The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1898-12-31
Willie Foreman Captured.

la 0IRbALAGA IL
noted desperate Willie Foreman al
escaped convict at Gueydan in tn,
western portion Of VermiIion parish
and took him on the train to Iafay,
cite, where he placed him in Jail
Foreman was sent to the penitentiary
from Lafayette parish in 1898 and
escaped in August 1897, while al
work with a gang Of convicts in La
fourche parish. Some time after be
was reported to be at his home in the
Foreman settlement in the western
part OF Lafayette parish. With the
assistance of relatives and friends,
among whom are several desperate
characters, he managed to live in
comparative immunity from the mo-
~lestation of the officers. At times he
became bolder and ventured out.
never failing, however, to take along
his Winchester. A few weeks ago
he paid a visit to the town of Rayne,
and with the help of some friends,
who were also well armed, defed the
authorities. The good people who
live in the western portion of the par
ish, where Foreman stayed with his
relatives, felt very uneasy lest he
should add another crime to his al
ready hlood-stained career. Sheriff
Broussard made up his mind that it
was his duty to again place Foreman
behind the bars, but having been in
formed Of his repeated boasts that he
would never be captured alive. and
knowing the desperate character of
the man and of the avowed determi-
nation of his relatives to stand by
him, he concluded that to effect his
capture without the. shedding of hui
man blood he would have to employ
tact, ingenuity and skill. To have
gone out with a posse would have
meant, perhaps, the death of several
men, SO he thought the best way to
bag bis game was to try it alone.
Upon two occasions he went to the
Foreman settlement, and after futile
endeavors to drop unexpectedly upon
his man he returned to town. Al few
days ago ne located him on the Hoff-
panir rice farm, just on the other
side Of the line dividing Lafayette and
parishes. Friday night the
left Lafayette for that point.
Not to excite any suspicion, be drove
Midland station, and from there
walked on the railroad track to Guev-
dan, a distance of twelve miles and
continued his journey to the camp
Foreman and his associates
we're living. Seeing a light in the
tent he approached near enough to
Dverhear a conversation in which one
7f the men stated that they would go
0 Gueydan in the morning with some
ice for shipment. He walked back
o Gueydan, which he REACHED just
1t the break of day. Unnoticed by
anyone, he entered the little village
md hid himself under a building a
yards from the depot and remain
I'd there several hours, when, with a
jpyglass, he eyed Willie Foreman and
lalf a dozen companions coming
in a wagon loaded with rice.
Ehe wagon was stopped between the
and a saloon situated a few
ards away. The men with Foreman
n the lead entered the saloon to take
drink. Sheriff Broussard, consid-
ring this a propitious moment to
make q move, crawled from his hid
ng place and took a position on the
ide of the saloon building. He re-
aained there until Foreman and his
walked out to 60 back to the
When about ten steps from
foreman he pointed a double-barreI-
d shotgun at him and ordered him
Q throw up his hands. After hest
awhile he did as the sheriff
,ade him do. He had in his pocket
38-calibre Smith & Wesson revolver
ut the sudden appearance of the
heriff made it impracticable for him
, use it. He was taken to Lafayette
n the train that afternoon and will
e taken to the penitentiary in a few
avs. /"
Since boyhood Willie Foreman has
cen before the courts. In 1889 he
as tried for the murder of Bergeron
t Scott, but for want of evidence he
as acquitted, although it is gener-
Ily believed that he was guilty Of
nat crime. Three years later he was t
.lso4nd 4nr 4ho all LIonInI Mn.I.l