The Bossier Vanarsdale family, a story of murder and love. Bossier and Webster Par., Louisiana Submitter: Clifton D. Cardin, Official Bossier Parish Historian email: Cliftondcardin@juno.com Date: Feb. 2001 >From the HISTORY TODAY column in the Bossier-Press Tribune newspaper, Bossier City, LA ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** "The Bossier Vanarsdale family, a story of murder and love." August 1, 1867, three men, Ben Gregory, Kit Gregory and Jim White murdered William D. VanArsdel, wealthy Bossier Parish plantation owner who lived roughly where Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant is today. While now in Webster Par., Louisianaat the time of the murder that area was part of Bossier Parish. The murder so outraged Bossier Parish citizens that civic leaders and neighbors posted a reward of $1,500 for the capture of the three men. The reward was offered by Jas. Ford, Elijah Hudson, A. McIntyre, S. Richardson, E. W. Knight, E. Dortch, N. C. Dortch, Wm. Hylton, Geo. Reid, D. B. Doyle, W. F. Boon, and J. H. Sanders. The reward directed that "said murderers should be killed or arrested by Augustus Boon, W. H. Pinckard, Sidney Walker or any other person, or persons." It went on to describe the men in detail. "Kit Gregory was about 18 years old with black hair and eyes, dark complexion, he spoke very little and slowly, and weighed about 125 pounds; he was 5 feet 2 or 3 inches high. Ben Gregory was about 20 years old with black hair and eyes, his eyes was quite small; his complexion was yellow or sunburnt; about 6 feet high, very slim and about 130 pounds. Jim White was about 23 years old with dark hair and blue eyes. He was about 5 feet, 8 or 9 inches high, well made, and a great talker, and one of his arms (thought to be the left) was crooked from being once broken. They all formerly resided in Texas." Shreveport newspapers spread the story and the offer of reward, while reporting that Jim White had been seen in Shreveport following the murder and that the Gregory brothers had been trailed to the swamps near Mack's Bayou, Bossier Parish. The fate of Jim White and Kit Gregory is not known, but Ben Gregory was captured near the Mississippi River and was being transported back to Bossier Parish aboard the steamer National, when he jumped ship and made his escape by swimming ashore "near Mrs. Merriwethers' plantation." Ben was soon re-captured and was returned to Bossier Parish for trial. In the spring of 1868, he was found guilty by district court, Judge Weems presiding and was sentenced to be hung. It is recorded that he was convicted "principally on the evidence of a negro woman." By October 20, 1868, time was running out for Ben Gregory. With only a month left before his scheduled execution, he managed to escape the Caddo Parish jail where he was being held, by using the handle off a water bucket to pick the front door of the jail. He escaped with Morris Hood, who was also being held for murder, J. L. Helpman, who was being held for burglary, and J. Alexander and Lewis Williams, who were being held for larceny. Lewis Williams was soon recaptured and showed deputies how the group had made their escape. Ben Gregory soon found his way to his old hometown of Corsicanna, Texas. But citizens there had no love for Ben or his brother Kit. The two brothers had been in trouble there before, and had been sentenced to the Texas State Prison for burglary, shortly after the Civil War, and were known to have threatened several citizens of Corsicanna with their lives. Ben had only been in Corsicanna a few days, when a gentlemen came through town with proclamations from Governor Warmouth of Louisiana detailing the reward for Ben Gregory. A few citizens of Corsicanna, namely Wm. Jackson, Wm. Duren and Sam Trimble went to arrest Ben Gregory and were fired upon. Ben's aim failed and he soon took flight. While running from the posse, Ben Gregory was shot and killed. The story would end there, except that when I was doing research on cemeteries on Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, I found very nice headstones for some negro VanArsdels who are buried on the old "white" VanArsdel plantation. It intriqued me that negro's with the same name as the whites were buried on the same property. Further research showed that the black VanArsdels had returned and purchased the very property after Wm. VanArsdels death. While unraveling the mystery, I talked to some descendents of the negro VanArsdels who told me that their ancestor was the negro woman who worked in the VanArsdel home and that they were indeed descended from the white VanArsdel