Criminal Justice Matters: Chandler Murders, 1914, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by: Peggy Chandler Beaubouef, 2656 Hwy 1232, Winnfield LA ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** [SUBMITTER'S NOTE: This material was given to me by Mr. Greggory E. Davies of Winnfield and was copied from microfilm held at the Ouachita Public Library by Ms. Lora Peppers of that facility in Monroe, LA. Words are inadequate to express the heartfelt gratitude extended to these two wonderful people by the Chandler family. Winn Parish newspapers for this time period were destroyed by fire, therefore these articles are indeed a rare find and a treasure to Chandler descendants for generations to come.] Article #1 SOURCE: Monroe News-Star, Friday, April 10, 1914, Page 1 Column 7 AGED MAN AND WOMAN KILLED TOWN OF CALVIN, WINN PARISH, WROUGHT UP OVER DUAL MURDER ROBBERY WAS MOTIVE Mr. and Mrs. Sam Chandler Killed by Unknown Parties Son-in-Law Discovers Crime When He Visits Home of Old People Authorities Are Very Active Calvin, La., April 10 One of the foulest crimes known to the annals of Winn Parish was revealed here late Thursday afternoon when B.E. Wilson went to the home of his father-in-law, Sam Chandler, living about one and a half miles from Calvin; and found both Chandler and his wife dead, the ransacked condition of the premises indicating that they had been murdered for the purpose of robbery. The double murder is thought to have occurred some time after 8 o'clock Thursday morning, both Chandler and his wife having been seen at their home before that hour. Mr. Wilson, who lives about one mile away, went to his father-in-;aw's home about 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon, and the first thing to meet his gaze was the prostrate form of his mother-in-law lying in a pool of blood in one of the large rooms. He began an immediate search for Mr. Chandler and found his body in a cow lot about 100 yards from the jouse, also lying in a pool of blood. Without making any further investigation Mr. Wilson came to Calvin and reported the horrible find, and a posse of citizens immediately formed for the purpose of investigating the murder, and, if possible, running down the perpetrators. Sheriff Payne and Parish Coroner Peters were immediately notified. In what manner the old people were killed will not be known until an inquest is held. The authorities at Shreveport, Alexandria, Colfax, Winnfield, Ruston, and nearby towns have been informed of the murder and instructed to be on the lookout for any suspicious characters. Every effort possible to secure bloodhounds is being made. Great excitement prevails and people are gathering here from every section within a radius of ten miles. Pickets are being stationed along the L & A Railroad and along the highways to intercept any stranger found in this community and make them give a good account of themselves. Mr. Chandler and his wife were both past 70 years of age, and lived alone on their little farm, where they had in years gone by laid by stores for the proverbial rainy day. It is believed that the idea that they had considerable money about the place was the motive for the crime, and whether or not they robber-murderers secured anything of value is at this time not known. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Article #2 SOURCE: Monroe News-Star, Saturday, April 11, 1914, Page 1 Column 2 JURY UNABLE TO FIX RESPONSIBILITY Calvin, La., April 10. After practically an all-night session, the coroner's jury assembled to investigate the wanton killing of Sam Chandler, aged 75 and his wife, aged 70, which has so greatly disturbed this section of Winn Parish, adjourned at 4 o'clock this morning without being able to fix responsibility for the dual tragedy. Messrs. I.A. Peters, Carl A. Raddins [Robbins], J.H. Martin, J.P. Jones and W.J. Vico constituted the coroner's jury. The inquest was conducted by Coroner J.J. Peters and about the only result achieved was to establish the fact that the aged farmer and his wife were killed with some blunt instrument, probably a club. The coroner's verdict was that Sam Chandler and his wife came to their death at the hands of unknown persons, who used a blunt instrument as a weapon. