St. Landry clarion., April 25, 1914, Image 1

About St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921

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w.. ThE Sd+ LAND IY ELAMR . IGN'
"Here Shall The Press The People's Rights Maintain, Unawed by Influence and Unbribed by Cain."
VOLUME XXIV-NO. 28. OPELOUSAS, LA., SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1914. $1.00 PER YEAR
EUNICE BOYS CAPTURE
FIRST PRIZE AliAIN
Athletic Meet On Last Sat
urday Proves Successful
Weather Was Bad.
The Eunice high school boys,
accompanied by scores of rooters
and admirers journeyed to Opel
oasas on Saturday and once more
captured the first prize of the
Parish Athletic Meet.
The field meet was attended by
only a few people of Opelousas,
but considering the inclement
weather a representative crowd
was present. The Eunice boys
proved to be a little too strong
for their opponents and easily
carried off the laurels of the day.
The literary program was ex
cellent and interested spectators
remained in the school auditorium
until eleven o'clock Saturday
night cheering their favorites
to victory.
Following are the track events
and winners of each event:
50 yard dash, Dana Jenkins,
Eunice; F. L Bailey, Washing
ton; Arthur Thompson, Opel
ousas.
100 yard dash Dana Jenkins,
F. L Bailey and Arthur Thomp
son.
220 yard dash, Dana Jenkins,
F. L Bailey, and Clinton Morn
hinveg, Opelousas.
440 yard dash, Dana Jenkins,
David Thistlethwaite, Washing
ton, and Willie Moreau, Opel
ousas.
One mile, Albert Putnam, Eu
nice; Lane Gibson, Washington,
and Albert Clary, Opelousas.
Half mile, Foster Tate.
Relay, Dana Jenkins, Willie
Reed. Foster Tate, Guy Burleigh
and Steve Guillory, Eunice, first;
Willie Moreau, Arthur Thompson
Albert Clary and Raymond
Richard, Opelousas, second.
120 yards high hurdles, Willie
Read, Eunice; F. L Bailey and
Arthur Thompson.
220 yard low hurdles, Willie
Read, F.L Bailey and Arthur
Thompson.
High jump, Arthur Thompson,
Willie Read and Adolph Carriere,
Washington.
Pole Vault, Willie Moreay,
Guy Burleigh and Adolph Car
rire.
Shot Put, Frank Savoy, Eu
nice; Lumay Meyeaux, Washing
ton; and Adolph Lafleur, Grand
Prairie.
Discus, Adolph Lafleur, Willie
Read and F. L. Bailey.
Tennis, Edward Estorge and
Howard Voorhies, Opelousas,
first; Frank Savoy and Guy Bur
leigh, Eunice, second.
Opelousas scored 36 points in
literary contests, being awarded
the pennant. Eunice was second
with 32 points and Washington
13.
The total points of each team
were: Eunice 96, Opelousas 58
and Washington 46.
Medals were awarded to Dana
Jenkins, as the best athlete, F.
L. Bailey as second best and
Willie Read as third.
Clifford Edwards Has A
Visitor.
The home of Mrs. Dan Ed
wards was all quiet in the latter
part of the night, Monday, when
a step was heard in the next
room. Mrs. Edwards heard the
man when he turned on the
light and thinking that it was
her son Clifford she asked him if
it were Clifford. However the
man in the room, who came in
boldly smoking a cigarette, did
not answer and nothing more
was thought of the incident, un
til at the breakfast table Tues
day.
Mrs. Edwards asked her sons
who had come into the room for
a short while and then left.
Neither answered and when
Clifford ran his hands down his
pockets he discovered that the
several dollars he had in them
the night before were all gone.
Luckily however his watch was
not stolen.
Some People Are Cheeky.
An unknown man attempted
to make his way into the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Castille,
on Monday night, where Miss
Lucille Castille, was entertaining
a number of her friends.
The man was told to go back
to town, but he said that he had
just as much business there as
anyone and would get in. How
ever when it was seen that he
would not depart the police de
Ipartment was called and Officer
Goodloe escorted the stranger to
the city court.
BDI INITIATION WAS
HELD IN LAFAYETTE
Opelousas Team Works Suc
cessfully On Large Class
of Candidates.
The local Knights of Colum
bus were invited to attend an in
itiation at Lafayette on Sunday
evening and the Opelousas de
gree teams were summoned to
that little city.
About fifteen to twenty seized
the opportunity to go to the in
itiation. The Opelousas degree
team put on the best work in
Lafayette, on Sunday evening,
since the organization of the;
lodge.
