have
ship, a powder mill or gun foundry.
From all of which We conclude that the
American soldier has no peer.-Baton
Rouge Truth.