News of Interest Ouachita Parish

Oct. 10, 1825 A slander case was tried at the district court of Ouachita Louisiana on the 19th of April. Dr. Hamlin, member of the legislature versus General Hughes. The broadest range of defense was allowed the defendant and many witnesses were examined. The trial lasted 12 hours and the verdict was given of $11,000 for the plaintiff, Soon after the judgment of the court for 11,000 was recorded Dr. Hamlin the plaintiff came into the court and voluntarily recorded satisfaction for the whole amount, without having received any part of it, observing that he did not sue because he wanted Gen Hughes money, but to protect an injured reputation. That object being obtained by the verdict of the jury, he would receive none of the money. New Hampshire Patriot &State Paper

We have received a letter dated Monroe Louisiana giving an account of the trial and acquittal of Sterling, for the murder of Gen. Morgan. There are several circumstances connected with this trial, that render the worthy report of its perusal. It exhibits remarkable evidence of the licentious and unhallowed influence of prejudice upon the minds of jury men. Here is a clear case, clearly made out and proven. Morhouse engages with Morgan in a personal encounter in the public street, near his own office. His brother n law Sterling standing inside of the office and not an immediate participator in the affray, discharges a pistol at Morgan, and kills him. He is tried for murder, Morhouse is admitted as a witness, and Sterling acquitted. Gen Morgan was elected as Senator of Louisiana, in opposition of Morhouse and their quarrel and its awful consequence was the result of embittered feeling growing out of uncurbed passions and roused into actions by jealous and unsuccessful political rivalry. Baltimore Patriot Jan 24, 1831

On the eleventh instant difficulty occurred between two men named Simms and Arthur, near the Guyton Church in Ouachita Parish, La which resulted in the death of Arthur. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Simms Date: April 24, 1869 Memphis Daily Avalanche

The Southern Floods. NEW ORLEANS, May 7, 1874.—The Governor and_ Relief Committee ' receive letters daily from the overflowed parishes giving details of the condition, of the inhabitants. Recent letters from Catahoula, Caldwell, Concordia, Franklin, Ouachita, Rapides and Tensas parishes show no improvement, but indicate additional affliction by sickness. From the great mass of the correspondence the following is selected as showing substantially the purport of the whole. Mr. Redditt, writing from Cuba, Ouachita Parish, says: The country for miles around is submerged and 12 farms are almost entirely under water within three miles of this place, with a population of 700 persons, from the breaking of the Cuba levee. The levee broke . on April 8th, and the current of water was so strong that it washed away everything on my lot except my dwelling-house and storehouse. My corn, horses "and oxen are all gone. The water in my dwelling is four feet deep and .rushes through in such a current as to make it tremble like a leaf. But look not to me alone; there are 600 or 700 others similarly situated within. three miles. W. J. Ellis has lost everything. The water on the floor of his dwelling is five feet deep, and he has not one pound of provisions on hand for himself and 15 freedmen and no chances of getting any in the neighborhood. Dr. R. C. Burch, writing from Boscobel Plantation, Ouachita Parish, says there are 3,000 people within the limits of his practice, many of whom are suffering from sickness caused by exposure on account of the overflow. He is unable to supply the demand for medicines, and asks that, medicine be forwarded, offering to distribute is to the sick and suffering.

A special from Coushatta to the Bulletin says a man by the name J. R. Strother, a Republican, has been arrested as the supposed party who attempted to assassinate Webster, Clerk of the District Court. The Acting Governor today issued a proclamation, offering $5000 reward for the arrest of the assassin of Dr. Dinkgrave, Tax Collector of Ouachita parish, and $1000 for the arrest of the assassin who attempted the life of Webster,. Clerk of the Court of Red River Parish. Sept 8, 1876 Galveston News

While on his way to dinner, one day last week. Dr. B. A. Dinkgrave, formerly Sheriff of Ouachita parish. La., was shot by some unknown miscreant. The killing is generally set down as the result of an old feud, the Doctor having, some six years since, in self-defense, killed a man named Wimberly, who had many friends. Sept 9, 1876 Palo Alto Reporter.

While Resisting Arrest He Received a Mortal Wound. New Orleans, Aug. 10. 1897—Ex-Secretary of State Will A. Strong, who is now serving in Ouachita parish as a deputy sheriff, shot and mortally wounded A. B. Cook on the streets of Monroe. Cook is a fugitive from justice, wanted in Grant parish for burglary. Strong arrested Cook at the Orleans hotel and took him to the sidewalk and read the warrant to him. Cook instantly shoved the officer from him and made a dash for liberty. Strong ran him for two squares, firing all the time, and finally brought down his man. Cook had recently escaped from the sheriff in Grant parish in the same manner as he tried this time, and had been shot by the sheriff two inches below the place where he was fatally shot by Strong. The Daily Herald Ohio

A Murderer Arrested. Marshall, March 22, 1884 Milliken, the alleged accomplice of Clark, the man arrested a few days ago, charged with murdering old farmer Rogers and wife at Ouachita parish, La., was captured on the train here today by W. J. Rogers, a son of the aged victims. Young Rogers attempted to kill Milliken, but was prevented by the arrival of officers Reno Weekly Gazette

Mayor Arnold Bernstein, 63, of Monroe died suddenly from a heart attack at his residence at his home Tuesday. He was Mayor for the last nineteen years. Dec 22, 1937 Dallas Morning News