The Ouachita Telegraph - George Morris Pleads Guilty to Murder of Sarah Jones Date: Jul 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Ouachita Telegraph November 29, 1866 Page 3, Column 1 ATROCIOUS MURDER 97 The Minden Sentiment records a distressing occurrence near that place. Two men, Murphy and Brower, were watching the carcass of a hog newly killed expecting to catch the thief. They had but one gun. Murphy went off about a mile to get another, but when he returned his companion could not be found. At last Murphy stumbled over Brower's dead body, his hands mutilated and head nearly severed from his body. His gun and hat were gone. Dogs were procured and put upon the murder's track. The result was the apprehension of Bill Lofton, a freedman, who confessed his guilt and is now in confinement awaiting trial. The Ouachita Telegraph May , 1868 Page 2, Column 3 A rumor has reached us of the death of W.R. Meadows, the negro candidate to represent Claiborne parish at the recent election. He was shot a few evenings ago, by some unknown party, one ball taking effect in the head and one in the side. Meadows was formerly a soldier in the Yankee army, and made himself quite obnoxious to our citizens while clothed with a "little brief authority." He was afterwards elected to represent(?)Claiborne parish in the Black and Tan Convention. Minden Sentiment. The Claiborne Advocate contains the following allusions to Meadows death: The Jury of Inquest returned on Thursday evening last, from the cabin home of W.R. Meadors, F. M. C., where they found his lifeless body. Upon examination, they decided that he came to his death by violence. He was shot three times, and the shots took effect in three different places. One in the arm, another in the breast, and the other in the head. This sad outrage occurred on Wednesday evening, the 6th inst., about dark, while passing from his horse lot to his yard, by some one unknown. No clue as to the guilty party. Some strange man had been about his place for some time, and which rather inclines to the opinion that he was killed by some one who was not known in this parish. We are proud to know that no suspicion rests upon any of our own people. The Louisiana Intelligencer Wednesday, May 13, 1868 Page 2, Column 1 W.R. Meadows, late a member of the Constitutional Convention, was killed a few days since at his home in Claiborne Parish by unknown persons. The Ouachita Telegraph April 6, 1872 Page 3, Column 3 UNION PARISH On Tuesday, the 18th inst., while a party of men were working the road leading east from this place towards Port Union, a freedman named Jackson Jones stabbed another freedman named Pleas Coleman. Jones was arrested the next day and brought before the Parish Judge for examination. There being no evidence as to the nature of the wounds, Jones was held to answer to the charge assault with a dangerous weapon. Coleman died on the 25th, probably from the effect of the wounds, and it was then ordered that he be held to answer to the charge of manslaughter. 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. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, July 30, 1875 Page 2, Column 2 Death of a Noted Colored Man. We find in the Vicksburg Herald the following notice of the death of Charley Jackson, a well-known colored man of Madison parish: The following letter announces the death of Charles Jackson, a well-known colored man who was raised in this city, but who was for the last thirty years a resident of the parish of Madison, in Louisiana. There are hundreds of people in this city who will remember Charlie, first as the personal servant of Dr. Thos. M. Jackson, whose name he adopted, and second, as the faithful servant, friend, and follower of the late Gen. W.R. Peck, through all the bloody campaigns in Virginia: OMEGA; LA., July 21st, 1875, EDITOR HERALD: This evening, was laid in their last resting place, the remains of poor Charley Jackson, the true and faithful friend of all whom it was his lot to serve. Few colored men are more widely known than was Charley, and none have left a name that will be more kindly remembered. To thousands who follow the standards of Lee and Jackson he was well known, not one of whom will hear of his death without feeling a pang of sorrow cross his breast. May his last sleep be peaceful, and in the spirit land may the welcome plaudit greet him "well done, good and faithful servant." R. Charley Jackson was well known to the writer. As the Herald states, he was the servant of Dr. Jackson, whom he accompanied to California, during the gold fever and there remained a servant, although free under the laws of that territory, returning to Lousiana with the Doctor, by whom, we believe, he was sold to the late Gen. Peck. Charley was Gen. Peck's servant in the Virginia army. Between the two existed