Louisiana, W-Y, 1885-1963, Undated

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nag” Conierred_ at AY, aauFunVvinie
Thyrsday and arranged ta direct
the! disposition of the condemned
mah’s remains. :

he thhody was nemoved and
prepared fur burla] in the colored
Catholic Cemetery here by Clifton
Mopton, local colored undertaker,
First Since | 1906 ;

old parish jail, the trap

zg. Sprung by the late Louis

a te who was Sheriff at that
€, : ay est

| e hanging tn 1906 was the
In this city sinre 1896 when
ouble execution jof Alexis and

est Bianc took place. The two

orq who had been sentenced
for! the murder of Martin Begnaud,
of Scott, were hanged! on a: scaffold

n the old parish jail, the trap
being sprung by the late Isaac Brous-
» who was then Bheriff, /

_ Convicted In October

e crime for whidh Sam Wood-
was convicted and paid the
Be: _ penalty today iwas the mur-
dey of Jules Guidroz; local’ car in-
pector for the Southern. Pacific,
oni the night of July 10th last,
when Paul Doucet Jr.} also & car tn-
Spector,
-Chinsso

Ww
day, 3
District Court, here, and the verdict

wes returned on W. nesday, Octo
ber 20th, after the jury had’ been
out for only a few nutes.+ Tha

depth ne was pronounced in
court by Judge Bailey on Friday,
October 29th, and the date of ex-
ecution wes later sa by Governor

Simpson. y i ps

ft Phree Men Killeg:

. Afriving.in this city in g box car
, accom.

Hed. by Mike Wiliams,’ another
» Who was a witness for the
during the trial, Woodard told
seeking employment and was
cted to accompany the railroad

on the night of July 1
n
93

méh who had found Woodard and
Williams’ in the car jiand sterted to
walk with ‘them toward thé South-
! Pacific depot. Williams was

Kilchrist and

ppreaetoiatrvaeceenener seer

i
}
’
i

r Doncet died
jat St John's

llth, near the Vermilion Bt. |

Ju t
orcs of the Southern | aap
after a gun fight with offigers and
others taking. part in. the’ search,
during which battle Police, Officer

{ oe ose

'Simon = Chiasson suffered wound 1

ville,

+ defense

from which he died a few hours Ip-!

i 2 er ) y wat
ter at St. Jonn’s Hospital. ». Wood-'
ard received some wounds about!

the faee and bedy which. how-.
ever, did not prove serious. He

i
was held in jall at Franklin for a!
time and then qaken to St. Martin-:

Make Confession |
his trial Woodard con-
having Killed the two-
rallrond, men. ‘He made a. self-'
ples, alieging that he be-
cume Ifightened and feared for hits
spafety alters being found in the
box car, The evidence presented:
uaring the trial, however. fatled to.
sipport the ples of self-cefense made |
by the negro 3 ; |
“Distriet Attorney James Gremlilion, |
of Crowiey, was in charge of the;
prosecution during the trial, while,
Walcu Duyus and A. Wilmot Dal-j
feres, locu! attorneys, represented |
VY. oodard. Defense counsel was ap-}
pointed by the court, in accordance |
wit law, when the prisoner stat-,
ed he had nor employed counsel.
Was From Arkansas
Wocdard, “ho was 22 years of age:

During
fexsed ta

Wednesdsy, had come to this city |
from Alexandria on the night: of|

‘July 10th. His relatives resided ate
Wynn, Arkansas, where he is «tated.
to have been raised but left there |
a few years ago and had bheen-in!
different parts of the country be- |

fore coming here.

pleased) when the small projection.
(Which held it was pulled back, |
ifell to one side where it was kept:
! from rebounding by the’ weight
i bf @ heavy block of wood at one
(3:de under the platform and cén-:
/hected with the door by means of
rope end pulleys. 7
AS the trap fell, Woodard shot
below the floor of the platform.
At the end of the seven foot drép |
is body wis suspended about five
feet above ihe ground. : SY
There were contractions ' Of the
body us the Mist spark of tiife
ebbed out. Then the médvements
Seased and «li was «till, ui |
Dr. Mf. M. Mouton, Parish Coroner,
assisted by Dr. J. © Duhon, As-
)aetent, cores, Dr. M. E. ‘Saucier,
| and Dr. ©. 6 Olivier examined the

| body and pro:sounced Woodard dead.
The necek had Ot been hroken,
fC Was stated after an exami
thon by the physicedans, death re-
wUlting from strangulation;
Eee ' Brought In Car |
| A short time before the ex.
fcution Woodurd was brought to
this city from St. Martinville where
he had been held in jail for some.
| time, and for several davs preceding, |
‘his execution was in, charge of *t:
special guard.
With the condemned negra on the |
trin to this citv todav were Sheriff |
trip to this city today were! Sheriff;
“Trahan: Chief Depu ty Sheri? Jack |
|Doucet; Reverend Father /'‘Thomas!
‘Wrenn, pastor of 8t. Paul's! Colored
Catholic Church here, whq gave .
“piritual aid to Woodard in jthe last
Hours; and J. A..Thiboaux, who drove
the car. | ae
> At St. Martinville Mass iad been
Celebrated last Sunday for the con-
demned negro, by Reverend) Pather
feeters, Catholic pastor tn that city
spiritual advisor to Woodard who
recently entered the Catholic /Church.
' Before lenving Bt, rie exe

Woodard was dressed for exe -
cution in a dark suit, with white
shirt and tan shoes. Then he
was taken from the jall and the
‘ride to this city began. i

,
}
H ,
! ae

= ee tee

. Death Warrant Read
Ppon arrival here, Woodard, owing
to the facet that the partsh jail

\
j
t

here has heen torn down pending
copapletion of the new court house

aud jail, was taken into the court

-hquse building where the death

warrant was read to him by Sheriff,
Te an (ane

The warrant was raad in the pre-'}
seize of the condemned man anda
the ofi:cial witnesses who getnered
Ini the office of Parjsh Assessor 2.
L.| Evurgeois, locuteq on the side
cf tue pullding next, to the franiw)
und canvass enclosed, scaffaidc a few
feet nway.,

Jt was the second. time the = pri-
toner had heerd the death warrant.
wijicn had been signed by Governor
Y.oH. S.mpson., and which tad ulso
been read to him by Sheriff! Trahan
JU days prior to tthe execution, as
required by law.

The reading completed. the offi-.
clyl witnesses were conducted to

the platform of the scaffold where

they waited while the Sheriff re-

turned to bring Woodard.

The seven official witnesses, be-
sides the four physicians present,
Drs. Mouton, Duhon, Saucier and
liver, were George Martin, of the.
3ixth Waerd; Alex Martin. Sr. of'
the First Ward; and Delfa Domingue,

of, the Third Ward; all cf this

parish.

These on the platform end al-
SO. in the space below, within the
Wepelen enclosure, included the
efffetil witnesses, officers, ana
others, including one woman. Mrs,

Jules (;uldruz, widow of the man

Cor; whose death Woodard was
semenced to death,
The Death March
Reverend Father Wrenn = preceded
Wopdurd as the latter walked from
the court house and up the elvyhteen

steps leuding to the gallows. Back
of (the condemned man walked
“Sheriff Trahan, followed by De-

puty Doucet,
Ip the court house the handcuf!s

which had been placed on Woodard
‘during the trip from St. Martin-

Ville had been removed and his.

“hands placed behind him and _ tied.

After he was pronounced dead, !
the body of Woodard was taken:

down and was placed in an un-:
‘dertaker’s basket, prreparator to!

being removed, |

Sheriff Trahan placed the body;
in charge of Father Wrenn who;
had conferred ut St, Martinville j

pleated) when the smal} orojectian -
‘Which’ held itoowme pulled back,

‘fell to one side where it was kept |
ifrom rebounding by the weight |
i OF a heavy biock of wood at one
ijide wnder the platform and cdén-
hected with the door by means of
rope end pulleys, i
AS th trap fell. Woodard sha:
below the floor of the pletform.
At the end of the seven foot arap

his body wos suspended about five
feel abuve coe ground. of
Tnere were contractions of the
body ous thre hast spurk of ttfe
epbed out. Then the movements
ceased nnd oli was etifd,
Dr Sf. Mo OMeauten, Parish Coroner,
GESi.UEUN\ by or. J QO) Duhon, Ag-
(Metent, Bers star. Mo ED Saucier,
land Dr. CN @aovier examined the

| body end prN counced Woodard dead,
The neck Port Deer Patek ony,
fC was. stored oNterp on eM Wniliga-

tlon by ot dye
mKUltI nig

dans, dewth
Strung wa thom,
Brought In
A short tirne
'eution Woodard
ithig city from St,
ihe had beer held
i time, and for
‘his execution
special guard
With the condemned

eh n

OX.
Was to
In jail for
several davs pre
Was in, chary

}
segra on the |

trin to this city tnd were Sheriff :
trip to this oo ey were! Sheriff
“Trahen; Chief Depusy Sherif? Jack |
‘Doucet; Reverend Father Thomas |

Wrenn, pastef of St. Paul's! Colored
Catholic urch here, wha gave |
“piritual aid to Woodard in ithe last
Hours? and J. A..Thiboaux, who drove
the car. a, 1 f
|. At St. Martinville Mass had been
Celebrated last Sunday for he cot-
demned negro, by Reverend) Pather
‘Peeters, Catholic pastor in that city
spiritual advisor to Woodard who
recently entered the Catholic (Church.
Before lenving Bt, Martincilje
Woodard was dressed for | ext ~
‘cution in a dark suit, with white
shirt and tan shoes. Then he
iwas tuken from the jail and the
‘ride to this city began. i 7

ey
‘
f,

'
iy

which had been placed on
- durine

Death Warrabt Read
Lipon arrival here, Woodard

}

Owlnag

Lh eS Taet that the. parish. jel
here: has heen torn : down pending
copmapietion of the new cour: house
und jail, Was taken into tie court
-hdause building where the death

Warrant was read to him bv Sheriff

The warrent was road in

"he pre-"|

cece of the condemned man and
the ofi:clal witnesses who wutacred
in t=. office of Parish Assessor 11.
L.i Bourgeois, locuteqd> om tne cide
Cletoe sallding “next to. the frat
WN CaNVaSsSS enclosed. scafful ai few
fone e t way.

