1894 Murder of Rev. Joseph D. Platt of Marion, Union Parish Louisiana Submitted by: Shawn Martin & Tim Hudson Date of Submission: 12/2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================== ================================================================================== 1894 Murder of Rev. Joseph D. Platt of Marion, Union Parish Louisiana From "The State News", a newspaper published in Columbia, South Carolina Issues of July 19 & 22, 1894 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== BACKGROUND DATA: Joseph David Platt (23 July 1861 - 16 July 1894) was born in Mississippi, the son of Rev. Benjamin F. Platt (14 Jun 1833 - 12 Dec 1909) and Sarah V. Platt (6 June 1845 - 23 Dec 1932). The family settled near Marion around 1870 where Elder Platt farmed in 1880. On 8 January 1891, Joseph D. Platt married Alice Stewart in Union Parish. Joseph and his parents are buried in the Platt Family cemetery near Marion. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Issue of 19 July 1894 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== DECOYED AND MURDERED. Farmersville, La., July 18 – Joe Platt, a quiet and peaceable man living near Marion, was killed yesterday and his father-in-law seriously wounded. The verdict of the coroner's jury was that Joe Platt was decoyed out of his home and murdered by W. L. Tisdale, Dan Pardue, William Tisdale, Jim and P. G. Defee. The sheriff's posse is in search of the murderers. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Issue of 22 July 1894 ================================================================================== ================================================================================== A BLOODY FIGHT. _______ A Preacher and Two Others Killed --- Others Wounded. Shreveport, La., July 21. -- News has been received here of a tragedy at Ivory, a settlement in Arkansas, just beyond the Louisiana line, in which a preacher, the Rev. J. S. Platt [sic - J. D. Platt], and two members of his congregation were slain, and several others seriously wounded. The parties had met in a secluded place to settle a dispute concerning the authorship of a slanderous report that was in circulation, and the fight was the result. A remor got abroad in the community affecting the character of a young lady. It was alleged that the Rev. Platt started the story, but he in turn accused a member of his congregation named Perdue. The men were about to come together in battle, but friends intervened and it was decided that the principals with their friends should meet down the river and decide the matter without trouble. There were present Platt, Felix Goulet, Dan Perdue, two men named Disdale, two men named Defee and G. G. Stuart, father-in-law of the Rev. Platt. After some time had been devoted to argument, all the parties reached for their weapons. There were Winchesters, revolvers and shot guns. Platt, the only man unarmed, jumped into the river, where he was killed with a Winchester ball. Stuart, his relative, was shot in the back and leg, and was knocked into insensibility. One of the Disdales was shot in the abdomen. Others of the two factions received injuries. The congregation of Platt's church is aroused over the affair, and an effort may be made to drive Perdue out of the community, in which case a war of extermination will be entered upon by both sides. ############################################################# File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/union/newspapers/articles/1894murder.txt