News article:"LYNCHED, The Last Act of the Jones and Hill Tragedy"/Bossier Parish/LA
Source: The Ouachita Telegraph 
Submitted by: Lora Peppers 
Date: May 2000


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Friday, May 29, 1874
Page 1, Column 5
LYNCH LAW.
Maskers Hang Two Men in Shreveport.
 Two brothers named Elliott, landed in Shreveport on their way from
Tennessee to Texas.  One was murdered, and both robbed, in a den kept by
one Doc Jones, of that city.  Jones and a young fellow named Hill were
arrested and put in jail, charged with the murder and robbing.  The
trial of these men was progressing, when the court was relieved of
further trouble, in the manner related below by the Shreveport Times:
 Thus manners stood until Saturday, when little knots of men might have
been seen standing together on the corners, talking earnestly to each
other, with countenances which plainly indicated that THEY MEANT BUSINESS,
And knew what they were talking about.  That night they met in secret
conclave, and when the hour of midnight came they quietly proceeded
toward the OLD PARISH JAIL, In which Jones and Hill were confined.  Once there, 
a guard was posted in every direction, and no precaution overlooked to prevent any
interference on the part of any one.  No names were used, each man
bearing a number by which he was known and designated.  It was but the
work of a moment to break through the pine paneling of the outer door,
and then the vigilants stood just without the cells of the
DOOMED MEN. What use had they for keys?  None.  They had come prepared to open the
way for themselves, and when the word was given, the locks were wrenched
from their places and the grated doors were swung back. 
JONES
Was found standing up in his cell, dressed, with the exception of his
boots.  His hands were then tied and he was led forth into the open air
and beneath the tree on which he met his doom.  Here he was told that he
was at liberty to make any statement or request which he saw proper.
THE CONFESSION.
 We have been told that when Jones found that there was no hope of
escape, he stated that he did not wish to turn State's evidence, but
that young Elliott was killed by Hill.  When Hill, upon the other hand,
found that his career was bout to terminate, he said that young Elliott
was killed by Doc Jones, while he (Hill) ws robbing the elder brother,
and this was most likely the truth.  But late last evening we received,
through the postoffice (sic), the following note, addressed to the
Times, unaccompanied by a signature:
AUTHENTIC.
Jones' confession: "Gentlemen, I killed him."
 It is said that, after this confession, the noose was thrown over
Jones' head and he was drawn up, his feet being wholly unconfined.  The
attention of the vigilants was then turned to
HILL,
And the visitors walked back into the jail and ascended the stairs.
Deputy Sheriff Swearingen, finding that resistance was in vain, and
desiring to save the jail from further damage, now delivered the keys up
to the cell in which Hill was confined.  The doors were opened and Hill
commanded to come forth, which he did.  He too, had his hands tied, and
when taken out into the court yard was given an opportunity to speak for
himself.  Here Hill requested that his sister be written to, giving her
name, and that a ring on his finger be taken off after his death and
given to Odeal Dean, with whom he had been living.
THE MORNING
Of Sunday broke bright and beautiful; and the sun shone down upon the
upturned faces of two as bad characters that ever disgraced the fair
name of any city.  A rumor had gone forth of the work that had been done
the night before, and the greatest excitement pervaded the whole
community.  Hundreds — nay, thousands — rushed to and fro to the scene,
and up to seven o'clock the Court- House square was crowded to
repletion.
THE MEN.
 Under a China tree, about four feet from the Court-House, could be seen
the body of Hill, dressed simply in his pants and shirt, with his boots
on, his face turned toward Texas street, seemingly the neck was broken.
The pants and shirt were badly torn, denoting that he had made a hard
struggle for his life.  Beneath his body was found a ring, which is
supposed to be the one that he requested to have given to the girl Dean
— On the grass directly where his feet must have rested before the
hanging, was found the gambler's gravedigger, the
KING OF SPADES.
How this card came there no one can explain, but from the appearance of
it, it had lain there for some time, being thoroughly soaked apart by
the exposure to the weather.
JONES' BODY
Was hanging about fifteen feet from that of Hill's, it also being
suspended from a china tree.  The face was turned a little upward, and
partly in the direction of McNeal street.  Jones was dressed in black
pants and vests, but he was in his stocking feet.  He wore in the
neckband of his shirt a five dollar gold piece, fashioned as a
breastpin, and on one of his fingers a plain gold ring.


