Wednesday, June 20, 2018

June 17, 1873: Martin Patterson, Orginie, and Adrien

Our lynching today comes from the New Orleans Republican dated June 18, 1873. A quick note, the New Orleans Republican is the only paper I could find that listed the names of the three lynched men.

BY TELEGRAPH.
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THE MURDER AT NEW IBERIA
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ARREST OF THE MISCREANTS
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CONFESSION OF ONE OF THEM
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THE THREE OTHERS HANGED
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[Special to the New Orleans Republican.]
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NEW IBERIA, June 17, 1873.
Messrs. L. A. and Seymour R. Snaer started this morning from town on horseback in the company with Deputy Sheriff Moss. Arriving at a point about five miles from New Iberia, and near the spot where the unfortunate Lanet and Saner were murdered, they met a large assemblage of our citizens, white and colored, among whom were our oldest and wealthiest citizens, who were assembled for the purpose of taking some determinate steps for the apprehension of the murderers of those unfortunate gentlemen.

After some preliminary arrangements in the mode of procedure, Mr. Seymour R. Snaer, attorney at law, who came here yesterday expressly to see about this case, was chosen as the prosecuting attorney.

Suspicion rested on one Policot, whose hat and shirt were found with bloody spots on them. After close examination of about a dozen winesses suspician[sic] rested on three other men, who were immediately arrested. When Policot was brought to the stand and after a close examination he fully confessed that Martin Patterson, Originie and Adrien, in connection with him, were the assassins. Although he denied having taken an active part, he confesses himself to have been an accessory before and after the fact.

He stated that this murder was planned by the above named parties a week or more before; that they came in the store fully prepared with strong sticks and a double barreled shot gun, all of which were hidden under a shed outside of the store; that they drank freely and paid for it; that one of them wanted to tell Snaer something in the ear; that as soon as Snaer bent his head he was struck by another party.

Snaer was stunned a little, but took an ax handle and returned the blow, but was too weak to effect much harm. He was repeatedly struck over the head. So was Lanet. Both of them fell, when Originie jumped over the counter and cut their throats from ear to ear, and afterward dragged them to the barroom and sprinkled coal oil over their bodies and everywhere on the bedding. After robbing the contents of the safe and all valuables, fire was set and all consumed.

At this juncture the citizens began to be uncontrollable. At least 200 revolvers were drawn, and cries of "Shoot them!" were heard everywhere in the building. Mr. L. A. Snaer protested, as the Representative of this parish, against these summary proceedings. Mr. Seymour R. Snaer, the attorney, also protested, saying that he was sure that justice would be done if the prisoners were brought before the courts. But their protestations were to no avail. Seeing this they rode off in a quick gallop, not wishing to be present at the execution.

These parties are known to be of the worst character, and many crimes and robberies were commited by them lately.

After the departure of Mr. Snaer and his brother the prisoners were taken to town, and cries of "hang them" were heard everywhere. Mr. Seymour Snaer was called for by the people, whose number was at least 1000.

Mr. Snaer appealed to the people to spare the life of Policot, because he had promised to do all he could to save his life if he would make a full confession.

After that the people took Martin, Orginie and Adrien across the bayou and hanged them to a tree. Policot's life was aved through the appeal of Mr. Snaer.
L.
This seems suspiciously like a case of rounding up the usual suspects. I don't know if the other two Snaers were related to the murdered man. If they were, then they were not impartial in prosecuting the four murderers. The fact that the other three "murderers" were lynched from Policot's confession is suspect. Much like the lynching of the Lige Strickland in the Sam Hose case in 1899.

Thank you for joining us, and as always, we hope we leave you with something to ponder.


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