St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-07-20
Charles Stewart Pays the
Penalty for His Crime
Of Entering i'm the Night
Time With a Dangerous
Weapon. With Intent to
Commit Rape.


young man highly esteemed in the
community, who was shot down in
the discharge OF his duty as deputy
sheriff, Covington has been the
scene of a legal execution. The
CRIME in the present instance is one
OF the blacklist and most heinous
with which the law has to deal, and
the failure in so many cases of just
punishment, and the humiliating
position In which woman is placed
in testifying TO an assault, has Gre
ated a feeling that lynchiDg is The
quickest, surest means to merited
retribution That lynching was
ayerted in this case is due to a
promise to the Infatuated and de-
termined mob that gathered about
the Jail that the trial should be
speedy, and that justice should be
meted out to the criminal.
The GOODNESS with which Sheriff
Brewster met the situation, his tact,
good judgment and firmness, re-
vealed the Importance Of having
such man in charge at that most
critical time, and supported by the
assurance OF Judge Burns that the
trial should be without delay or
technical hindrance, lynchlng Was
prevented.
True to his word, and prompt to
act, Judge Burns set the legal ma
chinery in motion Immediately, and
in less than two weeks from the
time when the crime was committed
the prisoner had been tried, found
guilty and hanged.
Charles Stewart, alias Montgom-
cry, the negro who assaulted Mrs.
Maurlce Lacroix at her home near
Claiborne. about S O'Clock Sunday
morning, the 7th inst, was captured
the same morning by $3.50 O'Clock,
indicted by the Grand Jury Mon
day, and tried, convicted and SEN
fenced to be hanged on Thursday,
Of the same week.
While this is probably the most
rapid procedure known in the State,
still the defendant had the full pro-
lection of the law, and was debarred
of none Of his legal rights. H. L..
Garland and Fred. j. Heintz, Jr.,
we're appointed by the Court as
counsel, and conducted the case for
the defense as effectively as was
possible III the face of the over.
whelmlng evidence against the &C
cused. Mrs. Lacrolx identified him
without hesitation, and other cir
cumstances in the case pointed
clearly to his guilt. District Attor-
ney Jos. b. Lancaster made a mas
terful appeal to the jury for punish
ment of sosvile crime. The jury
were out but seven minutes.
There was necessary delay OF
three days. which is required BY
law, within which an appeal can be
taken, before the Governor could
sign the death warrant. This he
did on Tuesday, the 10Th inst
in speaking OF the case, Governor
Blanchard said:
/ commend in the highest possible
terms Judge Burns, District Attorney
Lancaster and yourself [Sheriff Brews-
teri for the orderly way in which this
case was conducted, and / can but
speak in the highest terms of praise OF
the patience and forbearance of the
community at Covlngton under the
trying circumstances through which
they have passed since this heinous
offense was committed.
II the judges and officials throughoui
the State acted with the promptness
and efficiency the Judge, District Attor
ney and Sheriff did in Covington, ant
| other communities showed the samt
respect for the law, and for the observ
ance of its due and orderly course
there would be no lynchings in The
State. The greatest possible proven
ton of and safeguard against lynchine
is certainly speedy operation of thu
law in such cases.
Save for the gruesome scaffolG
peeping above the newly-bui wal
around the jailyard, there were nc
indications Friday morning that tht
day was to bring forth anything un.
usual. The omlnous sound OF 1ht
hammer aud saw, as work pro,
crossed on the scafforld, had fol-
several days previous been a con-
slant reminder to those who passed
the Courthouse that the death pen
atty was about to be inflicted IL
punishment OF horrible crime bn'
on this morning the usual quiet pre-
vailed. Women made their round,
of the market places, selecting witt
their wonted care the provisions fol