The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-12-08
BENTON, LOUISIANA,
Thursday: :::::::::::::::::::Decen1ber 8, 1893.
TWO ASSiNSINS HANGED.

Bedney Hearn and John Richards,
colored, were taken from the Parish
Jail, by Committee of Citizens last
Tuesday afternoon, about 3 o'clock,
and hanged in the northern suburbs
of Benton in the presence Of about
800 people.
The crime for which they were
hanged was the assassination of Mr.
Larry W. Vance, On the Riverside
plantation, four miles south of Ben
ton. The brutal assault was made
on Monday night, November 20th,
and Mr.. Vance died the following
Friday morning, about 1 O'Clock,
never having reg&ined consciousness
from the moment Of the fendish
assault.
The people were arousot; and the
leading citizens decided to in7es-
tisate the mystery and to punish the
inhuman butchers. Accordingly, On
Thursday night a preliminary meet
ing was held at the Court House. Il
was public meeting; open to every
one. It was regularly organized,
and orderly conducted. Witnesses
were examined, and the meeting ai-
iourned until 9 o'clock next morning.
After discussing the matter a Com
mittee Of six was appointed to IL
vestigate the crime.
AS stated in our last issue, ". S.
Parish, the engineer, and two colored
men, were brought from the planta-
ton on the day after the crime, and
placed in Jail at this place, under
suspicion. There wore several clews,
however, and the committee decided
to follow each until it led to the de-
lection Of the criminal, or criminals.
In this, they were aided by a number
of citizens-the entire community
was incensed at the brutal crime, aud
all were interested in discovering the
assassins. The public were request
ed to attend the meetings and dis
cuss means for tho common safety,
and with view of eliciting clevs.
At the meeting in the Court House
on Friday afternoon, the Committee
reported progressively were On the
track of one of the murderers, but
his name was not given for fear Of
his possible escape
Suspicion strongly pointed to Bed
ney Hearn, negro employed on the
place, and who had been absent since
the night of the crime It was learn
ed that Hearn and John Richards,
also eolored, left Shreveport on Mon
day evenings train, Ghe day of the
crime) purchasing tickets to Vance
vile, and Hearn was seen at Vance
vile that afternoon. 1t was learned
also that when Mr.. Vance settled
with Hearn, Saturday, there was moth
ing coming to him, yet, after the
assassination and robbery, Hearn was
known to have considerable money
in Shreveport, where be bought a
shirt and pair OF shoes, and excban-
ged 800 in silver for paper currency.
In addition, colored man living
at Cash Point stated that Hearn had
come to his house about midnight,
on the night of the crime, and asked
for mule to take him to Shreveport.
offering to pay 50. In answer to the
questions why he wanted to go to
Shreveport at that late hour, and why
he did not take freight train, Hearn
replied that he did not want bis wife
to know that he was back from Texas.
and that he did not want any one to
see him, and he then asked the man
not to give him away"
Two other colored men also stated
that on that night Hearn had come
to their cabins and asked for a mule
to take him to Shreveport.
On this clew the investigation pro-
ceeded, and, firally, Hearn was ar