the warmest attachment as master and servant. Charley had hundreds of opportunities to cross the lines and be free, but nothing could induce him to abandon his master. We met the two after the war, in 1868, at Omega, Gen. Peck's plantation, and from the General learned that it was to his former faithful servant he was indebted for the means to supply a few wants at the end of the war which had completely bankrupted the former master and possessor of of (sic) a splendid estate and had placed the servant in a condition to supply these wants. The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, December 24, 1875 Page 2, Column 2 Resolved to Hang. The New Orleans Bulletin has the following account of a hardened culprit: It will be remembered that several days ago the negro George Morris, who so brutally murdered the young mulatto woman Sarah Jones on the morning of November 30 the last, on St. Louis street, was arraigned and pleaded guilty. Judge Steele refused to accept the plea until the accused had consulted with his counsel, Hugh J. Campbell, Esq., who was appointed by the Court. Morris was then remanded, and was again brought to the bar of the court yesterday morning. He walked into the court-room with a cold and defiant expression on his face, evidently disgusted with the formalities of the law, gazing around the room while the clerk was reading the indietment, (sic) and when asked the usual question, "How say you, George Morris, are you guilty or not guilty?" he answered in a loud voice "Guilty," at the same time shifting his cap from hand to hand in a careless manner. Judge Steele said: "You still enter the plea of guilty." The accused – "Yes, sir." Judge Steele – "I will not sentence you. I prefer that a jury be impanelled (sic) to pass upon your case. Let a jury be impanelled (sic) to pass upon your case. Let a jury be impanelled (sic), and the plea of not guilty be recorded, and let the prisoner be remanded." The accused went back to the "dock," muttering inaudibly to himself. He afterwards told our reporter that he "did not want any fuss made about him; he was going to be hung anyhow, and the sooner the better." The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, July 6, 1877 Page 4, Column 2 A colored man by the name of Chas. Jackson, who professed to be a horse doctor, said he could, when an animal had the charbon, tell by tasting the blood. Some day last week a mule had the charborn, he tasted the blood and on the 18th inst., he died at New Texas landing of the diseases. – Point Coupee Pilecan. (sic) The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, December 14, 1877 Page 3, Column 1 Jim McClellan, a freedman, is to be hanged to-day in Bastrop for the assassination of Mr. Nick Evans, a worthy and estimable citizen of Morehouse, about a year ago. Jim escaped from the parish, but was arrested in Caldwell, we believe, shortly after, and was carried to Bastrop and put in jail. He had his trial about four weeks ago, was convicted, sentenced to be hanged, and Gov. Nicholls orders his execution to-day. Considering that the doomed man gave the victim of his malice no notice or warning of death whatever, he cannot complain of any haste in his execution. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, February 25, 1882 Page 1, Column 6 DIED IN A TREE. We learn from Mr. J.B. O’Neal yesterday the facts concerning a case where a colored man, named Henry Lemons, died in a tree, on the night of the 3rd inst. It seems that Mr. O’Neal and the colored man were returning to their houses in Bossier Point on the night named, and after dark they reached a stream known as Fox Skin, which they attempted to ford, little thinking the rains had raised it so high as to make it dangerous. The colored man was ahead riding a mule and leading a horse, and in crossing the stream the mule he was riding commenced to swim. In a few moments he called to Mr. O’Neal that the mule was sinking and that gentleman told him to catch to a tree, which he did, and climbed into it. It was impossible for Mr. O’Neal to get to where he was, and he went back to Mr. N.B. Muriff’s house and reported the accident, and Mr. Muriff and some of his hands went to the place to render assistance, but it was impossible to reach the man, although they could converse with him from where they were standing. Some colored men also gathered on the opposite side of the stream, built fires and constructed a raft to try and rescue him, but did not succeed. In the morning some colored men went up to where he as and found him dead, hanging to the limbs of the tree. It is supposed he became chilled and died from the effects. The only way they could get him to the raft was to place a rope around the body, which they did. He was afterwards buried by his wife and friends. Mr. O’Neal informs us he was a good and industrious colored man, and his untimely death is much regretted by his friends in the Point. The mule he was riding and the horse he was leading both reached the shore, and were recovered. – Shreveport Standard, 18th. