St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-03-24
NEGRO CHILD IS
SHOT AND
KILLED BY
UNCLE
Father of Child is Charged
With Perjury at In
quest, by Coroner.

In the quiet or sunday morning
colored. grave digger might have been
seen at work in the Covington Gene
terry. 1t was not large grave. No
prominent citizen had passed away
and no flowers were waiting to be
heaped upon it. 1t was only the
grave of a little colored boy, who a
few short hours previously had been
in health and strength, waiting in
childish anticipation of a glorious
fish fry, when his parents should re-
turn from their fishing trip. It was
supposed he had been killed by
white man who had shot into the
house through pure cussedness.
At the inquest Coroner Bullock
took the evidence Of Oliver Wilson,
a brotner-in-law Of MCGOWAN. father
of the child. Wilson stated that
about 2 or 8 o'clock Friday morning
a white man, known as Bill Pate,
alias Tate or Ballard, came to the
house, which is on the old Daven-
port place near Ramsay, while the
father, Lynch MCGOWAN. and wlle'
were gone fishing. He stayed IN the
house until sun-up. and went away
leaving ar old pair of oter-ails ani
a pair of gloves. No one was In the
house but two girls II and IL years
of age. and the little boy, aged 8,
was shot. Pate returned again about
n. m.. Saturday. He demanded his
over-alls and gloves, and said II ne
did not get them he would blow out
somebody's brains. He got the
overalls but the gloves could not be
found. lie broke open A trunk Win
hammer and chisel and took SIX
dollars in money. He then went out
hut came back at nine O'Clock that
! night and fired in through the door
and killed the boy, who was lying
in bed. The bullet went in at the
left nipple and came out through the
left arm, The girls were In the
kitchen cooking fish.
It was said that Bill Pate MAD
borrowed a revolver from some one
at Ramsay. 1t was 3S, carrying
the same bullet that had killed the
boy. So verdict of murder was
rendered by the coroner's jury ana
immediate search was made lot
Fate, who could not be found or
traced to any point.
In the meantime Deputy Ed. La
croix did a very good piece OF de-
tective work. In his search for Pate
he discovered that Pate had written
a postal card from Abita Springs to
Ramsay at the same time it was
| claimed he had fired the fatal shot
that killed the boy. Lacroix got busy,
and one of the first things he did
was get hold of Wilson and put MIN
through a rigid cross examination
Finally Wilson acknowledged that
he had killed the boy himself. That
after Pate left a noise was heara
outside as if some one was trying
to get in. He went out and looKed
around and returning to the 200.
thought he heard Pate inside ana
fired.
Coroner Bullock entered charge
If uerjury against McGowan for MS
false testimony before the coroner
jury.
ton, Sunday. ..
Mrs. F .Sa.men and Mrs. Everitt
were New Orleans visitors TUESDAY
Mr., and Mrs. Grant spent Wednes-
day in New Orleans.
Mr.. and Mrs. Simon Levy and
daughter. Amelia, entertained a few
friends Saturday night in their new
home in Teddy Avenue.
Mr.. Carleton Sexton. creosote IN
J snector from New York, was in Sill
dell this week.
Miss Estelle Gillis spent Wedpes-
day i'm New Orleans.
! Mr.. Shelby King visited friends
here Sunday.
Mr.. Clarence Domergue was Wis
itor to New Orleans Sunday.
Pete Lalumia. proprietor of the
Clio Theatre. gave benefit last
night (Friday) for the Red Cross
fund.