The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1899-07-27
five MEN LYNCHED.
The Deed Done BY a Mob in
Louisiana.
VICTIMS ITALIANS AND T0UGHS
Had Killed Several Men at Different
TimeS--DetaiIs Of the
Affair.

Had Killed Several Men az DiileFen
Times--DetaiIs Of the
TALLULAH, La, July 2l.-Fivt
Italians were lynched here last nigh
for the fatal wounding of DR.. J. Fore
Hodge. The dead men are of a class
which has been troublesome fol
some time, and it is believed thai
they had planned to kill the doctor
Some of them, it is said, have fami.
lies in Europe, but they have nc
relatives here.
The dead are: Frank Defatta
Charles Defatta, 10 Defatta, Sy De.
ferroch, John Cereno.
For several weeks a lot of goats
belonging to Frank Defatta have
been sleeping and running on the
gallery of DR.. Hodges office and
residence. The doctor on numerous
occasions requested the owner to
keep his goats penned up, but he
would not do it, and on the night OF
the 18th DR.. Hodge shot one Of them.
Early next morning Frank Defatta
came to DR.. Hodges Office and said
to the doctor: "You shoot my goat,
now you better shoot me-" The doc
tor ordered him to leave and Defatta
left, mumbling something which the
doctor did not understand.
DR.. Hodge took his meals at the
residence of a Mr.. Kaufman and
had to pass Joe Defatta's shop in
going there. About sundown last
evening the doctor and Mr.. Kauf-
mann started to supper, and as they
got to Joe's store Mr.. Kaufman,
who was in the lead, says that
Charles Defatta was sitting on the
steps and Joe standing in the store
door. Kaufman spoke to them, but
neither of the Italians 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 attack by striking back with his
fist, but finding the Sicilian too
much for him, tried to draw his pis-
tol. Joe Defatta, at the door, pulled
double-barrel shotgun and fred
two loads into the doctor, striking
him in his hands and abdomen.
Immediately on the crack of the gun
Frank Defatta, Sy Deforroch and
John Cereno, who were in Defatta's
store, on Front street, started on =
run to Joe's store with shotguns and
long knives in their hands.
Court was in session ard a large
crowd of country people were in
town. With the sheriff and his de-
puties they joined in the chase and
succeeded in arresting and disarm-
ing Frank Defatta, Sy Deferroch and
John Cereno after a hard struggle.
The sheriff with his posse at once
went to the house and succeeded in
taking Charles Defatta. Joe was
found hidden under a chimney In an
adjoining house. He was promptly
taken out and the sheriff started to
the Jail with Charles and Joe. When
Court House square was reached
crowd of 25O citizens overpowered
the sheriff, and after a severe strug-
gle took Joe and Charles Defatta
down in the field to the slaughter
pen and hanged them to the gallows
used for slaughtering beeves.
Joe denied the shooting and said
Charles did it. Charles said Joe
fired the shots, which half dozen
people say. Charles said he jumped
on DR.. Hodge and was sorry for it.
He said Frank Defatta and Sy De-
ferroch were the cause of the trou-
BILE.
The crowd then adjourned to the
jail, overpowered the jailer and de-
puties. The keys were secured and
the crowd quickly brought out Sy
Deferroch, Frank Defatta and Joe
Cereno and hung them to an oak
tree in the Jail yard. Not a shot
was fired, and the crowd was order
ly and quiet. A good many friends
pleaded for the lives of the Sicilians,
but to no avail, as this was the third
outrage of this kind committed by
this class of people. About two
years ago Frank Defatta shot and
killed a negro for picking up a
watermelon which Frank had for
sale. One year ago Joe Defatta shot
and killed Pat Matthews, land keep
er at Milliken's Bend, La, over a
trivial controversy. He was cleared
by technically of the law. They
had frequently made boasts that
they would do as they pleased and
their money would clear them.
They have since these two scrapes
become more open in their actions
and talk and on several occasions
have had quarrels with the best
citizens.
The people here believe the five
men had planned to kill DR.. Hodge,
lust at dark, as he was going to his
supper, as the doctor generally goes
by himself. The plan was for
Charles to jump on the doctor, Joe
to shoot him from the door, and il
help was needed the others would
have gone to their aid. Their plans
were we'll laid and carried out.