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, August 28, 1886 Page 2, Column 3 A NEGRO FIEND. Attempt to Outrage an Estimable Young Lady of Morehouse Parish. He is Caught and Swift and Terrible Justice Meted Out to Him. From Mr. J.F. Scoggins of Morehouse Parish, who was in town Thursday, we learn the following particulars of an attempted outrage upon one of the most estimable young ladies of Morehouse Parish by a negro fiend named Frank Mansfield. The attempted outrage and the tragedy following occurred in Gum Swamp. Frank Mansfield worked on the plantation of Mr. Doss. On last Sunday night he went to a neighboring place after the family had retired and effected an entrance into the bed chamber of the young lady upon whom the outrage was attempted without being detected. Fortunately for the young lady she had a small brother sleeping in the room with her and the negro was foiled in his hellish purpose by mistaking him for his intended victim. The little fellow being awakened and badly frightened escaped from the clutches of the negro and ran out of the room screaming at the top of his voice. The negro then discovered the young lady and attempted to assault her, but the family being by this time aroused, he sought safety by flight. He escaped without leaving any traces behind by which he could be identified, but upon the Tuesday following suspicious circumstances pointed to him as the guilty party and he was arrested. He had his clothes and everything packed to run away and when arrested furnished the missing link in the chain of circumstances to convict him by making certain remarks about the attempted outrage. After making the arrest, the officer of the law, Mr. S.P. Collins, started to Bastrop with his prisoner, and after having proceeded about two miles on his way he was suddenly surrounded by an armed body of men who demanded the prisoner. Mr. Collins knew their purpose and remonstrated with the men but to no purpose. The prisoner was taken and Mr. Collins told to return home, which he did. The men then disappeared in the woods and made short work of Frank Mansfield. The supposition is that he was burned at the stake. We withhold the name of the young lady for obvious reasons. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, December 4, 1886 Page 2, Column 1 West Carroll. A terrible state of affairs exists in West Carroll. Last Sunday night a party of men went to the house of one John McKay, near Caledonia, and under pretense of getting water gained admission into the house. They then murdered him and a negro woman, burned the house over them and left. Other outrages were committed and a state of lawlessness prevails. NOTE: This is a paragraph of an article about the state of affairs in West Carroll. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, June 11, 1887 Page 2, Column 6 A Justifiable Homicide. BASTROP, La., June 7. – [Picayune Special.] – Last Friday a young man named Johnson, living in Gum Swamp with Mr. J.W. McMillan, shot and mortally wounded a negro man named Sam Lee. Johnson claims that Lee was approaching him in a fit of anger with an open knife, when he shot him in self-defense. Johnson had a preliminary trial to-day before Judge Ellis and was released, the evidence in the case going to show that he was perfectly justifiable. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, October 8, 1887 Page 2, Column 5 RAPIDES. John Leckie, a white man born and raised at Alexandria and who was in the mercantile business just at the edge of the corporation limits, was horribly murdered on the night of the 3d. When discovered he was found in the small room back of his store on the bed where the body had apparently been placed. Blood stains were visible on the floor and bed. The body was resting on the bed with the legs over the side and the arms folded over the abdomen. The right hand pocket of the pants on the corpse was turned inside out. At the foot of the bed was found money to the amount of $29, where it s supposed the deceased had placed it for security. Toche Jenkins, a colored man who was at Leckie’s store after every one else on the night of the murder, had left, has been arrested on suspicion and is now in jail. Blood stains were found on his shirt. Leckie was a man of family and leaves a wife and children. