Obituaries: Phillip Trahan, 1954, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: February 18, 1954 Winn Parish Enterprise

Brother of T & G Manager Slain In Bank Robbery

Funeral services are scheduled tomorrow, Friday, at 9 a.m. for Phillip Trahan,
51, brother of Ovey Trahan of Winnfield.  Mr. Trahan, a bank employee at
Maurice, La., was killed Wednesday by a bandit who robbed the bank for which
he worked.

Services will be at Maurice.  The body is at First National Funeral Home in
Lafayette until the time for services.  Mr. and Mrs. Trahan left Wednesday
night to attend.

Ovey Trahan, general manager of Tremont and Gulf Railways here, was notified
of his brother's death shortly after it occurred, by Dr. Joel T. Fletcher,
president of SLI in Lafayette.  Dr. Fletcher, a friend of the Trahan family,
happened to be passing through Maurice, near Lafayette, shortly after the
robbery and shootings occurred.  He inquired as to the cause of the scene
around the bank and notified Mr. Trahan here immediately upon finding out.

Daily newspaper reports stated that Phillip Trahan was shot to death by the
robber, identified as Kenneth C. Holdcraft, when he entered the bank. 
Holdcraft was in the bank, scuffling with president, Dr. J. A. Willion, at
gunpoint, when Mr. Trahan entered.  Dr. Villion had grabbed the robber's gun
and the two were tussling.  The robber pulled a second gun when Mr. Trahan
entered and shot him fatally.  He then shot and wounded Dr. Villion and
escaped with about $15,000.  The holdup occurred about 11 a.m.

The holdup man was shot to death by State Police, who chased him into a cow
pasture when he fled the scene.  About $30,000 was found in his getaway car,
indicating he had been in other robberies, recently.  The man was an employee
of a loan company in Lafayette, and a former LSU law student.

Trahan Former T & G Employee

The brother of the local man was a former employee of the Tremont and Gulf
Railwas here.  He worked as a clerk in the accounting department during 1917-
18.

He is survived by his widow, five daughters, four brothers, John of Maurice,
Gus of Lafayette, Ovey of Winnfield, Ben of Morgan City; and two sisters.