It wus the second. time che pri-
coher had heerd the dedtnm warrant,

whien had been signed by Governor

J oH S.mpson. and“which bad alse
been read to himby Sherif! frahan

vU Gays prior Au tthe execution, us
required “oy: Jew.
The reueding completed. tie off:
clul witiesses were conducted to
uxitform of the scaffold where
waited while the Sheriff re-

fied to bring Woodard

The seven official witnesses. be-
sides the four physicians present,
Drs. Mouton, Duhon, Saucier end
liver, were George Martin, of the
sixth Waerd; Alex Martin. Sr. of:
the First Ward: and Delfa Domingue,
,of ine Third Ward: all cf this
parish.

Thos@® on the ptatform end al-

in the space below, within the
WeoReeN enclosure, dncluded the
offle NE witnesses, officers. ana

Others Noeluding one woman. Mrs,

dules ciuh the wen
‘for whose th Waoeoderd wae
ReMtenced to Sah,
The Death March
Reverend Father Wrenp preceded
|Wopdard es the latter Walked from

-the court house and up the eiyhteen
steps leading to the gallows.
Of ‘the
Sheriff

Back
Walked
dy De-

condemned man
Trahan, followed
puty Doucet.

Ip the court house the handecufis
Voodard
the trip from St. Martin-
Ville had been removed oo ane his
hands placed behind him and. tied.

Afier he was prongunesd dead, |
the body of Woodard was taken:
down and owas placed ino an un-
dertaker’s basket, pPreparaior 10

helnge removed,

Sheriff, Trahan placed the body.
in chirege of Father Wrenn who!
had conferred at St. Martinville ;

certain:

WOODAMD, am} 4 } ’
ee, s

Lae
1/21/1927

ne ie

f Trap Is Borers Atl 3 ee M. Asa | Death

' *Pyonounced At 1:27 P. M.—Physi cians

» State Neck Of Negro Not "Brokent And
' » <“Death Is Caused By Strangulation—
i + Large Crowd G athers On Court “House
«+ Square—Condemned Man Brou; ght To
*° . This City Frorn Jail At St. Martinville—

it ‘Remains Calm To Last. © aia

Be TT Woodard, Twas asked by” ‘Sheriff tras =|
el ». “Sam Woodard, 22-yetr-oid wiecrol chan if he cared to make oat
lag went to his death on the gallows bament. - ; ee ee
ie . mn , cyt * oodard re ted. |

here this afternoon at the first fe- , rN, ar, 1 Wood , <p “placed

Aa ies

qe:

le gal execution in this city since 1908.)

lk | crowd estimated at-3,000 per }t a olay
2 gions was gathered on court house bo face, tied his legs aaa Ae
, gquare and pbarby, as the traf ithands having been “pr y

f
|
v)

»~ Uhrough which Wooderd plunged wag fre Dehind. his back, and then adjusted

. tprung by Sheriff J. De Traban at a he moose about his neck, with: the

: eft -ear. |
taedip, m. Setearge knot back of the 1

} | Woodard was. pronounced decd at ia ‘The Sheriff paused Gaia =
| ae 1 fina 01 Ihe ore | reaching for the — *
i : Calm To The Last ‘wos }to Telease the trap, an aa!

f an ‘through the ffoal preparations jf
‘ps the death hour apprsacihed, the
# Condemncd negro maintained the
‘calm and stcical attitude whicn he|
& had shown during his trial and con-
| wiction ind since he «heard the

oe aeilt: soon! be

ae 3 a i ie
1 eu) bee
ove gy oo:

a
came Sheriff stepped to one

ae the platform and pulled the
; pewropden Jever. The = door. jr¢>
decth seritence pronounced upon: fF. | ee ‘
‘sep in District Coury. here last |

October. -

i dnudicted by a grand fury - {or the LV
: eluyings of. Jules Guidroz and Paul DA /
9 If Doucet. Jr. car inspectors for th¢

: Southern Pacific Ratiroad here, and A T.
| He City Police Stmon Chiasson, last DVE ZR ( SEK _
|, July, Woodard was tried for the

ymurder- of Jules Guidrog. It was LY) Day
‘upon his conviction on that charge ] =

_ that he paid the death’ penalty
I today. 4

thas Makes No Statement er | 1727
In his last minutes, as he stood A /
fin front of the trap door. through

‘which he was soon to meet death: age. &

38 SOUTHERN 517.
YOUNG, William, black, hanged Rayville, La., on May 11, 1906,

On June 17, 1905, a death warrant was signed by Governor Blsancard to
Sheriff W, N, Traylor, ordering him to execute William Young, sentenced
on March 10, 1905, on July 28, 1905, A respite was issued to Aug. 18

and on August 17 another respite was ordered until further orders, A new
death warrant was signed on April 10, 1906, setting the date for Mayll,
1906. Death Warrants, State Archives, Baton Rouge,

"RESPITE FOR WILLIAM YOUNG, - GOVERNOR DELAYS EXSCUTION R&K FOR RE-EXAMI-
NATION INTO CASE, = Baton Rouge, La., July 28 XXB@KX - WHXXXK William
Young, 8 negro, who was to have been hanged at Rayville today, was granted a.
respite this morning by Governor Blanchard. The execution was postponed
until Aug. 18 at the request of District Attorney W. J. Gray. The rea-
son for the respite is to give an opportunity for 9 re-examination into
the case by the Board of pardons on the application to commute the
sentence from death to life imprisonment in the ‘State Penitentiary.
Judge Gray, while requesting the respite, states in his telegram to the
Governor that he has not made up his mind to recommend imprisonment in
the R&AXKEX Penitentiary. William Young was convicted in the District
Court at Rayville on Feb. 2) last for criminal assault on Hmma Louis, a
10-year-old negro girl, Oct. 2, 190), at the girl's home in Dugdimonia,
twelve miles south of Rayville. The parents of the girl went to church
and left the child alone at home. Young was convicted solely on evi-
dence furnished by the girl, who identified him as the man who entered
the house. The ¥H#RR Jurywas out but a few moments. John R. McIntosh
District Attorney, and Geo, Wesley Smith represented the prosecution
and C, J. Hllis the defense, An effort was made at thetime to have
the sentence commuted to life imprisonment, but Judge W, J. Gray, the
trial judge, would not sien the recommendation. The case was sanvealed
to the Supreme Court and EK the verdict of the jury affirmed on April
2h. The Board of Pardons lest week refused a petition to intervene in
the case,"

DAILY PICAYUNE, New Orleans, Le., July 29, 1905,

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DOCKET BOOK FOR ‘STATE_vs, GASS, YOUNG > #2929.

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Pad ee PETIT JURY VENIRE FOR TRIAL “JURY FOR CASE! ~ STATE vs YOUNG #*

(on JULY 3 1901

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of 127, it was generally believed that
that would be Lafayette’s last hanging
on a temporary gallows. The new par-
ish court house was ander construc-
tion, and it was to include a modern
execution chamber with a permanent
gallows.

What no one knew at the time was
that Woodard’s death would mark not
only the last hanging on a temporary
gallows, but also the last hanging in
Lafayette Parish.

_ The new “permanent” gallows, un-
known to most local residents, still
stands in the execution chamber of the
parish court house. It has never been
used.

WHEN WOODARD WAS HANGED
for murder, a temporary gallows was
constructed on the court house square,
specifically for his execution.

Shortly afterward, the new court
house was completed. But no one ever
walked the 13 steps to the permanent
gallows.

The gallows stood waiting until
1940 for its first victim. Then the in-
strument of death was officially re-
tired by the state legislature in an act
making hanging illegal.

Today; the gallows looks Gown on
unclaimed bicycles and other items
placed in the execution chamber for
lack of storage space elsewhere.

IT IS STILL IN WORKING OR-
DER, according to Sheriff W. E. Har-
son, but has been rendered inoperative
by the removal of certain parts.

Fresh paint is applied periodically

to the platform, and the heavy rope

Lafayet
\ which has never been used,

ihe gallows is a
looking piece of m
from its temporary counterpart in that
it was intended to take as many lives
as the courts should see fit to send it.
Its predecessor was intended only to
claim the life of Sam Woodward. A
powerful y oung Arkansas Negro ac-
cused of the murder of three Lafa-
yette men.

_ Woodard died for the murder of
Jules Guidroz, railroad employe. He
had been charged also with the mur-
der of another railroad worker, Paul
Doucet, and with the death of city
policeman Simon Chaisson.

About Woodard’s part in the first
two murders, there is little doubt. But

whether he gunned down Chaisson re-

mains open to question.

WOODARD AND CHAISSON were
facing each other in a gun battle on

the morning of July 11, 1926. But Chais-

son died of a gunshot wound in the

‘back of the head.

The violence which claimed the
lives of the three Lafayette men,. and
resulted in the hanging of Sam Wood-
ard, began in Arkansas. Officials there
claimed Woodard had put.a knife. in

... the ;stomach, of another man; - then -
hopped a freight train. He came to

Lafayette running scared; a .38 pistol
in his bib overalls and a box of steel-
jacketed bullets in his hand.

In Alexandria, Woodard met an-
other transient, Mike Williams, and
the two hopped Southern Pacific
Freight No. 840 heading south. Wil-
liams wanted to stop in Lafayette and
visit an aunt.

fe ‘Sheriff W. E. Harson holds repe of new gallows

were Slammed shut and the two were
locked in.

THE FREIGHT ROLLED into the
Lafayette station shortly after m id-
night, where a crew of four car in-
spectors began the routing task of
checking for “hot boxes” and examin-
ing other safety points.

}

¥
¥
*

August Kilchrist and Jules Guidroz |

began at one end of the train and Paul
Doucet and Clement Boudreaux start-
ed at the other. The men, all in their
twenties, carried lanterns, hammers
and “grab hooks.”

When Guidroz and Boutreattt dis-
covered that someone was in the car,
they opened it and the two men were
called out.

Following a brief conversation, Wil-
liams left for his aunt’s house after
urging Woodard to accompany him.
Woodard, his hand tucked in the bib
of his overalls, asked and received di-
rections to the depot. He set out ahead
of the railroad men. -

ACCORDING TO AUGUST KIL-
CHRIST, who is still an employe of
the railroad, a natural but fatal mis-
take was made at this point. The four
Cajuns began conversing in French.

The language, foreign to the ear of
the’ ‘Arkansas Negro, spurred him into
action,. according to Kilchrist. He
whirled, pistol in hand, and fired three
shots at the car inspectors.

(Later, Woodard indicated to his
attorneys that he believed the men to
be police officers, pursuing him for the
Arkansas stabbing. The strange lan-
guage added to his suspicions.)