Opelousas has the reputation all
over Louisiana and Mississippi as
being the best initiating team in
the state. The local Knights
have the distinction of initiating
more members of the Knights of
Columbus than any other de
gree team either in Mississippi
or Louisiana.
After the initiatory work the
Opelousas members remained in
Lafayette for a dance and a
smoker which followed; of
course no one was worried about
coming back, until investigations
were begun. The men who
were to attend to having the
team sent back left for their
homes and the boys remained in
Lafayette until two o'clock wait
ing for automobiles from Opelou
say to come back home. Prob
ably that was the reason that so
many were looking so badly on
Monday morning-it was not the
initiation which caused it.
The Opelousas team made
many more friends in Lafay
ette, lasting friends who will
never forget them and the ma
jority of the new members have
stated that they would 'be pres
ent at the next initiation put on
by the Opelousas degree team,
no matter in what section of the
state the ceremony might take
place.
LOCAL INIGHTS WILL
li0 TO LAKE CHARLES
Opelousas Council Accepts
Invitation To Attend Lake
Charles Initiation.
The local council of Knights of
Columbus has been invited to
attend a grand initiation at Lake
Charles on next Sunday and it is
expected that a large delegation
from Opelousas, Washington and
Sunset, will avail themselves of
the opportunity to witness the
initiatory work put on several
candidates.
A special coach, for Knights
and their lady friends only, will
be attached to the excursion
which will run between Wash
ington and intermediate points to
Beaumont, Texas.
As initiations always bring
crowds, it is thought that several
hundred Knights of Columbus
from various sections of South
west Louisiana will be at Lake
Charles on Sunday.
The Opelousas lodge has al
ways been recognized as one of
the most important in the state,
and whenever there is an initia
tion in this territory it is always
extended a special invitation to
attend.
The Grand Knight, State Dep
uty, and nearly all of the officers
of the local lodge, besides several
members, are anticipating the
trip to Lake Charles, as they
have always been treated gor
geously by their brother Knights
in the Southwestern metropo
lis.
The excursion train will leave
this city between 5:00 and 5:30
o'clock Sunday morning, April
26.
Arcade Entrance to Prin'
cess Theatre.
Mr. W. F. Nolan is having arn
arcade entrance to his moving
picture constructed and it is be
lieved that in the next few days
it will be completed.
The entrance will be made
from Landry street to Princess
Theatre. Moving picture goers
will have two entrances now in
stead of one.
The new entrance which is
next to Shute's drugstore will
be very attractive and beautiful.
Soft drinks will be served under
the arcade and Mr. Nolan ex
pects to make it a very popular.
place.
JURY TO BE GIVEN
CASE BY TO-NIGH T
The Fate of William C. Walters Will Soon Rest In The
Hands of The Twelve Jurymen-Arguments Were
Started This Evening-Verdict Not Expected
Until Monday Morning.
The fate of William C. Wal
ters, itinerant tinker, who is
accused of kidnapping little
Bobbie Dunbar of this city, will
soon rest solely in the hands of
the twelve jurymen, who will
render a verdict either late to
night or early Monday morn
ing.
After Dr. F. C. Shute testified
the state closed its case and the
court adjourned until three
o'clock so as to allow the attor
neys of both sides to prepare
their arguments. It is not known
how long the arguments will last
but it is supposed that each at
torney will be allow one hour in
which to discuss this mysterious
problem.
The accused is not afraid of
the verdict. He stated on Sat
urday morning that no matter
how the verdict, whether he
would be convicted or acquitted,
he would take the virdict as a
man. He is confident, however,
that in case he is convicted he
will be able to get a new trial
from the Louisiana Supreme
Court.
It is the consensus of opinion
that the verdict will be either a
conviction or a mistrial, the lat
ter is apt to be the one decided
upon the jury.
This case is telling upon the
attorneys and the court officials,
all seem to be worn out and a
general satisfaction existed when
the State closed its case against
the alleged kidnapper of little
Bobbie Dunbar.
On Monday North Carolina,
Georgia and Mississippiwitnesses
attempted to prove an alibi for
the accused. The North Caro
lina witness testified to remem
bering when Walters left that
state, in February, 1912, with
Julia Anderson's chili, whom
she had named Bruce.
The defense on Tuesday still
attempted to prove that Walters
wis not in the neighborhood of
Swayze lake at the time that
Bobbie Dunbar was lost, wit
nesses from Mississippi testified
of seeing William C. Walters
with the same little child, whom
the Dunbars claim as their son.