plantation owner, thus the same name. The Wm. VanArsdel headstone in the Mount Zion Cemetery, south of Haughton, reads; Wm. Vanarsdel, born April 22, 1814, murdered Aug 1, 1867 for his money by 3 murderers. Erected by his brothers L. V. & A. V. Markings indicate the headstone was ordered from Reynolds in New Orleans. VanArsdel, the story continues... It isn't often that I can add to a story that I've already written. But, in the case in story of the murder of Wm. D. VanArsdel, which ran in a previous issue of the Bossier Press-Tribune. While doing research on the elusive "negro woman" who witnessed the murder, I uncovered that she was indeed the same woman who had at least two children by Wm. VanArsdel. For those that missed the original article, Wm. VanArsdel, wealthy plantation owner was murdered August 1, 1867 by three men from Texas. The August 10, 1867 Press-Tribune reported; "Mr. Vanarsdel was murdered for his money. Knowing that he had a large amount on hand, the murderers approached the deceased at the same time asking him if he would give up all his money. He replied 'Gentlemen are you robbers - are you going to murder me for my money?' and immediately alarming the premises with out-cries for help. - The ruffians instantly fired one shot apiece, one taking effect in the back of the head coming out at the eye, another in the left side passing entirely through his body, and the third in the hand, causing almost instant death. They then made their escape, without having accomplished their purpose - though he had upon his person and premises at the time about $22,000." A reward of $1,500 was offered for the capture of the three men and detailed descriptions were supplied. It was not hard to know that someone had witnessed the murder and was supplying officials and newspaper men with information. After reading all the newspaper accounts, I went to the Bossier Parish Courthouse and looked for more information. I was able to find was the minutes of the district court as they applied to the conviction of Ben Gregory. Wednesday evening, March 19th of 1868, in the case of the State vs. Kit Gregory, Ben Gregory and James White, dockett #499, Ben Gregory was arraigned in Eighteenth Judicial District Court of Bossier Parish, Judge James Weems presiding, for the murder of Wm. VanArsdel. Court minutes reveal that Benjamin "plead not guilty and for trial put himself upon a jury of his country. Then the court appointed R. W. Turner, Esq. to defend him. Where upon Court adjourned...." Ben Gregory, evidently admitted that his brothers name was not Kit, but Christopher, for the next day the case was assigned a new number, #511, and Kit's name changed to include Christopher. March 24th, legal arguments were made against R. W. Turner's defense and he was removed. J. R. Griffin, Esq, was appointed and jury selection began. Those chosen were "R. M. Adams, W. J. Carter, C. B. Norman, Baty Cannon, E. S. Moses, J. L. C. Graham, J. M. Dunn, R. E. Wyche, Wm. Plexico, Jas. A. Herron, John G. Allen and Elias O'Neill, twelve good & lawful men of the Parish of Bossier." The clerk put the case to the jury and read the bill of indictment. The evidence was presented. At the end of the day, the jury was sequestered and ordered to "remain together under charge of the Sheriff..." March 25th, court met and the case was argued before "all present." The jury "after hearing the evidence, the arguments of counsel and charged by the court, retired to their oom, and after due deliberation bring(sic) in the following verdict viz; We the jurors find the prisoner guilty of murder as charged. James Herron, Foreman." The next day, J. R. Griffin filed "for arrest of judgement." It was overruled. The case was sent to Louisiana Supreme Court in Natchitoches. In the case of State vs. Kit Gregory alias Christopher Gregory, Kit was arraigned a few months later and he plead not guilty and asked that his case be severed from that of James White and that his trial be moved to Caddo. It was and the following witnesses were ordered to appear in Caddo Court, James Ford, Sanders Richardson, Eliza Sergeant, Narcissa Campbell, Lewis Reyelson and Captain J. W. Onley. So, indeed, the trial minutes did record that Eliza Sergeant, mother of Gronison and Canada Vanarsdel, was the same "negro woman" who had witnessed the murder and supplied the detailed information about the crime. It has struck me and several others, that "white" people allowed a black woman to testify in court, in 1867. Considering this crime was committed roughly two years after the ending of the Civil War. She must have been a very respected woman.