Two of the steel-jacketed bullets
struck Guidroz, killing him instantly.
A third fatally injured Doucet, who
died en route to a hospital.

As Woodard fled, Kilchrist threw
his hammer at him, striking him in
the back. The killer continued running,
into waist-deep pond. He crossed to the
other side and disappeared into the
darkness.

POSSES WERE ORGANIZED imme-
diately to search for the gunmen. Ac-
tivities were directed by Sheriff Dassas
Trahan and Chief of Police Bob Chau-
doir.

At daybreak the next morning, a
railroad employe atop a freight train
spotted Woodard hiding in a garden
only a few yards from where he had
crossed the pond.

A group of some six men moved
in on the spot at about 5:30 a.m.
Woodard sprang from his hiding place
and ran, pausing periodically to fire
at the posse.

One of the men, railroad employe
Percy Jaeger, now retired, was in the
sights of Woodard’s rifle when he
raised his shotgun and fired into Wood-
ard’s face. According to Jaeger, he
fired three times, and each time the
light shot struck the gunman about the
face. A city policeman shot Woodard
in the leg, Jaeger said.

aaiag 2

Soe ek

a
4
if

WHEN SHERIFF J. DASSAS TRA-
HAN hanged Sam Woodard in January
of 1927, it was generally believed that
that would be Lafayette’s last hanging
on a temporary gallows. The new par-
ish court house was under construc-

tion, and it was to include a modern’

execution chamber
gallows. -

What no one knew at the time was
that Woodard’s death would mark not
only the last hanging on a temporary
gallows, but also the last hanging in
Lafayette Parish.

The new “permanent” gallows, un-
| known to most local residents, still
stands in the execution chamber of the
parish court house. It has never been
used. Sob

WHEN WOODARD WAS HANGED
for murder, a temporary gallows was
constructed on the court house square,
specifically for his execution.

_ Shortly afterward, the new. court
house was completed. But no one ever
walked the 13 steps to the permanent
gallows.

The gallows stood waiting until
1940 for its first victim. Then the in-
strument of death was officially re-
tired by the state legislature in an act
making hanging illegal.

Today, the gallows looks down on
unclaimed bicycles and other items
placed in the execution chamber for
lack of storage space elsewhere.

IT IS STILL IN WORKING OR-
DER, according to Sheriff W. E. Har-
son, but has been rendered inoperative
by the removal of certain parts. ~

Fresh paint is applied periodically

with a.permanent

to the platform, and the heavy rope

WOODARD, Sam, black, hanged Lafayette, La., on January 21, 1927.

Ee i ae?

\> JIS/63

still dangles through the open trap
door, — J em

_ The gallows is a simple, deadly-
looking piece of machinery, different
from its temporary counterpart in that
it was intended to take as many lives
as the courts should see fit to send it. -
Its predecessor was intended only to
claim the life of Sam Woodward. A
powerful y oung Arkansas Negro ac-
cused of the murder of three Lafa-

_yette men.

Woodard died for the murder of
Jules Guidroz, railroad employe. He
had been charged also with the mur-
der of another railroad worker, Paul
Doucet, and with the death of city
policeman Simon Chaisson.

About Woodard’s part in the first

_two murders, there is little doubt. But

whether he gunned down Chaisson re-
mains open to question.
WOODARD AND CHAISSON were
facing each other in a gun battle on
the morning of July 11, 1926. But Chais-—
son died of a gunshot wound in the

-back of the head. ;

The violence which claimed the
lives of the three Lafayette men,. and
resulted in the hanging of Sam Wood-
ard, began in Arkansas. Officials there
claimed Woodard had put a knife. in

4
a}

the stomach. of another man,- then ~*

hopped a freight train. He came to
Lafayette running scared, a .38 pistol
in his bib overalls and a box of steel-
jacketed bullets in his hand.

In Alexandria, Woodard met an-
other transient, Mike Williams, and
the two hopped Southern Pacific
Freight No. 840 heading south. Wil-
liams wanted to stop in Lafayette and
visit an aunt.

a | a “yt ,
ae ae al Mena a

Woodard just wanted to move.

In LeCompte, the box car doors
were slammed shut and the two were
locked in. 3

THE FREIGHT ROLLED into the
Lafayette station shortly after m id-

night, where a crew of four car in-
spectors began the routing task of
checking for “hot boxes” and examin-
ing other safety points.

August Kilchrist and Jules Guidroz

began at one end of the train and Paul
Doucet and Clement Boudreaux start-
ed at the other. The men, all in their
twenties, carried lanterns, hammers
and “grab hooks.’ . :

When Guidroz and Boudreaux dis-
covered that someone was in the car,
they opened it and the two men were
called out. :

ACCORDING TO AUGUST KIL-
CHRIST, who is still an employe of
the railroad, a natural but fatal mis-
take was made at this point. The four
Cajuns began conversing in French.

The language, foreign to the ear of
the Arkansas Negro, spurred him into
action, according to Kilchrist. He
whirled, pistol in hand, and fired three
shots at the car inspectors.

(Later, Woodard indicated to his
attorneys that he believed the men to
be police officers, pursuing him for the
Arkansas stabbing. The strange Jan-
guage added to his suspicions.)

Two of the steel-jacketed bullets
struck Guidroz, killing him instantly.
A third fatally injured Doucet, who
died en route to a hospital.

As Woodard fled, Kilchrist threw
his hammer at him, striking him in
the back. The killer continued running,
into waist-deep pond. He crossed to the
other side and disappeared into the
darkness.

POSSES WERE ORGANIZED imme-
diately to search for the gunmen. Ac-
tivities were directed by Sheriff Dassas
Trahan and Chief of Police Bob Chau-
doir.

At daybreak the next morning, a
railroad employe atop a freight train
spotted Woodard hiding in a garden
only a few yards from where he had
crossed the pond.

A group of some six men moved
in on the spot at about 5:30 a.m.
Woodard sprang from his hiding place
and ran, pausing periodically to fire
at the posse.

One of the men, railroad employe
Percy Jaeger, now retired, was in the
sights of Woodard’s rifle when he
raised his shotgun and fired into Wood-
ard’s face. According to Jacger, he
fired three times, and h time the

By BOB

anit:

Osta aaa

SE erm

ie Sant So eh

Tai |

During ihe furious exchange of
fire, Simon Chaisson was shot
vn. Later evidence revealed that the
il bullet hit him in the back of the
k, could not have come from
da gun. He was apparently a
im of a bullet fired wildly by a
nber of the posse.

As Sam Woodard lay on the ches
nded, several railroad employes
king nearby rushed to the scene.
riend of Doucet and Guidroz had
e restrained from attacking the in-
d man with a hammer.

NEWS OF WOODARD ’S CAP-
tE spread quickly through the

Upon learning that friends and
tives of the dead railroad men
ned to lynch the captive, District
ge W. W. Bailey ordered him re-
ed to the St. Mary Parish jail: for
keeping. There he was identified
August Kilchrist and Clement Bou-
ux,

Adso in Franklin, Sam Woodard
his attorneys, two young lawyers
inted by the court.

Woodard went to trial Oct. 19, 1926.
lawyers had hoped for trial of the
sson murder, since they were con-
it they could prove him innocent
ie crime. He was tried, however,
he murder of Jules Guidroz.
Voodard claimed that he shot
roz self-defense. He said the
at fd him without cause, and
rew his pistol to protect himself.
1 PROFESSIONAL BALLISTICS
IONSTRATION, however, indicat-
iat the men were standing too far
’ from Woodard at the time they
killed to have been striking him
ly Way.
Voodard’s trial ended Oct. 20, the
after it began. Jury Foreman
1as F. Webb read the verdict of
y as charged. A pool of the jury
ed it to be unanimous.
bé two young lawyers who lost
ase were destined for accomplish-
Ss great enough to offset that dis-
n#ment. One of them, A. Wilmot
res, recently retired after a long
r as senior judge of the 15th Ju-
District. The other, Waldo Du-
gained prominence in the state
ature as well as the legal profes-
rior to his recent death.
n Oct. 21, Sam Woodard was sen-
d to hang. He accepted the sen-
caln according to Judge Dal-
calm until he

‘

Martin parish jail,
until time for the
spite doves pe vali:

Last hanging occurs after Sar nm OW aodard gets Fast rites of
the church

“I’m ready to die now,” he said, “I’ve the tarpaulin. With his har
made my peace with God. By the behind him, he
time you’re through appealing, I might where Sheriff
not be so ready.” nesses waited.
On Jan. 21, 1927, Woodard was At 1:20 p.m. the rope was placed
transported by motorcade to the Lafa- around Sam Woodard’s neck.
yette Parish Court house. At 1:21, Sheriff Trahan pulled the

On the

ral ae

to see § sam We a
rey 'D OW]
fiHE CROW!

‘hin acer scent ca

seme i

{

apa £
During the furious exchange of
ire, on Chaisson as. shot
; + oad ae
n. Lat eveait that the
1 7%. 5 es te ¢h yy hanle
fatal bullet hit i In wie DaCKk of the

neck, and could not have come from

Woodard’s gun. He was apparently a

victim of a bullet fired wildly by a
mber of the posse.

s Sam Woodard lay on the eral

nded, several railroad employes
working nearby rushed to the scene.
A friend of Doucet and Guidroz had
to be restrained from attacking the in-
jured man with a hammer.

NEWS OF WOODARD ’S CAP-
TURE spread quickly through the
area. Upon learning that friends and
relatives of the dead railroad men
planned to lynch the captive, District
Judge W. W. Bailey ordered him re-
moved to the St. Mary Parish jail-for
safekeeping. There he was identified
by August Kilchrist and Clement Bou-
dreaux.

_ Also in Franklin, Sam Woodard
met his attorneys, two young lawyers
appointed by, the court.

Woodard went to trial Oct. 19, 1926.
His lawyers had hoped for trial of the
Chaisson murder, since they were con-
fident they could prove him innocent
of the crime. He was tried, however,
for the murder of Jules Guidroz.

Woodard -claimed that he shot
Guidroz in self-defense. He said the
men attacked him without cause, and

‘ he drew his pistol to protect himself.

‘
4

pee ad

A PROFESSIONAL BALLISTICS
IONSTRATION, however, indicat-
/€ that the men were standing too far
‘away from Woodard at the time they
were killed to have been striking him
in any way.

