The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-11-25

THE SHOOTING or Mr.. &C.
ZHTE p GUIZBEAU

of the residents Of this parish
boarded an excursion tram fol
Crowley where they were attracted
by the Fourpaugh & Sells Bros
Shows. Those of our people who
decided to go to Crowley believed
that the laws of this State afforded
them ample protection and did not
think that by making the trip they
exposed their own lives and the
lives of their wives and children.
The Southern Pa cific had announced
that the excursion was given to at
ford an opportunity to the people
Crowley, and no one thought there
was any reason to fear an attack
from hoodlums and desperadoes,
but subsequent events proved that
they were mistaken. When the
train whose starting point was Wash
ington or Opelousas, reached La.
fayette it was beginning to be made
evident that there was lawless
element aboard which was likely to
break out at any time. The pres
ence of ladies and children was
treated with utter indifference by
those who seemed to have come to
do all the mischief that they could.
Things went on from bad to worse
until a point just hey ond Duson was
ho
the report of a pistol shot; a few
second later the noise of three or
four more shots rang out from one
of the cars, People began to feel
uneasy lest some friend or relative
had been injured by the bullets.
From the way people walked and
talked it was evident somebody had
been hurt Women and children
screamed. Some threatened to jump
off the train, others tainted and
there was the greatest confusion all
along the train. One tall indivi-
dual with the shape Of kangaroo
and the nature of some other brute
experienced savage delight in
threatening to shoot any one who
passed by on his way to the adjoin-
ing car. This fellow loudly pro-
claimed the fact that he was from
somewhere and that he was a warm
member of that community. In the
next car there lay on one of the
seats the bloody form of Mr.. Oc-
tave P. Guilbeau. who, upon,
further investigation, was found to
have been shot in three places and
badly bruised on She face and head.
MIR. Gui1beau had an ugly wound in
the chest above the heart which
was bleeding profusely, one in the
arm and it seemed as if bullet had
grazed his forehead. Mr.. Guilbeau
was weak from the loss of blood
and had to be carried in the arms
of friends. He was taken off the
train at Rayne where he received
proper treatment at the hands of
Drs. Mouton and Webb. Mr..
Guilbeau's wife and little daughter
were on the train and one can we'll
imagine the heartrending scene
which followed when they were told
of the condition Of Mr.. Guilbeau.
We learn from eye witnesses that
the shooting of Mr.. Guilbeau was
cowardly and wholly unjustifiable
and that he was not given a chance
to defend himself, but shot down
without mercy.
The Gazette believes that this
disgraceful affair took pl ace IN La
fayette parish and it is to be hoped
that the authorities will take the
proper steps to settle the question
of jurisdiction as early as practical
BILE and that the whole matter will
be thoroughly investigated by the
court Of either this or Acadia parish.
Affidavits have been made against
Carlton Ogden and G. E. Colgjn,
of Opelousas, who are now it, the
custody Of the sheriff at Crowley,
under the charge of having done
the shooting. Whether or not they
are guilty will be disclosed at the
trial. If they are not guilty
are and we hone