St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-03-29
door, and had gained considerable

Roadway, the prisoners had gone
up stairs, where it was impossible
to reach them, owing to the fact
that there were no other openings
but that one door. An effort 1as
made to break through the roof,
but as this was built of heavy tim
Der the effort proved unavalling.
Prior to the incarceration Of Frank
Nicholson had but one prisoner
in jail, Ernest Garlieb, . German.
Both Garlieb and Nicholson per-
ished in the fire.
Deputy Sheriff Duprlest was
then seen aud asked for a state
ment. He said:
81 was acting town marshal,
and was assigned to duty at col
ored ball, which took place here
last Saturday night. At about 10
o'clock l arrested a negro named
Frank Nicholson, who was drunk
and creating a disturbance at the
ball, and after searching him
thoroughly, locked him up and
returned to the scene of the ball.
At about O'Clock, the hall hav'
ing broken up, l went home, with
the keys IN my possession, as l
have frequently done in the past,
and retired. Shortly before 8
O'Clock Sunday morning l was
aroused by my sister, who told me
that the jail was on fire. l arose
and Immediately went to the jail,
which was situated about two
blocks from my residence, and
opened the Jail door; but the fire,
which seemed to have originated
near the door, had already gained
considerable Roadway, it was i'm
possible for anyone to enter the
building. l connot account for
the fire, as l searched Nicholson
we'll before l locked him up, and l
found no matches on him."
Garlieb had made two attempts
to set fire to the Jail. but was DIS
covered each time and frustrated.
Sunday morning Nicholson, who
was at an upstairs window speak
ing to his wife IN the street, de-
clared when his attention was
called to the smoke issuing from
the Jail, that Garlieb was burning
his old clothes; but IN reality
Garlleb was setting fire to the jail.
As soon a. the heat had subsidized,
the work of removing the debris
commenced, under the supervision
Of Coroner F. j. Heintz and Depu.
ty Sherlff's H. b. Cook aud Eug.
Dupriest. About 10 O'Clock Mon.
day morning a portion of The re.
mains of one of the bodies was re.
covered. This consisted of a piece
of the pelvic bone, piece of the
thigh bone and the lower part of
the trunk of the body, with the in
testines, aud was found in the mid
die cell downstairs. These remains
were identified as those of the ne
gro, Frank Nicholson. A sus-
pender buckle which remained in
tact and was found near the re.
mains, furnished the means of
identification. Nicholson's wife,
upon seeing the buckle, declared
it belonged to her husband. The
remains were placed in q box and
the search for the body of Ernest
Garlieb, the German, was con.
tlnued.
On Tuesday the debris was all
removed, and no other remains
were found. The Coroner decided,
after thorough investigation, that
the remains found IN the middle
cell consisted of portions of both
bodies.
Coroner Heintz impanelled a !
jury and held an inquest Tuesday
A number of wit.
nesses were examined and the
following verdicts were rendered:
Frank Nicholson, burned to |
death in the burning of the Parish |
Jail, said fire being set by Ernest
Garleib, a demented prisoner, in
jail, Sunday, March %, 1902.
Ernest Garlieb, being burned to
death in the burning of the Parish |
Jail, said fire being set by him.
self, Sunday, March %, 1902.
Coroner's Jury-A. Beaucou-
aray, Chas. Helntz, ST., G. g. |
Alexlus. Emile Frederick, Henry |
]. Smith.
This terrible disaster is univers.
ally deplored, and willing hands
would have prevented 1t and res
;ued the unfortunate victims, had
such thing been possible. He
'oic efforts were made to accom-
)lish the release Of the prisoners,
md it was only when the Jail be-
;ame fiery furnace that the ill.,
ending rescuers were compelled
. Withdraw and resign them to
heir fate.