Woodard’s trial ended Oct. 20, the
day after it began. Jury Foreman
Thomas F. Webb read the verdict of
guilty as charged. A pool of the jury
showed it to be unanimous.

j The two young lawyers who lost

the case were destined for accomplish-
‘ments great enough to offset that dis-
appointment. One of them, A. Wilmot

_, Dalferes, recently retired after a long

‘career as senior judge of the 15th Ju-
dicial District. The other, Waldo Du-
gas, gained prominence in the state
legislature as well as the legal profes-
sion prior to his recent death.

On Oct. 21, Sam Woodard was sen-
fenced to hang. He accepted the sen-
tence calmly, according to Judge Dal-
feres, and remained calm until he
died.

ae jail,

olie religion. tb his spiritual ees
the St. Martin sheriff acted as his

his attorney

Last harg

“I'm ready to die now,” he said, “I’ve
made my peace with God. By the
time you’re through appealing, I might
not be so ready.”

On Jan. 21, 1927, Woodard was
transported by motor¢ cade to the Lafa-
yette Parish Court Shouse.

On the court square, the
temporary gallows waited. It was en-
closed by a tarpaulin to hide its grim
functions from the curious eyes of
hundreds of spectators who had come
to see Sam ¥ rd die.

THE CROWD WATC!
muscular WV
to the gallows and disap

house

young. Mal

ug oeeurs after Sa

Ww Sidard gets fast abe of

geenteeED

the tarpaulin. With his hands shackled
behind him, he mounted the stairs to
where Sheriff Trahan and six wit-
nesses waited.

At 1:20 p.m. the rope was placed
around Sam Woodard’s neck.

At 1:21, Sheriff Trahan pulled the
lever that opened the trap door.

At 1:26, Parish Coroner Dr. M. M.

Mouton pr onounced him dead.

The temporary gallows was then
torn away, and the new, permanent
allows in the court house was soon

eted,

am ee dard was the last man
fayette | Parish.

inna acntintanastne

WOODS, George, black, hanged at Lake Charles, La., on March 3, 1933,

"Lake Charles, Lae, Sept. 20, 1932=Trial of George Woods, negro, far the mrder of Allen
Joseph Fruge, White of Lake Charles, continued in a night session of district court here,
Woods, now being tried for the Fruge killing alone, also faces a charge of attempted attack
on Fruge's companion, Mrs, Pearl Casey of Lake Charles, the day of the killing. A jury in
the mrder case was completed this afternoon and the taking of testimony started, Keen ine
terest in the trials in court this term continues and once again a crowd was present this
morning, Jack Fruge, father of the mrder victim, was present in court when testimony
started. The crime occurred near the Opolousas Street Road east of Goosport and about a
mile and a half from “ake Charles theafternoon of August 7, between 3 and )} o'clock. Fruge
and his companion, Mrs. Casey, both of Lake Charles, had parked their car near the road and
were taking a walk when the negro is alleged to have accosted them The negro is said to
have struck Fruge on the head with a piece of iron, the fatal blow crushing in his skull,
Fruge died a few hours later in St. Patrick's hospital." TIMES-PICAYUNE, New Orleans, Sept,
21, 1932 (6/4).

"Lake Charles, ba, Mar. 3, 1933 = George “Woods, 26, a negro of Crowley, slayer of Allan
Fruge, local white youth, and Philip ‘Shine' Morgan...were hanged today at the Calcasieu
Parish Jail for their crimes, ‘The double trap was sprung at 12:19 by Sheriff Henry A. Reid
and physicians pronounced both negfoes dead 13 minutes later, at 12:32, Their necks were
broken in the 74 foot drop, After clergymen had ministered to the pair in the enclosed
gallows chamber, Sheriff Reid asked if they had statements to make. 'The sooner the better,
Mr. Reid,' Woods mumbled, with his head shrouded in the black death mask, After Woods'
request to hurry the fall, Sheriff Reid sprung the trap. Three women were among the wit-
nesses. Woods paid with his life for killing Fruge by striking him on the head with a
piece of iron last August 7.2" TIMES-PICAYUNE, New Orleans, 4a,, 3-h-1933 (2/3.)

First conviction reversed: 8 SOUTHERN )38; Second conviction affirmed: 50 SOUTHERN 671,
WOODS, Armas, black, hanged at Crowley, La,, on February 11, 1910,

"Crowley, Las, Feb. 1, 1910= Asserting his innocence of the murder of Manseur Nacer, a
young Syrian, on Sept. 9, 1908, of which he has twice confessed his guilt, Armas Woods,
a gigantic negro, was this afternoon executed in the corridor of the parish jail in the
presence of thirty witnesses. The execution passed off without a hitch or unusual inci-
dent. Woods met his death quietly, He prayed with four negro preachers before starting
for the scaffold, and after taking his stand on the drop merely said: 'Well, white folks,
I did not do it." His neck was broken by the drop, On receipt of the news of the con-
firmation of his conviction by the Supreme Court, Woods acknowledged to Dr. Webb, coroner
of the parish, that he had committed the murder, which had been absolutely proven against
him. His claim that he did not commit the crime raises no doubts in the minds of offie-

cers and others familiar with the case,

"STORY OF THE CRIME.

"The crime for which this giant negro paid the extreme penalty was committed on the af-
ternoon of Sept. 9, 1908, and because of its brutality the perpetrator barely escaped
lynching. After his capture the sheriff called out the BHHRB militia to protect him,
On the afternoon of the murder a strange negro spent several hours ih the small store of
a Syrian in West Crowley. The Syrian's clerk, a yotng Syrian named Manseur Nacer, had
arrived in town the day before from Central America, The proprietor of the store and
another Syrian left the place about 4:30, and half an hour later the dead body of the
young Syrian was found in the store, his brains beaten out and his pockets rifled, The
negro had disappeared, The police were at first inclined to suspect the Syrian proprie-
tor of the store and his companion, both of whom bore excellent reputations, and they
were arrested on suspicion. A few days later, Armas Woods was arrested at his home near
Opelousas. The police had traced him from the scene of the murder to his home and found
where he spent the money taken from the young Syrian. He was identified as the negro who
spent the afternoon in the Syraan's store, Public indignation was extreme, and threats
of lynching were made when the negro was lodged in jail, A company of militia was called
out and the jail was guarded that night and the following day the negro was removed to
Lake Charles for safekeeping. Here he confessed to Sheriff Reid of Calcasieu and Sheriff
Fontenot of Acadia, but it was shown on his subsequent trial that Sheriff Fontenot had
made certain promises which had induced the confession, The District Court convicted
the negro on the confession, but on appeal the Supreme Court remanded the case for trial
on the grounds that the confession was technically made under duress, Subseauently Woods
confessed the crime to another negro who had been introduced into his cell, within the
hearing of the witnesses and on this confession he was again convicted by the District
Court and the Supreme Court affirmed the verdict, Until recently Woods, who is a negro
of tremendous strength, threatened to fight the execution, and it was feared that he
would be hard to handle, The sound of the construction of the gallows took his nerve,
however, and he spent the last few days of his time in prayer." DAILY NEWS, GM Galves-
ton, Texas, Feb, 12, 1910 (l=3.)

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: agree. At any rate, the exedn.:
tion wilt occar within the week, is. the
sheriff can so arrange the matter... : ..
..Wheh Wright finally reached his-ce!l he
Was quivering like a frightened animal,
A few of the men, whom the sheriff knew

»/ ATTEMPT ANYTHING RASH.
were allowed in the room, and to these.
men Wright: talked of his. feelings and
the things he had thought of and had
seen, fas ee gf Rte

| Some one asked the negro how he felt,
} om tf he had been ready to die, and. the
} Recto replied that he had to feel ready,
because was going to dic. ‘He had noth.
ing. to say about che. matter, and wished
tha: it was over. shod bee, ;

To a reporter he remarkej: “You know
boss, ‘f-1-went through that azain: i
would die before I got up to the stage. I
am shook up all over,” and he looked It.

For fully. an hour the wan: trembled.
and. seemed to have: lost all control of
bimself, He, however, remembered. that
he had left a cigar in the outer cel; and
he avked one of the deputies to bring it

Toe feeling of a man about to die were
y Father crodely explained, but the nezre
gave the fmpression that it wus not a |
very agreeable feeling. Like’ almcst all
of the other negroes who are. condemned,
he claimed that he was sure of his ar. |
rival in heaven. He knew that’ he -had
been forgiven, and was so:ry that the-
sheriff hed mot hanged ‘him. He was
sorry because he will haye to get ready
all over aguin. i jee

He dented ever having been Within Mr.
Gassenberger’s house; and denied that he
ever attempted the outrage, He claimed
to b® an tonocent. negro, but in. the face
of all these claims he wante! to die... He
had not heard of Mr, Guasman' before. |

He seemed rather satisfied with the
delay, and laughed over the affatr as If it
were a buge joke, *- EEL Me ‘

» The men: gathered to. gee that justice
Was carried out did not think che delay
a joke, and there were men athoag .1Oa¢

‘be Gones ogre cheated. Zab cpa: crowd. who were an enough to attempt
bac “ors pavers ot Sen’ 1c RTA, aga nana & almost anything. id et if
oat of dhe Coeur tat, wid abt eadhin Meg ute = Sherl® Marrero realized this fact, and
ne , oe : ee donbled his guard over the jail lax: night,

ahs 3 and will keep an extra guard on until the
ew: executiog is held. : Yi
rh, , 3 } m p. ownage es 3 oa %, an h tr ae : * ‘
as % Ley tafe gi ee wi ae Bok abe. eee
=r ree eee nalts spite eae Oe ‘ ie “ yea op ;
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‘Cinase > Seen s ae

YOUNG, Gass, Bossier Parish, Lae Kirn % MS LI AAT fate

— ~ MINUTE BOOK OF MINUTES OF JuLy 3, 1991
: FOR STATE vs GASS YOUNG - ~ #5939
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“On the eb day of April, 1887, sixty days
after the crime, he was indicted, and in less
than five days thereafter Was convicted, and
op April 23, 1887, 8 motion In arrest of judg-
ment ou techuical grvunds was made, re-
sultipx io the qdashing of the indictment as
defective. .

He remained in jail antil the November
term of the same year, when on the 22d day
of Novewber, 1887, the grand jury returned
another indictment on whieh he wus ai
ence tried ana convicted and sentenced in
due course. of time to suffer the penalty of
death as prescribed Ly law, and to-day made
the limit of life with bim. .

