The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-03-19
A MISSTATEMENT OF RECORD.

Vicksburg Herald.l
In the House debate upon the bill
to pay the heirs Of Sterling t. Austin,
late of Lake Providence. La. $4,000
for properly taken by the Federals
during the war the proof of loyalty
was a little weak. To bolster il up
the circumstances of Austin's death
were logged in aud perverted. We
quote from the Record:
MIR. Ojen-Later on Sterling t.
Austin moved from Texas to New Or
leans. Then again he purchased
another plantation in Carroll parish.
In 1870 he was appointed postmaster
at Lake Providence, La. In 1879,
while walking upon The public street
of that city. he was shot down by q
citizen of that place. His son, who
had grown up to be young man,
been admitted to the bar, aud been
district attorney. was at that time
fudge. Hearing of the shooting of bis
father, he went 10 his rescue, and was
also shot down, and died in few days
thereafter.
| Mr.. Barney.-What was the reason
for shooting this man and his son?
| Mr.. Otjen.-At that time the war
feeling still ran high, and this man was
considered to be Union man, and for
that reason was not liked among bis
neighbors. This family has been per-
secuted by the people among whom
they lived because this man was con-
sidered at that time Union man.
Mr.. Diugley.-Now, what | want to
call attention to is this, iu order that
there may be no precedent for the
future. | am inclined 10 think, from
statements that have been made, that
there are great many features about
this case that may serve to show that
this beneficiary was deserving man
aud that this is peculiar case.
Mr.. Mahon.-Ile was killed for his
loyalty, he and his sou.
The Herald knows nothing of the
merits OF their case against the Federal
Treasury, or their "loyaliy," but in the
interest Of truth, to repel SANDER up
on Southern community, we feel
constrained 10 say that this statement
of the cause of The killing of these
Austins is wholly at variance with
the widely narrated facts at the time.
aud we believe purely fictitious. The
killing was done by q man named
Lnsk, and was an Incident of the quite
celebrated Simon Witkowski feud. that
convulsed northeastern Louisiana for
years aud cost score or so of lives.
| The Herald is correct. The Austins
were not killed because of any hatred
to them by the citizens of Providence
They were highly respected and went
in the best society. The killing of the
father and sou was deplored very
much by our entire community, aud
there 10 not sintilla of truth in the
statement made that they were perse.
cuted because of their "loyalty."
The killing of the Austins was one
of those unfortunate occurrences
where bad feelings had existed be.
tween them and Mr.. Simon .Yitko IS
XII Of West Carroll over q business
transaction, and when old man Aus
tin learned that Lusk was in town
who was Witkowski's manager, he
hunted him up, with the result stated
We do not believe that Lusk thought Of
a difficulty, for if he had, he would have
armed himself with something better
than 32 calibra Smith & Wessor
pistol to defend himself.
DR.. w. D. Bell and DR.. f. r. Der
nard remained at the bed side of Mrs
w. E. Long during Wednesday ant
/ Wednesday night, aud part of Thurs
j day They rcnnft her snmn haffer