Part 199 (2/2)
The New Orleans correspondent of the New York Express, in his letter dated New Orleans, July 30, 1837, says:
”THIRTEEN DUELS have been fought in and near the city during the week; _five more were to take place this morning_.”
The ”New Orleans Merchant” of March 20, 1838, says:
”Murder has been rife within the two or three weeks last past; and what is worse, the authorities of those places where they occur are _perfectly regardless of the fact_.”
The ”New Orleans Bee” of September 8, 1838, says:
”Not two months since, the miserable BARBA became a victim to one of the most cold-blooded schemes of a.s.sa.s.sination that ever disgraced a civilized community. Last Sunday evening an individual, Gonzales by name, was seen in perfect health, in conversation with his friends. On Monday morning his dead body was withdrawn from the Mississippi, near the ferry of the first munic.i.p.ality, in a state of terrible mutilation. To cap the climax of horror, on Friday morning, about half past six o'clock, the coroner was called to hold an inquest over the body of an individual, between Magazine and Tchoupitoulas streets. The head was entirely severed from the body; the lower extremities had likewise suffered amputation; the right foot was completely dismembered from the leg, and the left knee nearly severed from the thigh. Several stabs, wounds and bruises, were discovered on various parts of the body, which of themselves were sufficient to produce death.”
The ”Georgetown (South Carolina) Union” of May 20, 1837, has the following extract from a New Orleans paper.
”A short time since, two men shot one another down in one of our bar rooms, one of whom died instantly. A day or two after, one or two infants were found murdered, there was every reason to believe, by their own mothers. Last week we had to chronicle a brutal and b.l.o.o.d.y murder, committed in the heart of our city: the very next day a murder-trial was commenced in our criminal court: the day ensuing this, we published the particulars of Hart's murder. The day after that, Tibbetts was hung for attempting to commit a murder; the next day again we had to publish a murder committed by two Spaniards at the Lake--this was on Friday last. On Sunday we published the account of another murder committed by the Italian, Gregorio. On Monday, another murder was committed, and the murderer lodged in jail. On Tuesday morning another man was stabbed and robbed, and is not likely to recover, but the a.s.sa.s.sin escaped. The same day Reynolds, who killed Barre, shot himself in prison. On Wednesday, another person, Mr.
Nicolet, blew out his brains. Yesterday, the unfortunate George Clement destroyed himself in his cell; and in addition to this dreadful catalogue we have to add that of the death of two, brothers, who destroyed themselves through grief at the death of their mother; and truly may we say that 'we know not what to-morrow will bring forth.'”
The ”Louisiana Advertiser,” as quoted by the Salt River (Mo.) Journal of May 25, 1837, says:
”Within the last ten or twelve days, three suicides, four murders, and two executions, have occurred in the city!”
The ”New Orleans Bee” of October 25, 1837, says:
”We remark with regret the frightful list of homicides that are _daily_ committed in New Orleans.”
The ”Planter's Banner” of September 30. 1838, published at Franklin, Louisiana, after giving an account of an affray between a number of planters, in which three were killed and a fourth mortally wounded, says that ”Davis (one of the murderers) was arrested by the by-standers, but a _justice of the peace_ came up and told them, he did not think it right to keep a man 'tied in that manner,' and 'thought it best to turn him loose.' _It was accordingly so done_.”
This occurred in the parish of Harrisonburg. The Banner closes the account by saying:
”Our informant states that _five white men_ and _one_ negro have been murdered in the parish of Madison, during the months of July and August.”
This _justice of the peace_, who bade the by-standers unloose the murderer, mentioned above, has plenty of birds of his own feather among the law officers of Louisiana. Two of the leading officers in the New Orleans police took two witnesses, while undergoing legal examination at Covington, near New Orleans, ”carried them to a bye-place, and _lynched_ them, during which inquisitorial operation, they divulged every thing to the officers, Messrs. Foyle and Crossman.”
The preceding fact is published in the Maryland Republican of August 22, 1837.
Judge Canonge of New Orleans, in his address at the opening of the criminal court, Nov. 4, 1837, published in the ”Bee” of Nov. 8, in remarking upon the prevalence of out-breaking crimes, says:
”Is it possible in a civilized country such crying abuses are _constantly_ encountered? How many individuals have given themselves up to such culpable habits! Yet we find magistrates and juries hesitating to expose crimes of the blackest dye to eternal contempt and infamy, to the vengeance of the law.
”As a Louisianian parent, _I reflect with terror_ that our beloved children, reared to become one day honorable and useful citizens, may be the victims of these votaries of vice and licentiousness. Without some powerful and certain remedy, _our streets will become butcheries overflowing with the blood of our citizens_.”
The Editor of the ”New Orleans Bee,” in his paper of Oct. 21, 1837, has a long editorial article, in which he argues for the virtual legalizing of LYNCH LAW, as follows:
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