The facts as stated by him on last Wednes-
day to the Picayune correspoudent vary
‘with those made at the iuceptiun of the case
fn these particulars: He said that he and
Ernest were driving the ouwe home and
playibg along the road (all in gvod humor);
that by accident he made Ernest bite his
tongue, which was bleeding profusely, Tle
asked Erness if he intended to tell hia mother
when he got home and bave bim Whipped
for is. Ernest declined or failed to say what
he Would do. Jim did not want to be
|whipped.. He struck him with the light
wood znot which be wae carrying home for
‘Xindling wood, and not spectally prepared
Zo Mill the child with, as previougly stated

m. =

Tater: striking him once he continued the
blows until there was no witness againat
Rhim:'as to making Ernest bite his tongue.
“He did not desire to xill him at any timo
| previous to the first blow and was sorry for
-$t Row. If 1s was to do ove? again wqyud
f sa ha him. ree = ii :
: Was @ 802 O. mn Cornelius, one 0:
ene bank

: colored men to Louisiana. He has
-helped is sun in thie matter by employing
hinseouneel] aod called at the jail with his
-mosher to comfort Jim io his last hours.
(Jim is abort built, stout, black skinned and
_ thick lipped, with a degree ef shrewdness in
‘pome things, but stupid and duilin others.
- He manufactured reasons and expiana-

| Rlons at the time worthy of the best intel-—
lect, and yet he looked like a thicu-skulled |
Adiot. He -was bold and cool until the blood

waa. discovered on bis shots; he Was then a
‘Yeady witness against himaeif.

7, He has been cold and indifferent to the
-gifaation throughout his incarceration and
ial, and since Conviction has shown no dis-
Turba unless 1t be in the last few days.
‘Ho bas had ministerial comforts, and says
‘tad he Knows the penalty «f wrong doing,
ete. He says be has had, daring his year of
continement, the best of attention from
pberiif Reagan and his deputies and jailers.
>. The galiows on whieh Jim to-day met his
‘@eath is for the second time the
Jaw-avenging instrument in tis parish.
It is sitaated inside we =. jail
On the first fivor, cousistiug of two
upright rails extending trom the’ tloor
‘so the ceiling with trap dour nalf-way be
ween these. [thas about a six foot “dig”
Ynto the earth where the ap oor has full
Yall, eaving the victim fully ita the earth
‘prior to burial. His black coflin bas been
“‘pProoured for several daye and has been a
‘Silent admonisher to all visitors to the jail
‘$hat dexth would soon claim one more Vic-.

ee ee
Yhe closing scenes of the lifs of Jaines
Cornelius, tue wanton alayer of the cuila
Ernest Wren, crowded thick and fast on him
Yo-day, a8 wid-day was hisdoome@ hour, At
‘an Gary hour the negroes bexan to cometo
town to take afinal Jook ut one uf Luelr race,
“whom they have been wanting to web for
his crime on a witite chilt over olive 1t3 O¢-
garrence. ‘They wore but at all Gisoreerly;
Phey atovd arvuvd tue jak, several hundred
wtrops. They desired to golblo the jatl ie
oe him, Vus Sheri Reagan kept taem at
He 11:30 o’elack toia morning ave, H.O.
“White, Methooist, aaa W. a. ecuee, bepust,
Malnuieters Of Cis piave, Coed guid gave odin
pepiritnab couse... a uiicen aautes later
‘HBev. Brauk dduieapnticr, Cesortal Meehodat,
Wlelged Wet aya Red pigyer uo aiugiog
WXerciges fur a few mauuies.
AG1O minutes tier neon thie sheriff pro-
a Ad to toc cell Uf Loo prisoaer aad ina
w wipotes ted him down the stops, his
Jjiands tied before him, the boy singing in a
ghar voice “Par. Going to Jesas.” He was
‘willing. Ho mont the platform com-
‘posed and manifested no break in his coun-
tenance or voice. He sald: “All my friends
) farewell; I am going Lome on high,
“Tell my mother lamin heaven.”
- ‘The black cup was then placed over his
head and tied and the rope acjusted around
neck. Durting these minutes he wae
vag | abouts the same words as when he
came down the steps and was very com-
es He then shook hands with the shor-
, Who left the platform at 20 minutes past
slegk, cutting the trap in @ twinkle of

Phe ehoritl attor a short delay buried the
ra sho lay bi 6
GF, his people refusing to receive oF care

eee

WRIGHT, Sam Gretna, La,, 1900...

| ay the. carpenters had con
structed ‘the gallows in the court yard Gio

} Gretna, It was a large platforni, bulit

j 7 or 8 feet from the grouyd, and a single
} trap Was. cut tn the cerfer and a s*air-
way lead from the rear of the jail to the

latfota.. For a week or more Mr. A, Li
‘ussman, oné of the attorneys of: this
city, has shown a remarkable interest ja
the case, and has taken every step known
to the izw'to stay the execution. Yeater-
dey morning, shortly after. 10 o'clock
he entered. the United States’ district
court, sndge Parlange presiding, with f
an appticat a for an ap ppeal to the su-
rme court “of the United States, clatn-
ag irregularities ain the: trial and con-
viction. He gave as his grounds for this
preitcation the. following:
—That th e court erred: ip holding
that. tite in. @& mandamnps sult. No writ

} Of mandatuus fa needed aud none is asked
for. The words,.“‘mandamus” and ‘‘writ,"*
are nowhere to. be found in the petition.
No prevaration of apy writ Is asked or Is
desired. This: is simply an ordinary ac-
tion, this court being the court of origin-
al jurisdiction, the state courts Deluge in-
compere to pass the the ‘ controling
isane: of the case, . validity of. the

} constitution 1808.

Second The ve court. erred in refusing to
allow'a trial of the merits of the case,
‘since such a ‘trial was necessary in order
to" show whether..or not the Sheriff in
holding Wright in forcible custody under
an assumption of governmental antbority,
was or sled not invading: WNght's.con-
the fanrtee lona) rights and guarantees under

tteenth amendment.

at the court also erred “tn
hold! g§. that appearer’s contentions as to
juries and jurors, were erroneous, because
amendmenis four, five, six and seven, of
the federal. Ropelliutiar. o vot apply ‘to

State covrta,’ as: decided be Ait the : eneeed
States. supreme coure in

tae . the sak court avin Aecaedk & Since

ecision was; dered that they: ‘do.

My ri erate
“eourt: also etred in
nage? red ae the eight count of the per
08. olvea @ political avest a over.

Enables Him to Reach tie Beene
dust {aTime—Another. Day

hich. congress alone has judisdiction,
This was. once t but it 1s no longer,
| congress having a few years ago ed
ithe question affirmatively and. In: the
manner favored by the court, and it is |
now, ttferefore, the duty of this court: to |
enforce thig settlement as much aa it is
ite duty to enforce the. provisions of the
atatuter of congress.» ae

Pare anita has ae pra
4 at

fore Me Sam “weight. Praha

ane negré, Sam Wright, “convicted ef
‘ertminal assault upon a 13-year-old girl
at WeatwWego, aud wha was to have been
hanged ‘yesterday at. Gretna,’ but the’
law's sentence was tayed at the +'aat

lange . granted
but;
* pe time tha

a the ven ry Bl it was a

s cert Rhona a. tof ‘error
ant the Soar be taken, fnatead. of an
popesl ae tt will therefore | ‘be. Seen | that

3 3 is uearly 8 as Tacky as Will
and: ‘then ordered: the. he pri Parvin ots ¥

‘aner | ‘to Bin‘ cell... mHratelously escaped:
“It was like @ thunderbolt from cian slipping. nf | me e Doose, Pe hmprisonment.
soa porta, and to have one about t ng es negra wll hang, Desauve BUTE
de ca out with all t formalities tthe ‘ton © judge's order, will
sow 00, Seadeniy inverruy ton: ane terpre on bocca the facts before the

wi. (> Rae 2 tag?

governor, 2
Dh ees ANOTHER DAY. BET.
tor

ate oh

oa 2 anata / aml: lhe. tL)
Ort aia jo STEP

hanging .

mr DID NOP ISKUH ANY ORDER (+
‘ataying the exeaution, and the appes
Tilen he: granted does pot. ditect | :
execution. te be staid, nor ts it believed:
to have any such effect in law, The right
to-appeal ig such matters Js given to the
and judge. eeenied to. think
H. that tt wa¢an order which the party was
} eatttied toy and: therefure ¢ ft, as
}-@ matter. of course, the lawyers under:
standing that ¢ merely. gives the right
to Mr.-Gueamin to. take the matter up|
4o the sapreme court, bat bad no effect
ppond the execation one way or the-other,.

BH The jase’ Yatehed to. the: plea: and

granted. the applicatién for. ne
rier was vipk sabect. 1180 “ocioc,
ma Berrys

+ 3
OA EE oe gi pak , ri Mihi se
AR SS RCI, oe Seta “
ra wake apy a ae
’ reve
) 1-4 ee: fi
1.9) Ba feg'n'h @ BS
Pent y, fepoty as :
Cae. «Baa ae
: ieee a tek: th bart of
uf nf ea nie
Anette aa eee rat aye
MRO BP go Killa ete
a i
dsr, Soke yaa Uh Me eae i

¥
eS

Tage tt
ae

the door was opened, and straggiti

through: the crow Be ran the rete
and banded fhe order from rt to one
of the deputies. Si ects Fue RIN PERE
rhe ner ’a life had been sated, and to
the deputy, by his faithful performance
of duty, waa due the credit. apa
‘The crowd in the yard end the crowd
outside lookin threugh the cracks in the
fonce’fealized thes suddem change dn
affairs, They grumbled at the delay of
the law, atid there were some. who talk

of a hanging jn splte of the order, Sheri

ferrero f mor owd in the

= +. le lien benineaieal Tey oom
te > aN =k mn oH

Rated clea ow uiahysayd x hn
Pec Cnr ae y Ne, aetna

‘
- “3.
4 ‘
“

ag ge ti»
‘ ‘

an entirely | :
“The crime for which.

in Jefferson parish

had been a. 00k upon c

ships at: Westwego, and received ‘bis

‘victed ia the first of ‘ite kt
for’

‘charge on the 15th of November. ‘The

lowing night he broke tuto the residence
of Mr. John Gassenberger and attempted
4 carry away snd criminally assault his
-year-old daughter. The furious father
h gro, and the mea

dropped the and ran around
the eof t the

the negro,
rotted in the

help and came to ¢he

Gaasenberger with a

soon realized: that

neven odds and

er negroes had

come out ‘of thei and with. shot-

guna: halted. W e was captured

and 4urned over 0: a: P.

