WHOLESALE ARREST ON SERIOUS CHARGE

Crowley Signal October 17, 1903

Fifteen young Creoles residing in the vicinity of Eunice and Iota arrived here Wednesday in custody of Deputy Sheriff A.D. LeBlanc, who had been gone since Monday morning, locating and arresting them, Theodule Roy, a brother of Arthur Roy who was stabbed and killed at a ball in that section on Saturday, October 3, having sworn out an affidavit, charging them with being accessory to the killing.

Mr. LeBlanc, assisted by Chas Brown, a farmer of that section, arrived here Wednesday with his prisoners, all of whom were typical French-speaking country people, and they represented an unusual sight as they crowded about the jail door, talking with Doreslies Fruge, the young man who admits to having killed Roy. It is not believed that the charge against will hold good, but it will have to be answered nevertheless. Hon. P.S. Pugh has been retained for the defense of these cases as well as for that of Fruge, and left for Lafayette Wednesday to make application for bail before Judge Deballion on behalf of the men charged with being accessory before and after the fact being a capital offense, it was deemed probable that this should have some bearing in the influencing the Judges opinion as to the propriety of admitting the prisoners to bail.

The names of the prisoners are:

Michel Richard
Alcee Richard
Lawrence Ardoin
Eras Ardoin
Deuse Ardoin
Arthur Ardoin
Evan Ardoin
Leveime Brown
Mac Brown
Theogene Ortego
Louis Sonnier
Gabriel Fournerat
Romain Fournerat
Noah Fournearat
Gerard Miller

They were also accompanied by several relatives and friends, but seemed not to be the least concerned about their fate. Noah Fournerat is but a lad, being apparently aged no more than about fourteen years. When he was arrested Mr. LeBlanc asked him whether he was not afraid, and the youngster replied, Ah no; you could not frighten me. Maybe if I was to see the rope about my neck I might tremble a little bit, but I would not be afraid. At the jail Wednesday he was eating cakes and inspecting the premises as though he enjoyed the prospect of making them his domicile for some time.

Fruges stepfather, Jesse Young, was also among the crowd. He is anxious to have his stepson released on bond, but has not yet succeeded. He is a sturdy farmer, held in high esteem in his neighborhood.

RELEASED ON BAIL

Crowley Signal October 17, 1903

The fifteen young Creoles arrested Monday and Tuesday for complicity in the killing of Athur Roy at a ball near Eunice were released from custody Wednesday afternoon, furnishing bond in the sum of $1000 each to appear for trial.

As soon as the prisoners were brought to the parish jail Wednesday morning, they retained Hon. P.S. Pugh as their attorney. Having looked over the charge against them, Mr. Pugh left for Lafayette to make application for bond for his clients. Judge Debaillon fixed the amount of bail at $1000 each, an aggregate of $15,000, and bondsmen for this amount were readily found by the prisoners among their friends and relatives from their section of the country. They are all rice farmers, the majority of them owning their own tracts of land, and are good for several times that amount. As soon as they were told they were at liberty, the young men left town for their homes in the vicinity of Eunice and Iota.