The Ouachita Telegraph - Daniel Lant and Alexandria Snaer Murdered Submitted by: Lora Peppers Date: May 2000 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** *********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, June 21, 1873 Page 1, Column 4 A BRUTAL MURDER. NEW IBERIA, La., June 14. — Mr. Daniel Lant, a Frenchman, and Alexandria Snaer, a colored Justice of the Peace, doing business together, about five miles below here, were brutally murdered in their store about 10 o'clock last night, and their store burned to the ground. Their bodys (sic) were burned to a crisp. It seems they were simultaneously struck, their heads being beaten to a jelly. Robbery was the object, as the money depositied (sic) in their safe is missing. The act was committed by three negroes of the neighborhood. A gentleman on his way from Jeanerette to this place stopped in the store to get a drink of water, and saw two negroes outside, and one in the store. When about leaving, one of the negroes outside came in and seemed to deliberately walk on his foot. He demanded why he did it, when the negro humbly begged his pardon. He had mounted his horse and only one about fifty yards when he heard heavy blows falling in quick succession and cries of "murder," which were followed by groans as from persons dying, then all was still as death, the fiends having accomplished their hellish deed. Being in a neighborhood he knew nothing of, he feared turning back, and came on and reported here the circumstances. It appears the fire did not take place for several hours after the murder, during which time, it is supposed, the robbery took place. Snaer is a brother of the Representative of this parish. He was liked by all who knew him. Large parties of citizens have been scouting the parish since early this morning in search of the murderers. The Coroner has been examining witnesses all day; nothing yet heard from him. The carman who saw the negroes before the murder says he can identify two of them, and has gone down with parties from here. Every effort is being made to find them, and it is thought they will succeed. General indignation prevails among all classes. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, June 21, 1873 Page 2, Column 4 CAPTURE OF THE NEW IBERIA MURDERERS. They Confess their Guilt and are Hanged to a Tree. NEW IBERIA, La., June 17. — The four negroes who murdered Lanet and Snaer last Friday night, at their store, were arrested in that neighborhood this morning. One of them turned State's evidence and related how the atrocious crime was committed, the plot being made over a week ago. After a close investigation by Mr. Seymour Snaer; a brother of one of the murdered men, no doubt remained of the guilt of the negroes. By this time the people in large numbers had assembled and clamored for the summary execution of the murderers, but they were then saved by the intercession of Mr. Snaer, who then departed for this place. The prisoners were brought here and upon their arrival the indignant citizens, numbering over 1000, took them to the woods on the east side of Bayou Teche and hanged three of them to the limb of a tree. They confessed to taking part in the crime, but insisted that the one who turned State's evidence cut the throat of Lanet. # # #