The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-01-28

miscreant had entered the yard by
jumping the fence, the print of his
bare feet being outlined plainly in the
dust. Sheriff S. FL. St. Martin and
Chief Deputy E. C. Hanson were noti-
fed and promptly went to work on
the case. They spoke to Jules Landry,
laborer at Bradford 6 Wild's brick
yard, which is near the scene, and he
stated that he heard screams about
O'Clock and saw a man wearing blue
jumper, dark trousers and black hat,
running towards the levee. Mrs. John
Bourg told the officers she had seen 8
negro wearing a blue jumper standing
at the Hazlip gate about O'Clock
the previous evening. From the de-
scription Sheriff St. Martin immedi-
ately suspected Jules Valentine, a
notorious black, who had but recently
returned from the penitentiary, and
the officers proceeded to Valentines
house in A Bend, where it was learned
that the negro had reached home at 5
O'Clock, just one hour after the assault
was committed, and at the time was in
bed, sound asleep. He was placed
under arrest and gave very uns ATS
factory account of his Whereabouts at
the time Mrs. Hazlip was attacked,
first saying that he was at the T. and
P. saloon in Churhville all night, and
when this was disproved, that he had
spent the night at Whitecastle. He
sWore that he had not worn blue
jumper and tn at he had met eolored
woman on his way home who would
corroborate his statement. The woman
was found, but instead of bearing Val
entine out in his assertion she declared
he had on blue jumper when she saw
him. Valentine was taken to the Haz-
lip residence and made to place his
feet in the footprints left by the noe
turnal prowler and they corresponded
in size and shape.
When the officers were on their way
to Valentines house, they were met by
Capt. JOS. Constantin, who requested
permission to accompany them and
participate in the search. The request
was granted and as result Capt.
Constantin came across several arti-
cles that had been stolen from his res
idence in Faubourg la Pipe one night
in July, 1904. Chief Deputy Hanson
and Deputy Jas. McCray went down
to levee camp in ST. James parish,
where Valentine had worked, and
searched a tent occupied by Valentine
and his pal, finding therein a number
OF stolen articles, among them a pair
of ladies shoes that had been taken
from the Hazlip residence two weeks
previous to the assault upon Mrs.
Hazlip.
After Valentine had been in jail
three days and all his stories regard
ing his movements the night of the
crime had been disproved, realizing
that the chain of evidence which the
alert sheriff and his energetic deputies
were weaving about him was being
drawn closer and closer and there was
no possible chance to escape punish
ment, he sent for Sheriff St. Martin
and made the following
CONFESSION.
ssTwo weeks before the commission OF
the assault upon Mrs. Hazlip, visited
the Hazlip home for the purpose OF
robbery, but found the house so we'll
locked that I desisted. On leaving I
found pair OF ladies shoes on the
gallery, which appropriated. Dur.
ing the early part of the night last
Wednesday, / again visited the Hazlip
residence, but was again unable to
gain entrance. | returned at O'Clock
and this time was successful. AsI
entered the front rate saw light in
the kitchen, and lady apparently
preparing coffee. I approached and
found the door leading from the side
gallery to Mrs. Hazlip's room Open
I entered this room very stealthily and
began to look for money or valuables
I had barely entered when discovered
Mrs. Hazlip in the act of aWaking,
and to prevent her from seeing and
recognizing me, [ hurried to the side
of her bed and dealt her a hard blow
ia the head with the heel of one OF my
shoes which carried in my hands.
aimed for her eyes, intending TO blind
and stun her, but when she screamed
heard some noise in another part of
the house, and knowing tn at some one
was coming to her assistance, beat
hasty retreat, going to the home of my
sister in A Bend. where arrived at
about 5 O'Clock, and where I was ar
rested at 8 o'clock. My only object in
entering the Hazlip home was robbery
and had I not feared that Mrs. Hazlip
would awake and see me, l would not
have struck her.
A BAD NEGRO.
In addition to the above, Valentine
confessed to having burglarized Capt.
Constantine residence twice, once in
November, 1908, and again in July,
1904 He also confessed to having
robbed the Texas and Pacific depot at
St. James station, and a house in the
cear OF Donaldsonville during the
summer of 1904. Valentine is sus-
pected Of the murder OF his cousin,
which occurred in box car at New
Orleans about two years ago, and is
accused of having attempted TO rape
his own mother. He is undoubtedly
one Of the most dangerous brutes that
as ever been let loose upon any COM
munity, and the sooner the law is al
lowed to take its course the better It
will be for the peace of the parish and
the good name of the people OF As
eension.
Fer nver Sixfv Years