Criminal Justice Matters: Lee Andres Trotter, 1908, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: August 14, 1908 Winn Parish Enterprise

Horse Stealing Brought To Close

Noted Thief is Hotly Pursued and Shot While Seeking to Make His Escape 


Since the overflow, pilfering of all kinds has been practiced more frequently
than heretofore in the river sections, due very probably to the
demoralization among the irresponsible classes and an indisposition to
seek honest employment.  Such has been the case in the Red River country.

Last week in the Bayou Bourbeaux country a horse thief stole two mules, which
aroused the citizens.  He swapped one of the mules to Mr. J. W. Kelly, living
near Atlanta, and the other mule was captured being carried back to the scene
of the raid by the thief.

The thief, who turned out to be a negro named Lee Andres Trotter, was closely
pursued by a posse of citizens in the vicinity of Trichel in Natchitoches
Parish.  Mr. Kelly found his horse at a place on Bayou Bourbeaux where it had
been taken for save keeping, and the owner of the mule swapped to Mr. Kelly
for the horse, found his mule in Mr. Kelly's possession.  A most determined
pursuit was made of Trotter in the swamp and he was shot down when about to
make his escape.

The coroner was notified and held an inquest over the body of the negro and
rendered a verdict that he came to his death by gunshot wounds inflicted in
the attempt to arrest him.

Where Trotter came from was not exactly located.  He had been following horse
stealing for some two years and had once been arrested for this offense but
escaped.  He was known as a notorious horse thief for the past two years, but
managed to elude arrest.  On his body was found the scars of former gunshot
wounds and some of a recent date.

Stealing hogs, cattle, mules, and horses have become so frequent in the Red
River valley districts that the white residents have been compelled to adopt
the most stringent methods to stop the practice and do not permit transient
labor to stay in the country.  All transient or time labor, not under
contract, is being ordered to move on.  This has become an absolute necessity
in order to protect the stock of the plantations from constant raids and
depredation.  It is having a most salutory effect.