Year: 1877

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For long time this parish has been in
tested with one or more house breakers,
who have kept the people, and particu-
larly the ladies and children, in constant
state of alarm, so much so, that the pre-
cautions used for securing houses from
invasion were very uncomfortable. In fact
all classes were affected with general
sense of insecurity. No one had been
able to find out, or catch the burglars,
until Saturday. Captain Donnally, whose
house had been previously broken open,
used some energy and diligence, and ar
rested under suspicious circumstances an
individual who, after arrest, was identified
in so many ways, that there is no reason
to doubt but that this person, who gave
his name as Henry Williams, was guilty
of some of the house breaking.


Immediately after arresting Williams,
which was done near the Elton planta-
ton, Captain Donnally came to town and
delivered him to the officers Of justice, to
let the law take its course, and the cap
tain is particularly entitled to credit for
his promptness in the matter, and for his
forbearanee to the prisoner who was very
insulting and abusive toward him all the
way to town. An affidavit was made by
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who had some time before broken into his
house, and an order was given by the
parish judge for the sheriff to hold Will
liams. The next We hear of him is about
twelve o'clock that night there was a
opened thinking the town marshal might
want to confne some one, when several
persons, either black or blackened, stepped
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the keys of the cages, which the jailor
was compelled to furnish.


The prisoner was then taken out and
led few hundred yards from the Jail and
after considerable time had elapsed pis-
tol shots were heard, and the next morn
ing Williams was found dead, with three
bullet holes in his body.


This is the first lawless act that has oc-
CURED in East Carroll since it became a
parish, and it leaves stain that will
never be wiped out; everybody knows
| how dangerous q mob is, and the persons
who have performed this act will always
have it on their conscience that they are
guilty of premeditated murder. Every
| good citizen stands Mortified at the inse-
curity of life in community where the
people take the law into their own hands.


Near this locality, about eight years
ago, man named Hawkins, charged with
stealing horses, was hung to a tree by
citizens until dead, and nothing was ever
done about it.


At Omega, a few years later, two men
were burned to death, who were charged
with numbering two Irishmen.


| When young Coley, at Schnider's store,
a few years ago, shot colored man, a
mob was formed, and it was with the
greatest difficulty that it was restrained
executing Coley.


Many can remember the armed citizens
who came in to take summary vengeance
on Ed Wilson for killing Captain Masters,
yet when Wilson was tried by a jury il
was decided that he was not guilty.


F, When the Aieklen homicide occurred
the same lawless spirit was exhibited.


This thing has become frightfully too
common and must be stopped. Some
have thought if those persons were guilty
they have got their deserts. Suppose that
| just one of these four who have been
mobbed here within the past eight years
was innocent, would it not have been bet
ter if the other three and a hundred more
guilty persons had got away than to. take
the life of one innocent man? Very likely
the grand jury will give this matter a
thorough investigation, and for the honor
and deceney of our parish, which now,
under its new and capable officers has
such a bright future before it, we hope
and trust the like will never occur again.