St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-06-10
DR.. LAFLEUR'S DEATH
OCCURRED ON MAY X.
Definite News Received Concern
ing Murder of Physician
GUATEMALAN SOLDIERS GUT
THE THROAT OF VICTIM
Brothers of Unfortunate ST. Landry
Boy Interview Man With DIR. La
fieur When Tragedy Happened


fieur When Tragedy Happened
The mystery surrounding DIR.
Noise Lafleur's death, as far as his
local friends were concerned, has
been partly cleared, as the result of
an interview between the brothers
of the deceased and ]. H. Motley,
who was at the head of the scien-
tific expedition, of which DR.. La
fleur was physician.
The interview took place in New
Orleans this past week. DR.. Err
temon and Emare Lafleur having
gone there to ascertain all facts
concerning their brothers death.
On the morning of April II, just
one month before the terrible trag-
edy, DIR. Noise Lafleur, a Mr.. Car
penter, Mr.. Motley and two negro
servants left Balise, British Hondu-
ras, in the direction of Ell Cayo,
which they reached three days
later; the expeditions objective
point was a newly reported arehae-
illogical site, nine days journey
from El Gayo into the peten bush.
On April 26th the expeditionary
party ascertained that revolution
lists had organized in El Cayo and
had captured nearby villages. De-
spite the danger they faced DIR. La
fleur and his friends decided to
proceed ahead, which they did as
soon as they could be provided
with necessary outfit, guides, mules
and supplies.
The party encountered friends
who joined them, SO that in case Of
trouble they would be is instead of
9. They could then overcome any
picket of the revolutionists. The
/ party reached Holmul, little vii
lage near their destiny, on May 10th,
departing from there at 7:30 next
morning.
After leaving Holmul the forests
were so thick that DR.. Lafleur and
his party decided to go together,
while their friends would go anoth-
er way. After over half aday's
travel they were in the thickest
part of the forests, forty miles
away from the village of Homul;
on account of the density of the
woods and briars the party was
| forced to go single file, the guide
| leading.
| All of sudden the party reached
| a place, in the middle of the forest,
which had been cleaned out. No
sooyer however than the party
reached this spot when shots were
heard, and the smoke obstructed
the view and no one could be seen.
!. Mr.. Motley yelled for DR.. Lafleur
and the guides to come back into
the thickets, they being the only
ones not in sight. but not a word
was heard from them, nor could
they be seen. The Guatemalan SOL
diers kept on firing, whilst Mr
Carpenter and Mr.. Motley made
their escape.
A search for DR.. Lafleur's body
lasted two days, his friends riskine
! their lives on several occasions in
an endeavor TO find him. When tht
former Opelousas boy was found
ne had been shot through the lung.
and his throat had been cut wild.
open; the Guatemalan soldiers hat
: striped him of his clothes, shoes
rings and other belongings.
The body was brought back tt
; tae home of Mr.. Motley, where i
was inferred, the ceremony bein,
performed by Catholic priest.
Mr.. Motley took the trouble 3
making an extensive investigation
of the whole matter, and after in
tervieWing the Lafleur brothers il
New Orleans the early part OF Iii
: week, departed for Washington
where he will present the Who'll
case to DR.. Lazaro, representativ
S from this district, and the Louis
lana senator's with view Of has
! ing the United States governmer
! ! investigate the shooting.
i 1t is probable that DR.. Lafleur
e body will be brought to Opelousa
y as soon as possible, for intermel
IT in the family graveyard at prair