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Article #3 SOURCE: Monroe News-Star, Saturday, May 16, 1914, Page 1 Column 6; continued on Page 3, Column 6 MURDERERS OF CHANDLERS CAUGHT A special to the Shreveport Times from Winnfield says: It now begins to look as if the murderers of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Chandler, the aged couple who were slain in their home near Calvin, this parish, several weeks ago, will soon be in the toils of the law and brought to account for their dastardly crime. News reached here today that C. Jefferson, alias Will Gillens, a young negro formerly of the Calvin neighborhood had been arrested at Smithland, Texas and had confessed to the authorities that he and four other negroes were responsible for the murder. Sheriff Payne was notified of the capture and left immediately for Taylor, Ark., where the negro is being held, and upon arriving there as is stated, he found that the officers had gone to Spring Hill, La., where they had captured one of the negros implicated by Jefferson. The sheriff's deputies here have been unable to get into communication with him today, and it is not known what disposition he had made or will make of the two prisoners. It is not believed that Sheriff Payne will run the risk of placing the negroes in the Winn parish jail. The opinion is that he will carry them to Shreveport for safe-keeping. (Telegrams received at the sheriff's office yesterday addressed to Sheriff Payne, which leads the authorities here to believe that the Winn Parish sheriff is en route here with the two negroes.) ----------- Taylor, Ark., May 15 J.B. Boyett and E.F. Neeley have just returned from Smithland, Texas where they captured C. Jefferson, alias Will Gillens, who has made affidavit to being accessory to the killing of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Chandler, the old couple living at their farm home near Calvin. The negro made a statement to Mr. Neeley implicating four other negroes who will soon be apprehended. Mr. Neeley refuses to make a statement concerning what the negro told, as he is afraid that it will frustrate his plans in capturing the others. Messrs. Neely and Boyett left Taylor, Ark. On Tuesday morning and landed in Smithland, Texas. Being disguised they walked up on the negro, who passed himself as Will Gillens. Mr. Neeley pulled off his wigs and spectacles and the negro recognized him immediately and started to run, but took a wise course and put up his hands. They returned to Taylor immediately with their prisoner and reached here Thursday morning. Leaving the prisoner heavily guarded, Mr. Neeley rushed to Spring Hill, La., where he captured another one of the gang. After returning to Taylor he immediately advised J.J. Payne, sheriff of Winn Parish, who came up and took the negroes into custody. Mr. Neeley is one of the residents of Winn Parish and knew the parties that were killed. For that reason he took such an active part in the negro chase. He has been working on this case ever since he read about the old people being killed, and he has made a great success and proven himself to be a Sherlock Holmes. Messrs. Boyett and Neeley are employees of W.H. Horn of Taylor, Ark. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Article #4 SOURCE: Monroe News-Star, Thursday, May 21, 1914, Page 1 Column 6 CHANDLER MURDERERS ALL IN JAIL Winnfield, May 20.-- The sheriff's office here has succeeded in obtaining information that completes the case in the matter of the murder of Samuel Chandler and wife, on the 9th of last month, at their home near Calvin, so far as proof is concerned. While the actual facts are being kept very quiet, it is know absolutely that the man who did the killing is in custody. More than that, all parties who figured in the deplorable tragedy are in custody, but no evidence further than this will be given out at this time. Of course, it was understood that with the arrest of Seth Jefferson, the murderer had been caught, or, at least a person who knew enough about it to furnish evidence that would convict the one who actually used the iron rod that brought sudden death to the aged couple, but the case was by no means complete even in that as Jefferson claimed to have only taken a small part in the tragedy leaving it up to the officials to sift the evidence and make out the case against the guilty. But, later developments have brought out all the facts beyond a shadow of a doubt and there remains little more except the law to take its course. The sheriff's office is not going to take any risk with any of the prisoners in the Winnfield jail, and with these precautions it is practically an assured fact that there will be no trouble and that the law will prevail in handling the case to the end. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Article #5 SOURCE: Monroe News-Star, Thursday, June 25, 1914, Page 1 Column 2 WINNFIELD MOB TRIES TO GET NEGRO Sheriff Outwits Mob And Carries Negro To Alexandria Winnfield, La., June 24.