The Donaldsonville chief., 1921-03-12
KILLED WHILE ROBBING STORE

KILLED WHILE ROBBING STORE
Negro Shot by Night Watchman of
! Lafourche Mercantile Company.
A negro said to be named George
Williams, was shot and almost in
stantly killed by Rene Esneault,
night watchman of the Lafourche
Mercantile store of the Iberville
Wholesale Grocery Company, last
Monday night at IL O'clock
When Mr.. Esneault made his hour
ly rounds at midnight, he found that
the electric street light in the front
of the building, which is always left
burning at night, was out, and upon
approaching the main entrance door
he found it open, and at the same
time saw negro near box car. The
darkey noticed that he had been seen
and started off on full run up the
street towards town and soon dis
appeared, he wore black cap and
gray jumper. He made an examina-
ton and discovered that the paddock
with which the door was fastened
was broken. He Immediately enter
ed the offic in which a light was
burning, and looked around the build
| ing to see if he could discover an in
truder, but failing to see anyone, he
took the lock off the office door and
installed it in the place of the one
which had been broken. He then
locked the door and walked to the
rear of the store building to an out
house to secure his shot gun where
ne had left it. AS he walked along
the building to procure his gun, Mr..
Esneault heard terrible noise on
the inside, caused by loud pounding
on another door of the store. Having
| obtained his gun he stationed himself
at point some distance from the
door and awaited results. The lock
soon gave away and a negro emerged
from the inside and stepped on the
platform and looked about from side
to side. Mr.. Esneault fired load of
buckshots into the man, who re-
entered the building, walked some
distance and returned to the door
where he dropped. He called out the
name "Charley" several times, which
led to the belief, that Charley was
the name of his companion who had
been seen hiding behind the box car.
knowing that he had wounded the
man Mr.. Esneault walked over to
the door, closed it and then went to
the office of the Texas Oil Company
and asked Joseph Sanchez, night
Waterman, to telephone to the sher-
iff. In the meantime Paul Ramirez,
n ot-oFr Nf +ho
tracted by the shot, walked over to
investigate. In short while Sheriff
Geo. H. Richard with Officers Law
less and Acosta were on the scene.
The negro was still alive but in a
lsemi-conscious state and was now
calling for his mamma. The sher-
if tried to question him about his
own and the identity of his partner,
but could obtain no satisfaction
from the dEing man, who soon
breathed his last about an hour af-
ter being shot.
| An investigation of the store
showed that nothing had been taken,
but two empty sacks were found on
the floor in which no doubt the ne
groes intended to carry away their
lplunder.
DR.. 7. H. Hanson, acting as coro-
ner, held an inquest over the body
and found that the load of buckshots
had taken effect in the mans right
side, arm and hand.
| The body remained at the store
until o'clock Tuesday afternoon,
when it was buried in the cemetery
at the towns expense. Over 1000
people, both white and colored, call
ed at the Lafourehe Mercantile store
during the day to view the body.
l. This store has been robbed sew
eral times in recent years and sew.
place were also made. This time Mr.
IEsneault's alertness and unerring ain
lprevented another looting of the es
tablishment. Mr.. Esneault reports
that since he has been employed as
might watchman of the place he ha:
often seen suspicious negroes prowl
ling about
Thursday morning, a colored mar
Icame up from New Orleans and call
ed on Sheriff Richard and stated tina
Wednesday night negro, giving hi
name as Charley" had passed b.
his mothers. house in the Crescen
City and told her that her son hat
: been shot in barroom in Donaldson
Vile, and the visitor said that he hat
come at the request of his mother t.
, Isee if the man shot was really he
son. The body was exhumed, AM
: identified by the visitor as his broth
er; and Immediately thereafter wa
. lreinterred. The visiting negro SAT-
, that his brother had always born
, good reputation and that he was sur
prised at his action.
Thieves will no doubt give wild
, berth to the Lafourche Mercantil
store in the future.