East Carroll County Louisiana Archives News.....A Bloody Tragedy October 21, 1840
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Lora Peppers loradpeppers@hotmail.com December 29, 2015, 12:34 pm

Farmers' Gazette, And Cheraw Advertiser October 21, 1840
NEW ORLEANS.  OCT. 8. - A bloody tragedy. - The "Olive Branch" of the 23 
[rd] ult., published at Monroe, in this State, contains the account of a 
fatal and bloody rencontre which lately occurred on Bayou Mason, in the 
Parish of Carroll.  The particulars were given to the editor of the Olive 
Branch by a gentleman from Lake Providence.
  It appears that suspicion had long been entertained of a secret 
association of robbers on Island No. 92 in the Mississippi.  The whole 
country was rife with accounts of their depredations.  After the late murder 
of a Mr. Webb, on Bayou Mason, it became the determination of the people to 
use every means for their extermination. - One of the clan, a man by the 
name of Laverty, was known to be at the house of Garrett P. Rollins, on the 
Bayou, and was exstensively [sic] known as a negro thief.  Mr. Wm. A. 
Cloman, deputy sheriff of Carroll, determined to arrest him, and for that 
purpose started, in company with three others, in pursuit.  On arriving near 
the house they separated, Cloman and one of the men going in front, and the 
other two to the back part.  Laverty, in the meantime, had been informed 
that there was a warrant out for him, and when he spied Cloman and his 
companion nearing the house he snatched up a double barreled gun and rushed 
to the door.  Cloman commanded him to surrender.  he then asked Cloman if he 
intended to shoot him.  Cloman replied that unless he surrendered he most 
certainly would.  At this instant they both raised their guns and fired so 
nearly together that the difference could scarcely be distinguished.  Cloman 
was shot with a double barreled shot-gun, and fell dead on the spot, one 
buckshot entering his throat, another his chin, and twelve just below the 
nose.  Laverty was shot with two rifle balls, both entering the left side, 
one just below the nipple and the other about two inches to the right, a 
little above.  He did not fall, but grasped his gun with desperate firmness, 
and attempted to cock the other barrel.  He was then fired on by Cloman's 
companion, who, missing him, rushed forward and knocked him down with the 
but of his gun.  At this instant one of the men who had gone to the back 
part of the house came up, and placing the muzzle of his gun against 
Laverty's head, fired, scattering his brains over the yard.  The neighbors 
soon assembled, and under a great deal of excitement; a hole was dug in the 
earth, and Laverty, boots, shoes, hat and all, were pitched in and covered 
up.

Additional Comments:
The above article was carried in several national newspapers.

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