St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-08-21

pS4UL6 Ol6fK OF G0ufG AnQTepont
last Monday, and gave their testimony
in the race track affair, il which
they were clubbed with pistols by a
party of men from this town. who
subsequently gave themselves up to
the officers of the law, explaining
that they had gone to the track in
pursuance to an agreement with the
alleged detectives by which the
detectives" were to accept S400 in
consideration Of their signing q lie
bill as to their charges against blind
tigers in Opelousas, and leave town.
AS will be remember ed. the
men who went to the race track,
taking the alleged detectives with
them in carriage, claim that after
making the detectives sign re-
traction Of their charges, they re-
fused to give them the money, and
that Glover, one of the detectives,
promptly opened fire on them, and
that the clubbing then took place.
The examination Monday was for
the purpose Of taking Glover's and
PodWell's testimony, and for nothing
else. They had been in Jail for a
week, and it was desired that their
testimony should be taken and that
they be allowed to leave. They left
Thursday morning, it being neees-
sary that the stenographer who took
their testimony transcribe it and
have them sign it in order to make
it legal. Tn the interim between
Monday and Wednesday the detectives
remained in Jail, having asked the
jailor If they could remain in prison
until the officials were ready to let
them leave town.
There were not over two dozen
people at the trial, which commenced
at 10 o'clock Monday, and ended late
in the evening. Clerk Of Court An
drepont desired to do everything in
his power to avoid disturbance, and
in conjunction with the Sheriff,
placed Deputy Sheriff at the door
Of the courtroom, with instructions
to search everyone coming in. There
was but one arrest-Mr. Lewis w.
Childs, chairman Of the Executive
Committee Of the Law and Order
League, a leading prohibitionist, and
a prominent hardware merchant of
this city, was found with a pistol in
his coat pocket. The gun" was
taken away from him, and a charge
was preferred before Judge Kerr.
Mr.. Childs at once went to the City
Judges Office, and plead guilty, claim
ing that the district attorney had
given him the right to carry pistol
during the present trouble. Judge
Kerr fined him $50.50.
The trial of the detectives threw
no light on the race track episode.
It is now simply a question of yeraeT
ity-whose evidence will be taken,
the people who went out with them,
or that Of the detectives.
The impression made by the de-
tectives, in their testimony, is not
agreed between the spectators.
The impression made on the Clarion
man is that Podwell is not bad
man; that he is more liable to tell
the truth than his associate, Clover
Podwell is cool, told a good story,
and was absolutely mistaken IN his
testimony.
Glover is rough, uncouth, impu-
dent nervous and irritable. His
bragadocia style is absolutely repul-
sive. He is not the style Of man to
bring conviction to the mind, when
he testifes. The clerk had to make
him answer several questions, which
he would refuse to answer to the
lawyers on the other side. That Isl
none Of your business" be would say,
when pressed hard.
At one time, because Mr.. Ogden,
attorney for the defense, asked
Glover il he did not consider it
dangerous to butt" into a strange
community and play the role Of de-
tective, Glover answered him: Yes,
with such people as the 0pelousas
toughs, like yourself" " Mr.. Ogden is
man well advanced in years, always
peaceful, and the retort of this, to
all appearances, bum and hoodlnm.
angered Mr. Ogden and there came
near being a clash in the courthouse.
Messrs. &. Austin Fontenot and
John N. Ogden represented Messrs.
q. X. Wallior, Remi Wallior, ]. Adam
Budd, Willie Watson, w. D. Lewis
and Dr. j. O. Richardson, charged
with striking the detectives with
dangerous weapon, with intent to
kill and murder. District Attorney
Garland represented the State.
The defense was not permitted to
offer testimony ii rebnttal. The ex-
animation vas confRed strictly to
Che taking Df the testimony 81 The
detectives. The defense, however,
laid the basis for impeaching the
testimony Of both Podwell and Glover.
Mr.. Foafenot had been to Shreve-
port, looking np the records of the