Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-07-28
FIVE ITALIANS LYNOHED.
The Terrible Work of a Louisiana
Mob.
Victims Shot n Physician and Were
Guilty of other OutraEes---90O Men
OverpOyyered the sheriff.

Victims Shot n Physician ana were
Guilty of other OutrsRes---90O Men
Overpowered the Sheriff
Five Italians were lynched at Tallulah,
La, Thursday night for the fatal wounding
of DR.. j. Ford Hodge. For several weeks
a lot of goats belonging to Frank Detatta
have been running on the gallery OF Dr.
Hodges office and residence. The doctor
requested the owner to keep his goats pen
ned up, but he would not, and on the night
of the 10Th Dr. Hodge shot one OF them.
Thursday evening the doctor ana Mr.
Kaufman started out together. Mr.. hauit-
man, who was in the lead, says as ley got
to Joe Defatta's store, Charles Defatta was
sitting on the steps and Joe was standing
at the door. Kaufman spoke to them, out
neither returned the greeting. As Dr.
Hodge passed, Charles jumped up and SAID;
"You shoot my goat" and struck the doc
tor. DR.. Hodge attempted to repel the at
tack, but finding his assailant too much for
him started to draw his pistol Joe Detat-
tr at the door fred both loads of double
barrelled shotgun at the doctor, striking
him in the hands and abdomen. Az the
crack of the gun, Frank Defatta, Sy Defer
roch and John Cereno, who were in the
neighborhood, started on a run to Joe's
store with shotguns and long knives in
their hands Court was in session and
many country people were in town. They
Joined the sheriff and his deputies in the
chase and succeeded in arresting and dis
arming Frank Defatta, sly Deferroch and
John Cereno after hard struggle.
The sheriff with his posse went to the
Defatta home and captured Charles Defat-
ia Joe was hidden in a chimney in an ad'
Joining house. He was taken out and the
sheriff started toward the jail with his two
prisoners. When courthouse square was
reached a crowd of $50 citizens overpower-
ed the sheriff and after a severe struggle
took Joe and Charles to the slaughter pen
and hanged them on the gallows used for
slaughtering beeves. Joe denied the shoot
ing and said Charles did it. Charles said
that Joe fred the shots, which half dozen
people saw Charles said Frank Defatta
and Sy Deferroch were the cause of the
trouble. The crowd then adjourned to the
Jail and overpowered the jailer and his
deputies. The keys we're secured, and Sy
Deferroch, Frank Defatta and Joe Cerenc
were brought out and hanged to an oak
tree in the jail yard. Not shot was fired
by the crowd which was orderly and quiet
Many citizens pleaded for the lives of the
Sicilians, but as this was the third outrage
of the kind committed by this class of PEG
pie, their appeals were unavailing. About
two years ago Frank Defatta shot and kill
ed a negro for picking up a watermelon
which Frank had for sale. One year age
Joe" Defatta shot and killed Pat Mat
thews, landing keeper at Millens Bend, La.
over trivial controversy. He was clear
ed by technicality of the law. These tive
had frequently made boasts that they would
do as they pleased and that their none!
would clear them. The people believe tn,
five men had planned to kill DR.. Hodge a
he was going to his supper DR.. Hodg,
was badly shot, and the doctors say he can
NOT racOVer