From the latter part of July un
til after Christmas, 1912. J. T.
Thigpen testified that William C.
Walters was at his home on the
23rd of August, 1912, with the
boy, whom the people of Opelou
sas are positive is Bobbie Dun
bar. Other witnesses testified
that Walters was in and around
their neighborhood in Pearl Riv
er country from July, 1912, until
he was arrested at Hub, Miss.,
charged with having kidnapped
Bobbie Dunbar.
On Wednesday the defense
produced evidence tending to
prove that Walters had, never
been in McComb City, Miss., on
on the night of thel18th of De-~
cember, when, it was claimed by
state witnesses, the accused had
passed off as a secret service
man on his way to Opelousas
with the Dunbar child and would
Ireturn with the $6,000 reward.
Other witnesses testified thatthe
child now with the Dunbars is
the same who was with Walters
at the Thigpen home on the
night that Bobbie Dunbar was
lost, as well as several weeks be
fore the 23rd of August, 1913.
On Thursday local people,
prominent in the social and busi
ness world, testified that they
jconscientiously did not believe
that the little child in question
is Bobbie Dunbar, the same they
were in the custom of knowing
so well before he mysteriously
disappeared from Swayze lake,
on August 2md.
After this testimony was pro
duced the state began its re
buttal.
After consuming practically
the entire morning session in ar
guing over an objection of the
defense to allowing M. A. Cow
art, of Baxterville, a stockman,
who claims that Bobbie Dunbar
revealed his identity to him,
whilst Walters was working in
his yard, the rebuttal was re
sumed, when Judge Pavy sus- I
tained the defense's objection.
Miss Olympia Laas, who keeps
a boarding house, on Union
street, testified that Julia An
derson had told her, when the
North Carplina woman was here
for the identification test last
summer, that she was warned to
claim the child as hers, whether
the little fellow was Bruce or
not, if she cared to go back to
North Carolina again. She
claims that the woman told her
the next morning that the little
fellow was Bruce Anderson.
Mr. Dale, main attorney for
the defense took the stand after
Miss Lass and testified that it ap
peared to him that the letter
which was found in Walters' pos
session at the time of his arrest
at Hub, Miss., and addressed to
Julia Anderson had been tamper
ed with. Mr. Dale said that as
soon as the letter was produced
as evidence he had gone to the
Lacombe Hotel with it, when a
newspaper reporter asked him to
let him have the letter so that a
photograph could be made of it.
When he next saw the letter it
appeared as though the date had
been changed.
W. W. Pigford, local agent of
the Southern Pacific, was called
on the stand and he testified that
he was at the Lass boarding ta
ble when Julia Anderson said
that she had been told to claim
the child now with the Dunbars
as hers, whether it was Bruce or
not. North Carolina men warn
ed her to do so, regardless of
consequences. He also stated
that the woman had said that
she had been treated very nice
ly at the Lewis home,
D. C. Bennett, a Methodist
preacher from DeRidddr, who
arrived on Friday evening, testi
fied that at the time he was liv
ing at Longville, about the first
of June, Wm. C. Walters appear
ed at his side gate and asked him
for work on his stove. He stat
ed that he had spoken to the ac
cused and that be had also seen
Walters' brother, whom Walters
had claimed had come from Mis
sissippi to help in his work. He
claims that the two men looked
very much alike and that they
were about the same age. On
the wagon, which he could see
at a distance was written "W.C.
Walters, stove repairer." When
asked which one of the two limp
ed, Mr. Bennet said that the tall
er, meaning the accused's broth
er. He admitted that he was a
voluntary witness, having writ
ten to Mr. Dunbar on the previ
ous day that he would offer his
services as a witness in this case.
He also admitted that it could be
possible that he could be mistak
Ien in the identity of the men,
although he was almost sure that
it was the accused he saw in the
begging of June, 1912.
J. H. Wymnberry, of DeRid
der, another preacher, claims to
have seen the accused at .his
home during the latter part of
June, 1912. He saw the two
Walters brothers, but claims that
the accused is the one who spoke
to him about fixing his
stove. He stated that W. C.
Walters spoke to him for three
quarters of an hour and that he
is positive it is the same man
who now stands accused of kid
naping little Robbie Dunbar of
this city. He described the two
men, as being about the same
age, having similar hair and
moustache, but the brother of
the accused was` the taller of the
two and Wm. C. Walters limped.
