The Ouachita Telegraph - Aleck Wilson and Perry Munson Lynched

Date: Oct. 2000 
Submitted by: Lora Peppers <lpeppers@ouachita.lib.la.us>



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The Ouachita Telegraph
Friday, August 26, 1881
Page 3, Column 1

Hanging by Judge Lynch.
 Our community was startled and shocked on Tuesday morning last by the
rumor, which proved to be founded on fact, that two of the prisoners in the
jail had been taken from their cells on the previous night and hanged near
the Bayou DeSiard road about two and a half miles from the court-house.
These unfortunate parties were Aleck Wilson, charged with the murder of
Reuben Leonard and Perry Munson, charged with the murder of Anderson
Mitchell – these, and their victims were all negroes.  Both murders had been
cold blooded and premeditated in the first case the victim was shot down at
night and the other had his neck broken by a blow from a heavy bludgeon,
whilst he was quietly walking on the roadside in company with his wife.  In
both cases the testimony against the prisoners was circumstancial but quite
strong and convincing – still they had neither been proved guilty – and were
both held in jail, subject to the investigation and action of the Grand
Jury.  The idea that our parish or its officers will arrest parties charged
with the commission of crime and then fail to protect them is horrifying and
revolting in the extreme.  That a party of men can com to our parish seat,
get possession of the jail keys, and without resistance commit such a crime
as has startled our community this week as equally shameful and disgraceful.
  We trust and believe that the proper officers will investigate this matter
to the bottom and make an example of all parties in any manner responsible
for this barbarously cruel act.

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