The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-10-09
The Atquittal Of Young Olivier.

Just after going to press last
week the jury in the case OF the
State vs.. Leo Olivier, for the kill.
ing of DR.. Allen S. King, returned
a verdict of SHOT Guilty" The
Jury was composed OF twelve
good and prominent citizens as
follows: Robert Sigur, Henry
Barrilleaux, Edwin Folse. Pierre
Barrilleaux, James Ardeneaux,
w. A. Chauvin, Pierre PORTER,
R. R. Cooke, Jr., Chris Smith,
Velair Peltier, John Veeder and
Dudley Hinckley. The case was
ably conducted and argued on
both sides. For the State. by
District Attorney Thomas M.
Milling and Messrs. W. G Baker
and S. C. Montgomery, OF New
Orleans, and for the defense by
Judge A. C. Allen, and Messrs.
w. K. Wilson, L. o. Pecot, Jas.
R. Patterson and Walter T. Gill
more.
Our readers are no doubt ia
miliar with the facts leading up
to the killing of DR.. King by
young Olivier, and we deem II
useless to repeat them here. The
trial was carried on with all the
judicial dignity which could be
possibly exercised and the taking
of evidence, the instructions to
the jury by Judge O'Niell and all
the exciting details incident there
to could not have been more
minute and up to the requirements
of the most captious. The work
of Sheriff Peterman during the
trial, which was quite arduous, was
also a matter that elected much
favorable comment. He was in
defatiga BILE in his efforts to have
all jurors report promptly, and to
this and many other duties Oh
his part is no doubt due to the
fact that trial Of such great i'm.
portance was so quickly brought
to a close, while thoroughly
threshed, coupled with Judge
O'Niell's night sessions OF the
court, thus involving a consider.
able saving to the parish.
It is quite needless to say that
the aquittal of young Olivier was
gladly welcomed by host of his
relatives and a large number OF
influential people, as he belongs
to one of the best and most dis
tinguished families of this region
of the State, who have always
been known for their high sense
of honor and respectability.
The gist of the trial, under the
evidence adduced, was according
to the unwritten law, which has
been accepted az custom and
which, for obvious reasons, has
greater force than statutory law
when there is no subterfuge or
other covert design or motive to
subserve. Nothing of this kind
was at all perceptible in any part
of the evidence offered-hence
the jury, in llberating the accused,
did nothing more than was meet
and proper fer it to do under the
circumstances.
The BANNER realizes that much
impetus has in recent years been
given to the unw-itten law theory
in this and other Southern States.
and courts Of justice no doubt act
guardedly when criminal cases
based upon this plea are brought
before them, for the plain reason
that the law offers too wide q field
for the wreaking of any sort OF
revenge-~or the satisfaction OF
other imaginary wrongs.
No law can be framed by the
Legislature that will props rly
protect the chastity OF women
against that horde of perfidious
who make light OF the
good name and chara cter of true
women. In such cases redress or
satisfaction is in honor bound,
the duty Of their stern male rrla-
tives. who are ordained by every
power, both human and divine,
TO inflict merited Punishment on
all such offenders. A library full
Of laws has never been able to
curb the passions of men when
Justly aroused 70 anger, and there
il no law that would deter one
from taking life, if necessary to
avenRe the honor and good name
81 female relative. In saying |
this " do not wish to be mis-
understood 40 besmirchtng the |
character Of Any one 10 the case
lust closed, but We cay It because
in cases where the unwfitten lAWf
i. actually the defense made, Il I'll
more or less than what
nurht g ~ done and 70 = duty