-- A mob consisting of about twenty or twenty- five men, mostly of Calvin, La., and a11 heavily armed with shotguns and Winchesters, made an attempt to get possession of the negro Seth Jefferson at a late hour last night at this place. Seth Jefferson is the negro who killed the aged farmer, Sam Chandler, and his wife on the 9th of April. Sheriff Payne outwitted the mob and slipped the negro out of town to the rural districts where he spent the night with his prisoner, boarding the train this morning at Packton for Alexandria, where Jefferson was placed in jail for safe keeping. Jefferson had just been brought in by Sheriff Payne from Alexandria and the mob came as a result of the return of the negro to Winnfield. The negro has been arraigned for trail next Monday and the sheriff says if necessary the State militia will be used to give Jefferson a fair trail. His accomplice, Arthur Jones, pleaded guilty this afternoon to conspiracy to murder and was sentenced by Judge Moss to ten years in the pen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Article #6 SOURCE: Monroe News-Star, Tuesday, June 30, 1914, Page 1 Column 2 NEGRO IS TRIED, CONVICTED IN TWO HOURS Self Confessed Slayer Receives Prompt Legal Trial Winnfield, July 29 [should be June]-- Seth Jefferson, self-confessed slayer of Sam Chandler and his wife on April 9, 1913 [s/b 1914], was tried and convicted of the crime and sentenced to be hanged in one hour and fifteen minutes this morning, the entire proceedings from the selection of the jury to the passing of sentence being over at 11:55. The verdict was guilty as charged, but the date of the execution was not set by the court. Jefferson and the militia company from Ruston ordered to guard him were met at the station this morning by a large crowd, but there was no disorder of any sort. The crowds were forced back from the station and Sheriff Payne and his prisoner surrounded by the militia, who escorted them to the courthouse, where the troops remained on duty throughout the trial and until 3 this afternoon when Sheriff Payne took Jefferson and his confessed accomplice, Arthur Thomas, to Baton Rouge. Jefferson was placed on the stand as soon as the jury was completed, and told practically the same version of the affair he gave in his confession. Thomas, who confessed to being an accomplice and was sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary a few days ago, corroborated his statement in every essential detail. The only other witnesses were those who had seen Jefferson with the money for which he murdered the aged farmer and his wife. It was rumored prior to the arrival of the train bearing the Sheriff and his prisoner with their escort that a mob had formed and was in hiding in the woods near the station waiting an opportunity to overpower the guards and lynch the negro. Later developments failed to substantiate the report, and while there was considerable criticism of the military authorities in calling out the Ruston troops there was no disorder of any sort at any time during the day. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Article #7 SOURCE: Monroe News-Star, Tuesday, June 30, 1914, Page 1 Column 2; continued Column 3 RUSTON MILITIA GUARDS NEGRO Accompany Sheriff Payne And Two Negro Murderers To Winnfield The Ruston Leader says: Capt. H.A. Knowles of Company F, Louisiana State National Guard, having received orders from Adjutant General McNeese to hold his company in readiness to go to Winnfield to protect the two negroes, Seth Jefferson and Arthur Jones, self confessed murderers of an aged white man and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Chandler, at Calvin, La., some time ago, this morning left on the south bound Rock Island train with about twenty-four men for Winnfield. Last week while the negroes were confined in the Winnfield jail, a mob was formed and made an unsuccessful attempt to get them. Sheriff Payne however, managed to elude the mob and rushed his prisoners to Alexandria, where they have been confined in jail. This morning Sheriff Payne, with his two prisoners safely chained together, arrived in Ruston from Monroe en route to Winnfield, where the trial of the negroes will be begun today. Here he was joined by Capt. Knowles and Lieutenant Prince of Company E, and escorted to Winnfield. Capt. Knowles has orders to protect the negroes from mob violence at all hazards, even to the extent of using bullets, but it is thought that the appearance of the soldiers will have the effect of quieting the enraged citizens and the trial will be allowed to proceed without disturbance.