and } tf West fo.
which is situated. on -Company. can
within aA few yards of the Texas

hat the negro woul
reach the. parish jei
a .borrible one, i

. Howe

promptly,

an impromps execntion on
the, crime had: been com

the: moby he ee a pete
“After that there was no forthtr ny
3° ATTEMPT ‘AT LYNCHING,
and the resents decided to await ‘the
action of the courts,.On Dec. il righ!
victed and the next day sea:2nced

i to: death. The governor fixe sterda
, ag i day for bis execution, 7and bad

t been for the tmiainteroretation of]
t this execution would |

well, and et 5
began to dress his supposed,
on earth, About: 32 o'clock he:
@-luach, +H) good ai

v ‘

of the ceil apparently ¢

moth German eaueage, This .

showed more clearly than anything since
the atrest of the vrate bis a ute

of buman feeling. Members of Catao-
lic Knights of America had temalned with
the condemned brute during the previous

night, but. the negro te attention
ta'pot Presence Abd ele enon aed

see ;
oy eomed interested in the kindness

WRIGHT, January, black, el, hang

oon aS

i Thibodeaux, LA 3/1/1895i0%

SAECRDAY MARCH 2 3885,

en ee ee eee
Remmtweenes +8

BALECUETY N:

Yesterday. Marel Ist. T8095, leing
the day fixed ly the Governor forthe
exeention ef the sentence pronourced
by the Distriet Comtiof (his parish on
January Wright, a negro 21 vears of
age, for the mordersef Ardergon Lin-
coln, colored, in the elurelof) the
colored people at Lafourebe @:oeasing,
about one year age, Sheriff James
Beary and his) deputies. Dr. Thas.
Stark, Deputy Cororer, the represen-
tative ef the Stexvinen and a legal
numberof witnesses repaired to the,
Parish Prison, After the death war-
rant had heen rend to the unfortunate
man, be wastaken toe the upper ream |
of the prison where the necessary trap |
had heen prepmred teearry aut the!
Fenfence of the daw. After the con-
demoed man had been civen time to
Rav his final prayers, the noose waa
adjusted, the trap Fpropg and the sou)
of January Wright passed from hia
enepended body, and teak its eternal
flight tomect the reward of Justice in
themnknown world,

His body was given to his friends
who, having placed the remains in a
eoffin departed with them for final
Lur-al.

January Wright waskourand prew
to manhood near Latonrehe Crossiig.
Hig reputation and that ef his brother
was none of the best for cood conduer.
His brother was arrested some years
ngo for firing ashet at the captain of
alugger, who refused to'stop at his
demand. About a vear ngo. a little
colored girl died in the vicimty of La-
fourche Crossing, whese body was
placed in the churely the night pre-
Vions to burial, where it was watched
by*her friends and relatives. Atabout
midnight a pistol shot created eon-.
‘aternation among the watchers. Tt
was s00n discovered that January |
Wright had concealed himeselt in the |
church, behind a screen that was plac: |
ed in front of the door, and as Ander-
son Lincoln was abont to pass ont. of
the building, Wright fired and killed
him instantly, amosé dastardly and

unprovoked murder. Wright remained

near by until the next morning when
he war arrested by Deputy Sheriff
Frost and brought to jail.

Ait his trial the jury in less than balf
an hour found hint guilty of “murder.”
After usual delays and appeals were
exhansted withont avail, Gov. Foster
sigved the death warrant and fixed
March Ist as the day of execution, -

EXECUTION, 5

tis (wer —
YHanging of the Negro Boy, Jim
— Cornelius,
For the Murdér of Ernest Wren, ~
. 2 coer
In Minden, Webster Parish.
t $ . ~

Phe. Murderer 14, and the Victim
Less Than 5 Years Old.

catpcnhend ipa

Mpmpen, La., Feb. 3.—[Special.]—At Pine
rove, Webster parish, La., on Feb. 17, 1887,
im Cornetias, colored, 14 years of age, Killed
est Wren, white, less than 5 years cf
sage. Cornelius ad been bired by Hon. G.
, L. Wren, member of the legisiature of
“Webster pariah, nearly two woks at the
‘time of the xilling. Jle had provivusiy
ralwaye lived with bis fathet acd tmother,
Deatiy two miios away from Mr. Wren’s and
pear German town, in Wabater parish, He
F had never been on Mr. Wren’s piace before
* $his ewplcyiment, und had never seen the

~ Ohl Ernest. Thoy han been together uot
‘exoeeding one week, There was no previous
+ trouble betwedn them. -
‘~ On the evening of the 17th of Febraary, |
< 3687, the dead body of the chila Ernest was
found near the roadside, within 100 yards
@t Mr, Wren’s residence. The head had
beaten intoajelly. I¢ was found by
’ Unote Ike, an uhcle of the boy Jim Cor-
“Hneliua. Tne alario was given. The boy
Jim was nesr by in the yard outting wood.
fie wWwasavery deep sympathizer with Mr.
ren’a family in their affliction. He was
ery cool and, thuagh only 14 years of age,
- Suggested when ib was proposed to move
the y to the Louse that it should net be
-Mnoved until the corone&® came and viewed
4t. Ho taen told how he saw atramp rus
aeoress the road in that locality a sbort time
previotis to the discovery of the body. This
showed that he was the only witness in the

POMBO.

° A closs examina ; blood and
‘Wair were foung on bie shoes. He was asked
Row these camo there. He promptly and
eoolly repiied that his mother tade him kill
a tken that morning. When acked if
“ghi¢kens had hair on them, he answered
* gometimes. This did not confuse him. He

A, jury of inquest was held on the 18th

February (next oa): He then told that be |
18 story fis told at that |

killed the chid. t
tine now bezins: He aud Lrnest weredriv-
ing the cows home late that evening. He
bad no quarre) with Mroest, but did not like
“jim, Ho trimmed the eplinters off of one
end of a lightwood knot, 6 that his hand

could grasp H easy; with thie be slipped up

behind the child and dealt bim a blow which
‘pragticaily killed oim; tliis was followed
y aw number of blowa which crushed nis

skull on all sides, which left it a horrible |

jmatted mass of blood, vooe, bruina and
hair. Hoe then proceeded to tle house and
‘began tw cut wood in tue yard for use in the
Tawmily rouw. Le told where the knot, as
described. would be found, hid uuder a log
Mear by. On examination the knot was
found where he indicated. He was thea

placed in jail.

a STAR. CAST a
of SRON, FRoDEC cTION

bat a MS

LED. EES OF | ay

“Tragedies Here fasgiSunday. ‘Morn 3
eres In Deaths Of Police Officer:
t Chiasson And Car Inspectors Jules,
d Paul Doucet, Jr. Of S. P.; For; z

supe

Woeds:. cae ls: Held. In) :

coe incteding a soles
Southern. Pacific

Jeet oo their lives here early
as the result of gun

oT wace oe peper and Me making,
signe, accused his companion: vag
having . been responsible for the}
shooting of the railroad men.

Willams ia being held for: far-}

it was. prev wosly stated that he wast
onnected with the shooting.”

he
Boudreaux and Kilchrist,

ew. feet: away,
“of. .the

‘thet questioning, and investigation, | $1,600.06
officers. said th morning: although} 7 —>

bdomen.» Woods then

tarerty: of~ Vatete er > and-
wind, facey- charnes of attempt! Bg

4 extort, $5000 frum ber, Neumplee:

: we former, secre-«
mid he able to throw

Short Tir 2 B:

he - Woman in Ary
Slain Tota

eeaGee: Maas ‘
Prone). SS eras,

Baa ‘than. a “Blin

ppiady and a young

{hoan ‘atitamab: te
home ofthe, form

ae berg: demanded th

When thé

by. the

that’: tee former | setre-s ae,
"} would be able to throw off come.
© {Announcement “of “the aaah 2a
‘made. by. Mr Week's “von. 2
“rafter. 6 o'clock this merning .- iy
Inflected b mie ere Sep : 3 soup, Jobn- W. Weeks was born ia
st) leg: Thibod ‘Deputy Sheriff Stan- = CHICAGO, caster’. April: 12; EKO. Cats !
parganers eax. ang. Police Officer Preen}.—Rodert. Sec ie y. plead! yeers ‘of agg be worked of the {
; “Thibodeaux, it fe stated by | gullty to the murder af Joseph ‘At the age of 18 he saceceds
| the “nonarel es whe added that in| or, = drug clerk, for, whose playing | eetting: an appalntmeny to the >
was difficult exchange of firing it} the prisoner's brother, Russell Seutt,| Academy . BF Annapolis where
of the a to determine just which had been sentenre td: be. hanget} 44% urraduated four ‘years late
{the shota had struck Wadds. October 2Bth.* Come eas Anak midshipman Following (Wo Vi
ane ae Takes Away. _” - ME Tis Fe Re ee a a he crastgned partiy beg it
for er. e ne kept-.at the City: Hall . CHICAGC q Jul “ {2,— (Associated oof failure ts enthuse over tho
a-period of about two hours, the Prean).— Ruatell Re former weal: vice sand: partly because pf eo
thy Canadian “financier, who: was | having fatied tv appropriate ol
ie: Boutetane! Pols: sentericed Se ae ane aurder.0F ey Hebi éwhieh made a SUR
- Louisiana ! ~ | Marshal 3: : e Chicago drug. ciel oring a: mid-/.oF © feds Sees rag
Peeetve: $129.000. 4207 3 D,. 4 '¢ goin: ert, night robbery More than two years) - Incidents. followed -rapiciy in i
year193¢27 and. $131,608) Charg a : and recently _peentenced to] Hfe fot Mr. Weeks. after his. i
: ‘the ‘gallows, nation from’ the: navy. In 2885

year 1927-28. for. new huey ro
; . , 7 a : : z Of. » Rossel’ srother, Jed. Miss. Martha Sin

ida Bouth

Jan. 10.78; Feb. 1
Angt 16-655. Sept,

Bhan be the’ confes-
eo a
the: | ‘

War had reserved a plo ing
to} for’ himself. He withdre is rel He
vation when friends:of. Mr. Bryatam
i nounced: that the ‘preferred t

en a knoll. for the nx

WOODARD, Sam, black, hanged at Lafayette, La., on 1-21-1927.

