The Rice belt journal., 1916-07-21
ST. LANDRY'S SHERIFF
SLAIN BY DESPERATE

NS
field fifteen miles west of Opelousas
by Helaire Carriere, outlaw who in
April escaped from the Jail in Jen-
nings, where he was awaiting trial
for the killing of negro in a boat
on the Mermentau river last October,
and who since his escape from the
Jefferson Davis parish Jail has ter
rorized residents of the western por-
tion of st. Landry parish. J. Dur
rousseau, a negro who was assisting
the sheriff in an attempt to arrest
Carriere was also shot. Deputy Chas.
Chachere and another negro, jim
Ballard, were shot by Carriere.
The sheriff, with the negroes and
Chachere, his deputy, left Opelousas
late Sunday night to arrest Carriere.
They reached the house in Mallet
Woods where they had been informed
Carriere was stopping, They sur
rounded the house and waited for the
dawn.
Chachere's wound was not serious.
He and his chief proceeded to sur
round the field. They dispatched their
two negro assistants to one side of
the field, themselves taking separate
positions on the opposite side. The
two negroes glimpsed Carriere as he
moved through the tall corn. They
opened fire. Carriere replied and hit
both of them.
Carriere lodged through the corn.
As he ran he saw Sheriff Swords
standing in a clearing between the
burrows. He fired. The bullet
plowed through the sheriff's heart
and he fell dead. Chachere rushed to
the assistance of his chief and lost
sight of the desperate.
Rewards amounting to $500 have
been offered for the capture, dead or
alive, of the desperate, Helaire Car
riere. Posses from various points all
over this part of the state are search
ing for him, and with the intense feel
ing aroused it is almost certain that
he will be captured and summarily
executed in very short time.
The funeral of the late Sheriff was
held from his home in Opelousas
Tuesday afternoon and was largely
attended by notables from all over
the state, among them Governor
Pleasant, Senator Stafford and wife, |
Secretary James ]. Bailey and Major |
Stewart.
Marion L. Swords was one of the |
most picturesque political figures in
this section of the state. He had |
political friends and political enemies
because he "always spoke his mind"
but there are few who ever spoke un-
favorably of Marion L. Swords per-
sonally.
He was born SO years agp on a
'arm in Avoyelles parish, but early
n life he moved to Big Cane, in st.
Landry parish. His boyhood he
spent upon farm at Big Cane and T
when young man he engaged in the
general mercantile business near
Spring Bayou, st. Landry parish. He
'etired from business to enter poll
les.
His entrance into politics was made
Turing the memorable anti-lottery
Of 1896. In appreciation
f the service rendered during that
ampaign by Swords, Murphy j.. Fos-
er, successful gubernatorial candi-
ate of the anti-lottery forces, ap-
ointed him to the office of assessor
nd registrar Of voters of st. Landry
arish. During the fight for white
upremacy- in 1896 Swords refused to
egister negroes as voters and was
Imprisoned for SO refusing.
He first was elected sheriff of the {
arish in 1900 and had served con-
nuously since that time. In the re- ]
ent state fight he was an ardent Y
lpporter of Governor Pleasant, and I
ecause of the strong sentiment in 4
t. Landry for the bull moose guber- |
atorial candidate was elected shsr- t
f by a small majority. \
- -
Some of our most distinguished,
fluential and strictly moral citi-
ms were observed coming into town :
a very questionable hour Monday
orning. Should the curfew ordi- :
ance have been enforced they would
Ave received the extreme penalty !.
hen hauled before the mayor. They :
ould probably attribute their tardy !,
rival at their homes to slippery !.
'ads and automobile trouble while : :