H. C. Scarborough, another
witness from DeRidder, testified
that he remembers Walters as
being the same man who spoke
to Mr. Bennet at Longville, in
June, 1912. This witness also
stated that he had seen these
cused and his brother at his
home near Forrest Hill, La. a
short while after he saw Walters
in Longville. He claims that the
name of the tinker was written
on the buggy. He could not re
cognize the accused, neither by
his eyes nor his voice.
0. L Mason, justice of the
peace of the town of Merriville,
testified that he saw Walters in
May, 1912, during the famous
Grabow riot. This witness, how
ever, could not state whether
there were two men in the party.
He also saw Walters name on the
wagon.
Mrs. M. Sloane of New Roads,
claims to have seen Wm. C. Wal
ters and another man, with a
child of about 6 or 7 years of age
at New Roads in January, 1912,
at the same time that the accus
ed was supposed to have been in
North Carolina. The men stop
ped at her house. She claims to
know Bobbie Dunbar and testi
fled that the child whom Walters
had at that time does not resem
ble the Dunbar child whatever.
The witness became angry when
the defense attorneys put her
through a severe test of cross
examination. However she still
persisted in saying that she was
positive about the man and the
time she saw him.
Dr. Lawrence Daly, a practis
ing physician of Bellevue, testi
fled that he has had experience
with severe burns and claims
that a burn under proper treat
ment will not cause a permanent
scar. He gave as an example
one of his patients, Sam Walker,
caused by gasoline explosion and
whose hand has very few signs
of a scar. It has been the doc
tor's experience that medical at
tention would act better and
quicker on children than on
adults.
Archie Dunbar, an uncle of
the child testified that the child1
new at the home of his brother
cannot say grace. He tried to
say grace. He tried to have
the child say grace and never
was successful.
Dr. R. fM. Littell, testifled thatj
there was nothing abnormal
about Bobbie Dunbar's foot
when he was born, but he had
not examined it since the burn
and could not tell whether or not
it was deformed after it was
burned.
Dr. F. C. Shute had the dis
Itinction of being the last witness
BISHOP [AVAL WILL
BE HERE NEXT MONTH
Confirmation Will Be Held
On May 3rd-Lawtell
Church to Be Blessed.
His Lordship Bishop Laval, of
New Orleans, will be in Opel
ousas on May 3rd to give confir- I
mation to several Catholic chil- I
dren of this parish. On May 5th c
his lordship will go to Lawtell, 4
accompanied by Father Enger- i
brink of this city, where they
will bless the Catholic Church.
Father Engerbrink is training 4
the children to receive the holy
sacrement and instructions are 4
held every Sunday morning, after I
High Mass, and every Thursday
evening at 3 o'clock in French I
and English.
The local pastor expects to
have First Communion Day in I
the latter part of next month, or I
beginning of . June. For that I
purpose he is instructing the 1
children in French and English, I
every Sunday morning, imme-'
diately after High Mass, and on i
Wednesday evening he ves I
English, Instructions, w-h 11st 4
on .Friday he attends to the I
French speaking children.
Oakland Cars Come O r.
land from N. O. to
Opelousas.
The Bird Motor Car Company,
of New Orleans, through its
salesman, Mr. W. M. Brand, de
livered last week to Mr E. M. I
Boagni, capitalist of this city,
two Oakland cars, nee a 6 cylin
der, 62 Hp. 7 passernger car and
the other a 4 cylinder, 36 Hp. I
runabout, he also delivered one
Model 6 cylinder 48Hp. 8passen
ger to Mr. Pierre Mistriet, an
other of our 'capitalist, and a
Model 4 cylinder, 42 Hp. 5pysa
senger touring car to Mr. F. J.
Dietlein, one of our progressive
'ewelere. Dr. J. Brown of
Washingtn, purchased ; 4 eyl,
index, 42 p'. 5 passeng!r touo
ing car, which wass delivered
with the other cats.
The Oaklapd cars are very
pretty in design and are ap
parently built for comfort and
the fact that so many of them
have been sold is a good sign
that' the cars are making good.
Mr. Brand says he will in
town all of this week and ex
pects to return shortly with a
half dozen more cars for our
city.
Opelousas is certainly push
ing forward with the motor car
transportation, its good roads
and paved streets; motoring in
and around our city has become
very popular and we expect to
see many more automobile buy
ers join the present army.
The Oakland cars left New
Orleans on Easter Sunday, April
12th, went by road to Baton
Rouge, arriving at Baton Rouge
in the afternoon, making the
trip in five hours. The cars were
ferried across to Port Allen on
Monday afternoon and went by
road to New Roads, from there
to Siinsport, and were ferried
across the Atchafalays, and
from Simsport went by road to
Bunkie, and arrived in Opelou
sas Tuesday night, the milage
covered by roadway was two
hundred and ninety-five miles.