LA, MONDAY,

” THE DAILY REVERIE

oe eee

; pieces 1.500 and 2,000 persons, from
Uducted~ Sunday by (the. Youngsville
f. 1. Youngsville
owithy the coromunity.- work < program

{beng developed in. this parish. were
thawte: vhy.the .larae gathering: and

i fereul

fe rel charge, and. Dupre Benoit: su

‘women: af. the Yonngsville. commun:

A The: a prtati ions bill: en
iad one of: tire. bitterest fights in the
pROR legislative ‘session; * when
tempt was made fo paree Loulslaga
state: NOE ry ea ‘aver South weatetn
ovistana | titute: and. . -Loulsiags

Palytechnlc ‘Jnatituie fa the, allecs |»
ser biennium ‘building }—

‘on of
tends, an
nivernity- out!

cut Loutstans.

itl

Ee ‘Taweret.’ “thr bill: ap Dae

sigh’

netitute’ a

“Any Mesdames: RR. 0. Young: F. -M
4 Surley, Decou, Ri K: Comeanr. Ro.
-andry, and others. The “men also

fis Robert Vincent,,

Pot the” occasion, prestdet- aver the
> forogtam of talks which were given

KIL LLED BY.

Bt
of further: a

and. promulgated into law! givget:
& ha la for. the. tw eee

Louisiane:
t ee at 119.0 sists

“HUNDREDS ATTENDED

BiG BARBECUE .

Biaeeg HELD SUNDAY UNDER AUSPICES

THE ‘YOUNGSVILLE COMMUNITY CLUB :

Wie ‘an SE coce ‘estimated at

“unt, and. other parishes: a barbecue
And ’ community progrum Was con

Great. aes ‘te eagnertion

The. digner af which 2 hundreds:
were served, took . place. shortly af:
’¢r_ nooo, when PF. M. Buriey in gen:

wervising the preparetion ‘of ‘the
hecbecued’ mutton, beef and: chicken
which were served in. abundance: to-
gether with ice-cold femonade- and

not’ coffee, - & large pumbeer: of the:

sy took part im the serving, heade:!

bert Vincent, Ovey Comeanx, . Eugene

wave their active eestanae led by
*rintinal Ovey Hebert.
and a.. “namber of
uther citizeus.

Or." R. O. Young, general Shalctace

1 the affernoos. Hesides Dr Youcg
“who! ere on commanity earl in

| Youngsvilles |
‘In the: large. re

Bourque }-

roussant; at Bicoisitt on Divert ;
fication’; “B. L.. Judice af Scu*t, 0
“Co-operative. Buying and ‘Selling®
ana. Mayor Mont, Pi. LeBlanc:
be ville. on. =Communlty Needs”
Darian the: day, ‘music - ‘was ‘tu
nish: ‘by. the | Stutess Band, «

AS Cararlestan |
:the fea,

ef on’ thar plantatto Re
rautest ‘was. also monK
tured, ~~
Amone fies” Fe reaanted fis}
the. large gathering® were’ Lafayette.
Milton, bbevilie, : Maurfce, Erath
Broussard,.. Scott, . ~ Kaplan,: Crowley.
New: ‘Iberia. and other. potnts... At.
nomber ‘of, officials: and. other pub
ie. workers. were among those attend
‘ng; among. thens. hein Representa: ;
“Ive PE R: ~ Landry,° Bois

Simon: Luke: .LeDlane: and Eugene:
Landry. and: Seeretary:: George: Crow
‘chet; . District’: Judge «W.-W. . Batley,
Parish Fara. Agent. My Bacque.
. Min, Eva. Pender; -Partah Home> ‘Prem: |:
anateation: “Agent. Mayor Rom . Le}
Plane «= of “Abbeville. and Pres'dnt
Le. Judtce, of the: Latuyette: Parieh;
Schoet Board.) 72°.

In addition
which’ were donated: by ‘rvsidents of;
the Youngsville. vic inity, appreciation
was expressed. by those in charge for
4onstions.-of-- fee: furnbiked= by. thet
Loutetona Public: . Utthitles Company | .
and-:-the : Peoples Cotton Seed Oi
Company, and for coffee from Grim-
-mer’s.. Bakery, all of this: behids ae

ined

‘| was difficult to determine ne which

I seated: to: ‘have aes - avoaied! = bak
let: wound: above the right, knee, and
one in. the thigh. ~ >
According: to latent: reports. qt! ia
believed‘ that. unless: complications
} develop, he “will recover...

- The bullet wounds were apparent

ef Ty. inflicted. by. Deputy: Sheriff Stan- f

ley Thibodeaux and Police /Officer.
Leonard. Thibodeaux, it is stated by
Chief. Chargois; who added that = in:
the general exchange of firing it

| of ‘the shots had struck Woaeds.
: le taken Aree

fie
for'a parted: of about two: hours, the

‘was removed to an ity. | eh
i" efor did sentenced to death for the. murde ak
pri-| s Chicago drug cierk. during: a mids 6
‘night robbery. more’ than two ards y

‘Hegre
the ‘name ‘of: mich. the: o

od rey

oat
Pacific." beget
Mouton
‘Oe

Begneand, -Palice: Offi-

Purl, of: the,
+ with: Deput 7 Baer

Pes

eco. Dauterive Company,

retare.

‘Chief Chargols in pa
‘the. slain officer,

ot Ab ‘
‘carry out the work assigued ‘tohime?

el ane“who assisted,” “the ‘Chief istat::

Hee . Jurors;
Saut Broussard, EE. ‘Bordequx, duize4>

to: ‘the food ‘supplies’

being: kept=at’ the City. ‘Hall ee

mort, Tratem: and Speciel: Of:

tw mnideight plea for the fie

' for some ‘time, aa were known? ‘a

ee Pass” Tribute”

Officer, Chiasson
ber of the locbi
about five years.

-*potice Officer
‘ays & mast willing vad:

wember af fie police furce abs
ying Tribu
ready ut,
ant:

d popular among

ai
tH.

and
meg to “rest puda to datye
“Chief Chargots said he Wished to:
atium — for .the e08
had been given “by:

which,
a: the: search |

‘officers ‘and citizens i
‘for-and the capture of Woods, |
} feel that much credit ig due, to each.

ad; “and especially to, Deputy Sheriff
Stanley. Thibodeaux, Percy Yeager;
Police Ofticer Leonard Fhibodeaux,

vier. wha together.” with . Officer,
Chiasson .were engaged. in: the: une
battle. with the negro ‘and ‘who. werey
in special danger."6 = °. if
+. - Deseription. Givens: .

’ Officers. believe: that the: “negro
‘held= has been wanted. : for’ some

‘ate at ‘the fear of being. taken into,
custody.” Thinking thar. the deseripts;
jon might léad-- to. the. negro: ‘being,
-identifieg. elsewhere. Chief. Chargois,
prepared & description stating. that}
Woods is a light griffe negro, sibodet

5 feet, 7 or & inches tall, weighin¥,
shone 160° pounds,: and was diessed |
in blue overalls, when captared, ‘The
negro who. was. with him was des-,
cribed: as being darker, ubout 6 ‘feet:
6 inches tall, pnd. weighing ubout
135° pounds.-: -

m [RUSSELL SCOTT'S

- CHICAGO, ia
Press),—Robert:

att today: plead

the prisoner's brother, Russell ‘Seott,

pantonred to bev

‘ago, and iy re-sentenced. *

held tye banging.’
@ MORN later gee
‘vaste snatched {75m the “gall:

A {ow weehs beter / be

brevet =p foe 0 fee.
month i woe decided.
: conte

tustrigus employees

oe ac ates

had been a memes ie
pulice force for.”
Chiasson was abo |
Py dt ful)

abe eparess BS Oe
ae to!

wy %

Amelicar Fournier and. Willie Oli-) 2

srime-elsewheré; and become. desp-t |

‘| would ‘beable. to: throw. Jott ey

{ made.
: after 6 o’elock this: morning:

1Z—( Aiocinted

guilty to the murder of Joseph Maur-
er, a drug clerk, for whose. slaying

og. omidshipman.:
“paervice™.

death. may yet escape the: aes ee nail
«Bo Sire a seell" Leva

~ School” Ss Jus

bee

School has. closed for ‘most: pip:
Hinge on @, farms near Loe Angele:
fain iy pis anid oma cand “all the
wa ch, the Buen east ecehparce m
tromeb. bath

FORMER SECY
WAR JOHN W. W
DIED THIS MORN

{Paattu Crete eh ge ee

Wilder of Whttetiesn: wipe
| physician to Mr Weeks, advised

yembern of the familly tacts
wae near and: That hopes.wers bs

that: ‘the former “secretary: ee

{Announcement of ibid :
by Mr... “Week's. 202, oe

John. W. Werks: owas bate tree
caster, April” Le ree Uatl
years of axe. he warky Wen the
At the age of WS he” Suce eibed
getting an appointment to pie N
‘Academy. ate _ Annapolis where.
was graduated © four yeata > Tater
Following Pica ¥.
che resigned. “partly :
i ae failure: to centhuse -over

YOUNG (or Jung), William, white, hanged at New Yrleans on Feb, 2,, 1855.
"From the NEW ORLKANS DELTA, September 1h, 1855

