The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-03-23
CHARGED WITH
ATTEMPTED BLACkMAIL.
Louis SmaIly Arrested on a Charge OF
Attempting to Blackmail Game
Warden Francez.
WHO RECEIVED THREATENING
NOTE DEMANDING THAT MONEY
BE RETURNED TO LOUIS"
Smally's Little Nephew Says He
Wrote Note at Uncle's Oictation.
SmaIiy Protests Innocence.

Last Saturday night Sheriff Lacoste
and Deputies Peck, Latiolais and Butch
err after a shrewd piece of detective
work arrested Louis Smally, a farmer
living near Carencro, on a charge OF
attempted blackmail. The facts in
the case are substantially as follows:
Some four months ago, Game Warden
Maurice Francez caused the arrest of
Smally for hunting without a license.
| Judge Pugh sentenced Smally to pay a
fine of s. and s14 costs. This anger
ed Smally and he frequently asked
Mr.. Francez for the return of the
money paid as a fine and costs. IN
March 16, MIR. Frances received a note
demanding that the money be return
ed to Louis" and threatening death
if this was not lone within twenty
days. The letter was written in
a fairly legible hand and was signed
Guess who it is" A day or two af-
ter receiving this missive Mr.. Fran
cez was called upon by Smally who
again asked for the refund of his
money, but now demanding $25 as
he said he had been troubled and
bothered a good deal. Mr.. Francez
parleyed a while asking the man if he
had written the note, and finally Of
fering as a Use to pay him $40. Small.
ly, howver, refused this and denied
any knowledge whatever of the let
ter. Mr.. Francez then ordered Small
ly off his place and placed the case in
the hands of Sheriff Lacoste. The Of
ficers suspected that Smally had got
ten his nephew, Lloyd Prejean, son of
DR.. Ursin Prejean, to write the note
as the boy frequently stayed with his
uncle. A specimen of the boys hand
writing was obtained from the public
school in Carencro, compared with the
note and found to tally in every parti-
cular. Deputy Sheriff Louis Butcher
was sent Saturday evening to ques-
ton the boy, who at first denied hav4
ing written the letter, but DR.. Prejean
his father, cOunseling honesty and
truth, the lad confessed that he had
written the note at the direction of
Smally. Master Prejean explained
that he had been called in by his un-
Gle who caused him to write the note
of which he gave no thought after
ward. Smally took the note, said the
boy, and put it in his pocket. Young
Prejean was shown the note, which
he recognized Immediately, admit
ting his part in writing it, but protest
ing his innocence Of any evil intent.
Sheriff Lacoste was entirely satisfied
by the boys frank and straightforward
version Of the affair and exculpated
him of any criminal motives. DR.. Pre-
jean is an old and prominent physi,
clan of Carencro, and his manly and
honorable course in the matter, has
ELECTED commentator on every hand.
AS soon as the officers had inter
viewed Young Prejean, who is about
IA years of age, Deputies Peck and
Latiolais proceeded to arrest Smally,
who was found at home. He denied
stoutly his participation in the alleg-
ed crime and declared his innocence
OF the note or its authorship. Smally
vas brought to town, where through
his attorney, Judge o. c. Mouton he
was released on $500 bond to appear
for trial, Judge Mouton signing as
surety. The case will be taken up by
he Grand Jury at the next tern OF
Court, beginning April 5, and if the
facts warrant an Indictment may fol-
low. The crime charged is punish
able with five years at hard labor.
| lair - C~L~