Weather conditions were not
favorable owing to excessive
rains, but the time made on the
trip showed that the cars are
built for mud as well as paved
streets.
Miss Gertrude Simpson, a pop
ular school teacher of Sunset.
spent Friday and Saturday in
this city, returning on Sunday.
Miss Rowena Delahoussye, of
Lafayette, is here on a visit to
friends.
in this famous kidnaping case.
Dr. Shute testified that he treat
ed Bobbie Dunbar when he was
severely burnt on the floor, when
a little tot and that he examined
Bobbie upon his arrival here and
did not perform any operation.
After hearing this testimony the
Istate closed its case and the
Leourt adjourned until three
o'clock Saturday evening.
I ;~The regrularannual meeting
[~JI8of the Stockholders of the
Jacobs News Depot Co.,
will be held at the office of the com
pany on Monday, May 11th, 1914, be
ltween the hours of 4 and 5 p. m., for
1the purpose of electing a board of Iii
rectors to serve for the ensuing year.
AARON JACOBS, President.
*~J. F. DEZAUCHLE, Secretary.
Sapr 4-3t
HARD JOB ANFAD OF
NEW CIIT COKIA
Various Appointed Positions
To Be Dished Out At First
Meeting In May.
When the new council will or
ganize next month it will have a
hard job distributing jobs to
their faithful friends. Fr every
appointive position there are seW
eral prominent physicians see.
ing appointment.
It is a pleasure whichanqffcpr
elected by the people mnt
dread, because it matters uad
whom he appoints he will caise
discord in his political rank and
file.
The last political campain
this city was carried on so
terly, that practically every
zen in Opelousas took
the fight. -Generail whc n
fights fora man andh 1iesI
ted something is f .,'
the successful te Ti
time -however there are
who think that they sheool b
appointed because th fa
hard for the su
dates for mayor and meb*¶K
the board of alderen.
It is however, gratiftyie
the citizens who have t t
eat of this ommunity at ht
to learn that the city oou =wI
appoint the men who are'
suited for the positi aui
on account of political m aflt
It is admitted that there wilt e
some changes made, but
council proposes to give . -
positions to the men who Pi
qualified to hold down the jb~*
if it is possile, of "coursethe
who voted for the successful~
pirants for the municipal~a "
will get~their, share, if they s
suited for the places..
MEETNi -L¶EUSSE5
INSURANCE LA
Fire Preventien eau r
Attend to Ha airdete
Lowered in Citya
A conference was isfld
Tuesday night at the Mate
office, betwE#n the if
committee; of ciiesazi4+
Sol Blocdworth. head ofth
isiana State Fire Prevention
reau. This meeting Was for
purpose of 'discussing the p~s
reducing the present Are king:
ance rates and to have
sas placed into the secodl
cities instead of the third c
Mr. Bloodworth assured the `
meeting that the Fire Preveptiok
Bureau would have the rate
duced at least twenty per
on the present fire i
premiums, if the city would
certain improvements.
A representative of the Burwa,
willibe seat to Opelonsas in th
ver near future to look over the
field an invetigte what
with the second classd cties of'
Louisiana.
Mr. Bloodworth stated at tJlg
Tuesday nig ht conference that
the cost of the improvemeste
needed to have Opelousas pa~
in the column of second se
cities would not exceed $I10O
In order that the insuranse
rate can be reduced at least- ~Ig
per cent Opelousas will Jiave to
install the modern fire alavea
system, which it has already con*
tracted for, besides extending
the water mains and purchasi*sg
an automobile fire truck as weBI
as organizing a second fire do- K
partment.
Many claim that the automo
bile truck is not absolutely nec
essary, but Mr. Bloodworthi ad
vised the committee that it would
be much better for the safety of
Opelousas, if the fire department
owned an satomobile truck, au
the scene of fire could be quickly
reached then.
A Card.
We desire to extend our heart.
felt thanks to our friends in Eu<
nice for the many kindnesses
shown to our children during the
recent illness of our son-in-law,
Leon Hines. The kindness did
much to alleviate the suffering
and hardship of a serious illness
and our hearts are full of grati
tude to our friends.
MR. AND MRS9. R. M. MIL
STED. ap 251t
Mr. Lawrence 0. Barry, of
Grand Coteau, was the guest at
relatives in this city on Monday. '