"The people of the. Fourth District have been horrified and excited to an extraordinary de-
gree by one of the most cruel murders that our city has.ever been the theatre of. The
coroner was called upon yesterday to hold an gnquest upon the body of a male child, aged
two years and four months, named Christian Rhomor, a nttive’ of Yermany, which had come to
its death by foul meals, .The.child's father, it appears, resides in Europe, and it had been
adopted by a German named William Young, who resides on Saraparu Street. It has been trea-
.ted by its adopted parents with fiendish cruelty for a long time to the. knowledge& of the
neighbors generally, ahd yesterday morning died from the effects of a blow inflicted on the ~
right: sideof the head by William Young, its adopted father. The coroner's jury, after hear-
ing the evidence, rendered their verdict as above, Young and his wife, Frederika, who are
both implicated by the verdict of the jury of inquest, had already been arrested by the
police of the Fourth District, and were undergoing an examination before the Recorder. )
"The child, as it lay exposed before thejury, presentdea horrible aspect, The scars of
many a cowhiding, and the evidence of inhuman treatment were plainly visible, and in some
cases pieces of flesh were stripped from the poor, emaciated, half-starved infant's back.
As the spectators beheld these certain signs of barbarity, it was with the uhmost difficulty
that they could be restrained from taking summary justice upon the perpetrators of the
fouldoubrage. The evidence before the Recorder, was to the fact that the child had been
all along most cruelly treated by Young, and that his wife had not interfered to save ite
For days it had been locked up in a garret, deprived of food, and almost starved to death.
A young Irish woman testified that, having sem the child incarcerated in the garret for
over twenty-four hours, and knowing thatit had no food, she procured a ladder, reached an
opening in the garret, and conveyed it food which it devoured with themost ravenous avidity,
And also, that when Young found out what she had done, he censured her very severely, and
warned her never again to step between him and the accomplishmelt of his cruel act,
"Peter Miller testified that he had seen Young beat the child most cruelly, and
press and crushing sides together, and that on Monday last, hearing the little fellow com-
plain of hunger, he gave it some bread, which it ate very greedily, and for which act of
kindness Young afterwards abused him (Miller) most shamefully.
"Several other witnesses testified to having seen him suspend the child by the neck with a
scarf and beat it cruelly with a cowhide.
"Mary Dudley swore that on last Friday she saw the accused leave the child hanging by the
neck with a scarf (which wasin Court) and a strap about its middle, and with a cane (all of
which articles were in court), he struck it when it cried or mrmered.: and on last thurs-
day or Friday she saw the same treatment of the child repeated; the wife of the accused did
not, as witness knows, abuse or beat the child, but she was present when her husband did so,
and whem asked by witness why she allowed her husband to hang, beat and abuse it, she re-
plied that she could not help it, that it was her husband's fault,
"Jesiah Miller swore that he saw the prisoner, Young, beat the child with the cane shown in
Court and otherwise illtreat it.
"Mrs, Darling swore that she saw the accused rub the child's fase in somenuisance on the
floor, and then strip it and whip it cruelly with the rod or cane in Court, and afterwards
take it into the room, She knew that theprisoner used the child in an inhuman mannere
"The evidence proved sufficient to send the accused down for trial, There was a large and
excited crowd around the Court room, and the indignation at the horrible inhumanity of this
man was quite apparent, and it was feared that the excitement made might end in some act
of lawless violence, which would make a further investigation of the matter unnecesgary and
defeat the ends of justice." TIMES, New York, N, Y., Sept. 28, 185) (3/6)

"From NEW ORLEANS BEE, Feb, 3, 1855-Hanged about 10 AM yesterdayeeeLong before execution, a
large crowd composed chiefly b& children and blacks assembled at gates of jail..,Only
répresentatives of press, officials and members of city bench admitted.,,About 100 witnesses
Prisoner led to scaffold by a negro and the executioner, Step was firm and no outward sign
of emotion visible, He never opened lips or eyes. His face indicated a nature depraved,
sensual and obstinate. Wore yellow pants with white shirt and cap of same color, Hang-
man grotestquely dressed, wearing a'horrible looking black mask, which gave to the ghattly
ceremonial an altogether unnecessarily revolting aspect.' Young's fall partially broken

by a portion of scaffold which was not released until his head was in contact with it.
Young had tried bo evade gallows by cutting his throat in a most frightful manner and had
execution been delayed, he would have died. The wounds were bound with lint and linen to

permit him to be hanged, ‘Partly in consequence of obstructions already alluded to that
broke the fall, and partly owing to knot of rope catching immediately beneath chin, as

soon as bolt was drawn, the ghastly wound reopened‘ and endarged,: and the windpipe was
entirely severed, the plood flowing copiously from throat and mouth and staining his

white neckerchief and cap = and the wind rushed through the bleeding opening with a
frightful, most unearthly loud report which aused ‘every spectator in the yard to shudder
and turn away his face in horror, The agony of the sufferer must have been intense, His
legs and arms, although firmly tied behind his back, writhed about: for at least 10 minutes,
The veins of his‘ hands increased in‘size, Body: lowered into coffin underneath feet ‘after
hanging for 20 minutés and taken to Potter's Field, <

Young was born in Haller, Prussia, and was hS-years-old, His parents, four grothers andtw o
sisters still live. “e had lived in U, S. for 18 months, He never acknowledged murder,
but said he drank frequently and when drunk possibly beat the child but harbored no ill
feelings towards him,‘ On day of execution begged jailer to shoot him," TIMES, New York,

2/12/1855 \.-., Ra (1-6) :

YOUNG, Lewis, black, 17, hanged Edgard, La., on October 11,: 1907. a i,

Warrant signed by Governor Blanchard on October 9 providing for execu-
tion on October 11, 1907. Had been sentenced on September 30, 1907.

EEX OF HAKGAF AK GAH XMAAAAK KX ARXKAAKXAKAMK "LEWIS YOUNG PAYS THE PENALTY

OF HIS CRIME: THE BLACK BRUTE WHO ASSUALTED MRS, BARRE’ HANGED IN ST,

JOHN PARISH: ROPE WAS TOO LONG, AND WHEN NEGRO'S FEET STRUCK THE GROUND,
THE HANGMAN FINISHED THE EXECUTION BY SWINGING ON YOUNGIS NECK UNTIL HE
WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD: Hdgard, La., Oct. 11. - Lewis Young, the negro yotfh
who criminally assaulted Mrs, Louis Barre, was executed. this afternoon —
at 12:18 o'clock befire a @rowd which represented the best people-of the
parish. .Young, on the afternoon of Sept. 27, met Mrs, Barre as she was
going over to the home of her daughter. Hé stopped the old lady, who is
over 60 years of age, and drawing a knife threatened to cut her throat if

she made resistance to his plans, The old lady went over to the home of.

her daughter, saying that a negro had attempted a criminal assault. ‘The
ania oy nds tod stan began an investigation and Lewis’ Young was arrested,.
He confessed to the officers that he had not only attempted but had
actually committed’the criminal assault. That was on Sept, 28, anda
couple of days later‘the casé wés brought up for trial, Young offered
no defense‘at all, The State put witnesses on the stand .to'prove the
confession, and the Jury wes out of their seats only 5 minutes. Last
Thursday the Court went into special session .to.give the accused a chance
to make sn anneal, He did not see fit'to do so, and the session of i
court adjourned with no action being taken, THis morning Sheriff Ber- ..
thelot and the hangman went to the Parish Jail to talk with Young. Yes-.
terday afternoon Father Castel, the parish’priest, held a long conference
with the nécro criminal, and as a result Young abandoned his Baptist re-
ligion and joined the Catholic Church. .Father Castel walked up.on the
platform with the criminal. Sheriff Berthelot and the hangman were al-

so there. When asked if he had anything to say the negro simply bade
every one good-by,. Then the trap was sprung. ‘The rope was‘entirely too
long and when Young shot through to the ground he struck the grass with
his feet. Sheriff Berthelot ordered the KAMRAEMXEAXWH hangman to make the
execution complete, The man ran down the steps of the scaffold and kicking
the feet of the negro from the ground, he swung on the neck of the con-
demned man until death came by strangulation . Dr, Montguit, Coroner

of the parish, and Dr, Elmore, one of the leading physicians of the
parish, viewed the remains and pronounced the body dead after the hangman had
been swinging on to the neck of the negro for seven or eight minutes. The
drop was sprung at 12:48, but it was fully 1 o'clock before the negro was
pronounced dead by the authorities,

— "yvouaH'S CRIME,

"Me crime for which Younes was hanged was one of the most cowardly end
brutal in the history of thevarish, He met the old lady, a grandmother,
as she was walking to the home of her daughter, only a half mile from
thevlace where the lady lived. Long had been on the levee with a negro
boy up towithin a few minutes of the departure of Mrs, Barre, and as he
walked down the lane he met her in a very quiet and isolated spot, He
drew 9 pocket knife and threstened to kill her, and when he saw that he
had frightened the old lady he knocked her down and accomplished his
purpose, Young made a confession to the authorities 9a couple of days
later and this was the first informstion the officers secured thst a
criminal assault had achually been committed, The people of St. John
Parish were worked up to anpitch which called for the most radical kind

of action, Sheriff Berthelot realized the situation and he at once

called the people before him. He gave them a talk that they will not soon
forget, and later on in the evening Judge Edrington and District Attorney
Marrero came from the city and they both talked to the people, urging them
to await the action of the court. Finally is was agrreed that the court

should have a chance. A session was held on Sept. eo and Young was con=
victed within two hours. Governor Blanchard was no {In the state at the

5 OT. 9 OO.) 6.0.0. 1,00,65 €.0.6.7.5.9,6.3,1 . .
pee but upon his return he fixed to-day for the siatisten:; About 10
o'clock this morning Sheriff Berthelot entered the lsil and read the —
death warrant and Youne handed to him the following letter, which he
wanted made public in the parish: ¢Louis Young to, the White Folks: ars
| Edgard, Le, 10-8-07, Dear white folks I am writine this letter to one
and ali to tell you 911 bhat I no I done wong and I onm it please white
folks dont hang me, I am nothine but a kid I bee you all partner old
and young I be& all 20,000,000 perner you all no me well. I was born
and raised in St. John "Parish right 6n Mr.,’Thomas Bellow place, You all
no my people wells none never did fall in trouble but poor me.and it.is
old devil what send me in trouble. My father is a good ald man You all
no him good and also’I the same. “I beg you all parnter phease white
folks try'and let me out I will work for any one of you. Please white
folks forgive me for this time I.will never do this nomore long as I
live. I. beg you all. partner and also that old lady let. me out and I will
never do this no more. From Louis. Young that boy in jail have mercy on
him white folks,' Ae noon he gathered together his jury and official
witnesses, securing E, J, Caire, Fernand Basset, Dr, J. P, Elmore, Dr.
E. Mohtgut, Louis Rodrigue, Frank Webre, C. J. Tassin, D. Richarme, |
Rugene Tampain, Paul Caillet, Pierre Laurent, A. Albert Labiche. At 12
o'clock these official witnesses entered the jail and were present when
the death Warrant was read to the condemned necro, Father Castel walked
witht he prisoner to the platform , mounted the steps and was standing by
his side when the drop fell, The family .of the negro youth at first de-
clined to take charge of the body and for fully half an hour it was
allowed to remain on the ground. Finally the father of the young man
agreed to have the remains buried and before sundown they were. laid to
rest in the femily burying ground. There was no excitement connected
with the affair at all. In fact, it was one of the quietest executions
ever held in this parish, ee
DAILY PICAYUNE, New Orleans, La,, October 12, 1907,

Metadata

Containers:: Box 18 (2-Documentation of Executions), Folder 17
Resource Type:: Document
Description:: Sam Woodard executed on 1927-01-21 in Louisiana (LA)
Rights:: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Date Uploaded:: June 30, 2019

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