Calcasieu-Vernon-Rapides County Louisiana Archives News..... Killed at a Wedding October 18, 1884 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dianne Duncan http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00008.html#0001975 May 6, 2009, 4:08 pm Lake Charles Echo October 18, 1884 Lake Charles Echo., Sat Oct 18, 1884 "Killed at a Wedding On Thursday night, the 9th inst,. a man by the name of John Neely while in attendance at a wedding and ball at the residence of Mrs. Clara Williams, in this parish, and about 15 miles north of this town, was shot and instantly killed while standing on the floor of the ball room and in the act of commencing a dance, by some party or parties as yet not positively known. We are informed, however, that suspicion points strongly to certain parties who were participating in the festivities of the occasion, and from what we can learn of the affair it would not surprise us to hear of the arrest of the guilty ones at any moment. We are informed that the trouble which resulted in the death of Neely, grew out of a dispute about a dance, and that the killing was unprovoked and a most foul and brutal murder, the lights having been put out and the deceased fired on and shot in the back by the assassins, at a moment when he least expected trouble. The above is given to the public as related to us by a responsible party, but we do not vouch for its accuracy, as our informant was not an eye witness to the bloody and dark tragedy." Lake Charles Echo, Sat Oct 25, 1884 (page 3) The Facts of the Killing of John Neely "Editor Lake Charles Echo In your issue of the 18th inst, we see what purports to be an account of the killing of John Neely. We hope the responsible person alluded to has not willfully misstated the facts, nor had them so misstated to him, because we do not care to have public opinion led astray so completely. When the truth of the case is learned, John Neely will be found to have been, when intoxicated, as he was on this occasion, a hard case, and what is known as a "bully". Going to parties rather regardless of invitation, and taking the house, so to speak, at times clearing and occupying the room all by himself. On this occasion he was completely overcome with a desire to dance, regardless of set or music, and was carrying this high with loud, boisterous talk - cursing and making threats, and would go on the worse when requested in a quiet way to desist and retire. He grabbed one young lady by the arm and pulled her out on the floor to dance with him, and not finding her inclined to join him, release her and got another and she struggled and got away, falling on the floor in the attempt. Any further attempt to quiet him only served to enrage him, and drawing a knife, said he would fight until he died, stepping forward. After this, the shooting occurred. The lights were not blown out, nor was he shot in the back as stated. A few more of such characters, served in the same way, would prove a relief to the community. Eye Witness." Lake Charles Echo, Sat, Nov 15, 1884 issue "Nov 7, 1884, Editor Lake Charles Echo; A short time since you published an article by "An Eye Witness", which purports to give a true history of the killing of John Neely; never was written a more willful perversion of facts, the writer was no satisfied with a palpable falsehood concerning the actual occurrence which resulted in the death of Neely, went so far as to defame the character of the dead. Neely never went to a ball in his life, to raise a disturbance; never "cleared out the room, taking it all for himself;" our pine woods people are not of such patient tempers. Neely was a hard working, honest young man, who defrauded none. He was a warm friend and good companion; if imposed upon he resented it strongly, and as he feared nothing and would submit to no imposition, it was well understood that he would be treated justly. When "Eye Witness" was put on the witness stand at the Coroner's inquest, he testified that he knew nothing about it, that he saw nothing, etc. His memory has become refreshed in a most wonderful manner since. Why did he not swear to those things and thereby secure a verdict from that jury of justifiable homicide? This is the truth, and will be sworn to: Neely went to the ball and behaved himself, he asked a young lady to dance with him, she refused; he asked another and she went on the floor with him willingly, she did not pull away from him, she did not fall down in the struggle; he did not advance on his murderers but retreated into a corner asking them to let him alone; he was shot in the back, as he spun around in his death agony from the ball in his breast. The lights were not extinguished before the shooting began. One at least who served on the Coroner's jury, saw it all, and will tell it all in open court. This I hope will close the case through the medium of the press; let the matter rest until court; the dead is in his grave, the quick are here to answer for their crime. Justice" Lake Charles Echo, Sat, Nov 22, 1884 "Nov 18, 1884, Editor Lake Charles Echo, At the request of the young men now confined in the parish jail, charged with the murder of John Neely, I ask the public to forbear further criticism through the press. The young men are in a desperate strait and now stand ready to answer with their lives, the laws of the State, if a jury of their peers finds them guilty. Both sides have friends, and the friend who rushes into print generally injures the cause he would help. No good one can arise from attempts to influence public opinion, as the reader of The Echo, who becomes biased through such articles will be rejected by the court, and the aim of justice in endeavoring to secure an intelligent jury be thus defeated. Let the matter rest; the prisoners await their fate with calmness, and we surely have sufficient confidence in our judicial officers to believe they will see justice done to all. Neely was my friend, and the young men who are begging for trial are fully as much so. O" Lake Charles Echo, Sat, Nov 29, 1884 "Court Matters: In the matter of the State vs. John Carpenter et als., charged with shooting John Neely on the 9th of October last, at a ball, in Whiskychitto Creek, all were discharged by his Honor S. D. Read, except John Carpenter and Fletcher Carpenter, both of whom gave a bond for their appearance at the next term of our District Court". Additional Comments: John Neely was the half brother of Magnolia (Yarbrough) Gibson. His mother's name was "Mary Elizabeth" (maiden name is unknown) Delasalle File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/calcasieu/newspapers/killedat132gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/ File size: 7.0 Kb