The Ouachita Telegraph
Friday, June 19, 1874
Page 2, Column 3

LYNCHED.
The Last Act of the Jones and Hill
Tragedy.
 Last evening Mr. William Robson, Jr., came to our office and gave us
the following information: He has been for several days staying on his
father's plantation some thirty miles below here on the river, and known
as the Goodwin place.  Wednesday morning a woman who had been down the
river bank, came running to the house very much alarmed and crying
murder.  Upon inquiry, he learned from her that when on the bank of the
river she saw a vial or bottle lying on the ground, when a black man
called to her to put it down.  The sudden and unexpected appearance of
the man alarmed her and she ran.  Mr. Robson went to the house, got his
six- shooter and went down to the river where he soon found the tracks
of the man.  Accompanied by another gentleman, he followed them down the
river some distance, and then lost the trace.  His companion rode
further down and again discovered the negro having evidently gone some
fifty yards upon the branches of trees, which were growing thickly at
that point.  Following on rapidly, they found that the tracks led into
the water.  Mr. Robson remained on the bank while his companion went for
a skiff.  He thinks he remained fully half an hour before the boat came,
and just as it was approaching him he observed a movement in the water
among some overhanging vines not more than ten feet from him.  Calling
to his companion to stop the boat, they investigated more closely and
discovered the top of a man's head in the water.  Both leveled their
pistols and ordered him to come ashore, which he did.  The young man,
upon examination, discovered that he had blacked his face (he was a
mulatto) with some substance.  They asked him where he came from and
what he was doing there.  His reply was that he had got into trouble in
Bossier parish and had left there on that account.  His story was badly
put together and contradictory.  It suddenly occurred to one of the
young men that he might be Ed. Scott, or Ed. Lucas, whose connection
with the murder of young Elliott he read in the Times and turning to Mr.
Robson he asked how will this man do for Ed. Scott?  The effect upon the
negro was so evident that both were satisfied it was he.  They
questioned him more closely and made him roll up his sleeve, probably to
see if he was a mulatto.  On the arm they discovered the name, Ed.
Lucas, pricked in with India ink.
 This discovery, of course, settled the question beyond doubt.  His
capture soon spread through the neighborhood and several persons came to
the house.  The prisoner was safely guarded that night.  He was
questioned by several of the party in regard to the killing of Elliot.
To one he stated that Jones shot him, but to others he said he didn't
know anything about it.
 Yesterday morning Mr. Robson and two other gentlemen whose names we
cannot now recall, tied the prisoner, placed him o a mule, and started
to Shreveport.  When near the convent, some three miles from town,
sixteen or eighteen men, masked and we understand Mr. Robson to say with
their horses painted, rode up to them suddenly from the thicket or
woods, leveled their pistols and ordered them to surrender the negro.
The masked party then took the prisoner some little distance, hung him
to a tree, and rode off.
 This, we hope, and doubt not, is the last act of the drama.  That the
negro was equally guilty of the murder of young Elliott with Jones and
Hill, who have already paid the penalty of their crimes, there is no
question, and while we do not approve of lynch law, it seems that the
people of Louisiana have arrived at the conviction that there is no
other law in the State for the punishment of criminals, however much
innocent men may be persecuted for political effect.
 At ten o'clock last night the coroner's jury returned a verdict that
deceased came to his death by the strangulation with a rope. —
Shreveport Times, 12th.

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