St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-11-04

/ The state then rested its case al
sos p. m. and court recessed till
8 p. m.
The state appeared to have made
out an iron-clad case, it is claimed
here, and an Unqualified verdict OF
| guilty is confidently predicted by
spectators. Defense counsel do not
seem to have strengthened their
case with the jury or court by con-
slant objections and alleged nagging
of witnesses.
The three mulattoes st. Andre
Ledet and Durousseau, made splen-
did witnesses for the state. ST..
Andre in particular is very intelli-
gent. All appear to have strong
traces of Indian blood
When court convened at s p. m.
every inch Of bench and floor. space
in the courthouse was massed with
serious, quiet men from the four
corners of the parish, except that
the aisles were kept clean. The
doors were closed to prevent further
crowding. The defense put Carriere
on the stand.
Attorney Perrin asked him if on
the 18th day of July he killed Sheric
Swords. He answered.
! Il did not
Asked if on emerging from the
cabin that morning anyone told him
to Halt" he answered, mo"
The defense rendered the witness
and the state asked no questions.
Counsel for the defense asked de-
lay because certain witness were not
present. Investigation showed the
defense never asked they be sub
| poenaed. The defense appeared
about to break into fiasce and the
the court strongly intimated that if
any defence witnesses were not
present it was the fault of the de-
fense, and ordered the trial to pro-
ceed.
Ella Fentenot, a bright, hatcher
pretty eopper-colored mulato girl,
and claimed to be Carriere's "Wo-
man" dweller in the murder
cabin was brought from the Jail
bedecked with a bead necklace,
rings and hair ornaments. Her only
testimony was Disappointing to the
defense, being to the effect that
she was awakened on the morning
OF the murder by the shots and
therefore did not know whether
any one called Halt on not.
Dlar Fontenot, mother of Ella
the same testimony.
Paul Miller and son, Arthur, were
called to impeach the testimony of
Brunot st. Andre and SEVERN Le-
det. Their testimony had no ma
terial bearing.
Babe Gourville had known Car
rlere twenty years, but that was the
extent Of his defense testimony.
Attorney Obier and parrin, of the
defense counsel, took the stand and
testified they visited the scene of
the crime and talked to certain of
the witnesses, but their evidence did
not contradict state witness on any
of Importance.
The defense rested at 9:25 %. m.
At 9:20 District Attorney Garland
BRIEFLY stated the states case, but
reserved his main argument for
closing He stated Sheriff Swords
personfied the law when killed, and
around him and his deputies was
thrown the SHIELD ofthe law in per
formance of their duties; that in
the nature of the case there could
be no qualified verdict. He finished
his argument at9:35 and prentiss
Obier opened the defense case. He
spoke for twenty-five minutes.
Robert w. Greene followed for
the defense. He is originally from
Vermillion parish. In the course of
argument he became poetical.
David R. Rosethal, of Lake Charles
occupied thirty minutes of time in
his talk for Garriere.
L. Abstain Fentenot, of the state
counsel, said he appeared as the
personal representative of the
widow and children of sheriff
Swords and made a very strong ar
gument for the defense. He resent
ed the attempt of the defense coun-
sci to inject the negro question in
to the case, recalled the testimony
of talesnen that Swords wa" every
body's friend" and fair to both
white and negro. He pleaded for
an unqualified verdict.
Mrs. Perrin talked in low tone of