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, October 15, 1887 Page 2, Column 6 DELHI, LA., Oct. 7. – [Picayune Special. ] – On the Heckler plantation of Mrs. Gibbs, near Mounds station, on the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railroad, in Madison parish, two negro men, Call Garter and Nat Jones, the latter a laborer, became involved in a discussion, when a negro girl named Lizzie Colbert made some remarks to Jones which gave him offense, and without any provocation he drew his pistol and deliberately shot at her, the ball striking her near the heart, killing her instantly. In the confusion Jones fled from the house and was soon lost in the darkness. He boarded a west-bound train at California station and was stealing a ride between the cars. The train stopped at Quebec, and in the jerk of the train, which was a long one, Jones lost his balance and fell between the draw-heads, which caught his left knee, crushing it in a frightful manner. He held on, however, knowing that if he let go he would be instantly killed, and was carried to Dallas station, on the Tensas river, a distance of about three miles, where the train stops for water. Jones says he let go his hold and fell to the ground. Being unable to walk, he crawled into the bushes and remained until this morning, when some persons passed who notified the section foreman, who went with his had car, and on learning from Jones that he was an employee of Section 2, and not knowing the crime Jones had committed, brought him to Delhi, and sent work to his parents, who live near here, who went with a wagon and took him home. In the meantime Sheriff Lem Scott, of Richland, had been notified to keep a lookout for him, and on hearing that a man had been hurt on the railroad, and the description comparing very much with the man wanted, he repaired to the house, and being personally acquainted with Jones recognized him immediately. He then had a litter prepared and took Jones to Tallulah, where he was placed in jail. Jones claims that the girl assaulted him with a razor. This, however, is improbable, as the girl is said to have been quite inoffensive and an invalid, being paralyzed on one side. Jones will in all probability lose his leg, and after a trial his neck also. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, October 29, 1887 Page 2, Column 6 FRANKLIN. Thursday morning the lifeless bodies of Perry King and Drew Green, colored, were found hanging to the same limb of an oak tree on the Delhi road, some 500 yards from the Lamar post office. Last Saturday night two young ladies, daughter of Mrs. Baker the postmistress, were awakened by a noise at their bed room window and the appearance of a burley negro entering the window. The screamed for help and the burglars beat a hasty retreat. An ax helve (?) was found on the window sill, which was identified as having been seen in the possession of Perry King late that evening. On Tuesday King was arrested and a posse was sent after Drew Green, against whom there was also strong proof. Green was captured at Tallulah Wednesday evening and reached Lamar at 8 p.m. The prisoners were to have been conveyed to town the next morning, but at 11 o’clock Wednesday night an armed body of men, between fifty and seventy five in number, came to where the prisoners were being guarded and took them from the guards. The next morning their bodies were found hanging to a limb. We understand a full confession was made by King that they had gone to the room to ravish the young ladies. Both negroes were worthless characters, one of them, Perry King, having served a term in the penitentiary. – Sun. The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, November 5, 1887 Page 2, Column 5 FRANKLIN. [Special to Commercial Herald.] DELHI, LA., Nov. 1. – I have just heard of the most awful wholesale poisoning that ever occurred in any community. On Friday evening, the 28th inst., Mr. Geo. C. King gave a dance and supper at his residence in Franklin parish, four or five miles southwest of Lamar post office. After supper was over nearly all the guests were taken violently sick. The doctor was sent for and pronounced the sickness caused from poison of some kind, and was unable to render but little if any assistance. The following persons have since died: Louis King, Jr., Ben King, Walter Bell, Lee Ford, John O’Brien, Jr., and Miss Minnie Brown, all white, and Zeke Hill, colored. The following are very dangerously poisoned, but were still alive at last accounts: Wife of Zeke Hill and six children, colored; Asa Ford and six children, white; Mrs. Louis King and child, Fronie Walker and child, one of the Dunham boys, Bruce Spires, and Hilliard Butler, wife and children. Abe Washburn was also quite sick, but is now considered to be out of danger. No motive can be assigned for this dastardly deed. It is not supposed the cook to be the guilty one as she is dangerously ill and her husband and one or two of her children are dead. The doctors and others, I understand, are to-day endeavoring to make an investigation of the matter and to ascertain the kind of poison. # # #