St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1914-04-18
ASKS THAT FAIR PLAY
BE GIVEN TO ACCUSED
Walters Needs More Witnesses to Prove His Innocence
and People Of Louisiana Are Asked to Deal Fairly
Towards Alleged Kidnaper Of Bobbie.

Sheriff Hathorn, of Marion
county, was with the Dunbars at
the time Mrs. Dunbar attempted
to wake up Bobbie in Wallace's
home to identify him. He was
the one who made the announce
ment to the crowd that Mrs.
Dunbar would wait until day
light to identify her child.
After the court heard Sheriff
Hathorn's testimony it was ad-
journed until half after two Sat
urday evening. The judge
warned the witnesses for the de-
Tense to be present at the even
ing session.
Tt is thought that the defense
will open its case at this even
ing's session and the mystery Of
the kidnapping case will be
deeper than ever.
Fair Play For Walters.
OpeIousas, La. April II, 1914.
To the People of Louisiana:
You have promised to give W.
C. Walters a fair trial. The
man is now on trial in a hostile
community, without money and
without friends. He needs wit
nesses, but cannot bring them
here. These witnesses live in
other States. are not subject to
compulsory process, and will not
come unless their expenses are
paid. The Parish of st. Landry
through its Police Jury has ar
ranged to pay the expenses of
just twelve defense witnesses,
the legal, limit, and appropriated
$500 for that purpose. For lack
Of funds and in view of this linn
itation, Walters attorneys have
been forced to Gull his list of
necessary witnesses, and to call
a limited number only, a mere
handful of those at their COM
mand and who should be pres
ent. There are many others
who should be called at once,
but whose expenses cannot be
guaranteed, and the people who
promised this man a fair trial
should see TO this, or bear the
criticism OF the world.
While it is late, it is not too late
to start a fund to render the JUS
tice promised to this man,
whether he be guilty or innocent.
His attorneys have declared that
they will prove his innocence,
and do SO overwhelming if they
can but get his witnesses to Ope-
lousas.
T have no other interest
than to see w. G. Walters get
the justice and fair play my
adopted State promised him. |
make this appeal at this late
hour after being shown the fol-
lowing telegram just received by
the defense attorneys, and being
told that it was only one OF
scores of like kilograms and let
tiers from important witnesses
whose expenses could not be
guaranteed, and who therefore
could not be asked to come to
Opelousas:
Ashford, Alabama, April II,
1914.
Nv. G. Walters, Opelousas, La.
Walters with child Bruce An
derson spent night with me in
May before kidnapping took
place ID August. My wife and
son will testify to same.
N. s.. FELLOWS.
If there are enough fair-mlnd-
ed people in Louisiana. these and
other necessary witnesses can be
brought here for this man te
/! whom Louisiana has promised
| the State of Mississippi and the
world to give justice.
Checks can be sent direct te
/ the Parish Fiscal Agency Bank,
IOpelousas. La, with instruc-
tions to that bank to deposit
them to a fund to augment thu
parish appropriation for the pay,
nent of expenses of defense wit
nesses in the Walters prosecu
/ ton, or sent to any paper pub
fishing this appeal to be report
led by wire and forwarded to TIL
Fiscal Agent.
Whatever you do, do it now
as the defense attorneys shoult
| be advised Immediately il the ex
Denses of these witnesses can bt
guaranteed, and to what extent
Il the fund is deposited, as
should be, they will immediatel
i wire for such additional defens
i witnesses as can have their ea
.tpense reimbursed out Of tn
i fund furnished.
Respectfully,
! VIM. ALEX. ROBERTSON.