February 24, 1927

A Tragedy

A tragic ending to a dance occurred near Cloutierville Saturday night, when Mr. Fred Delacerda was stabbed to death, and H. C. Phillips, R. S. Hailey, and V. Fletcher are in jail charged with being accessories to his murder.

The unfortunate young man, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Delacerda, old residents of Ward 10, wsa in the U. S. Navy and happened to be paying his first visit to home folks in several years, and wehn the man, in whose home the dance was taking place, stopped the music as several late arrivals entered whom he feared would stir up trouble, which they did, Mr. Delacerda stepped froward and urged that the presence of ladies demand better behavior, where upon, it is reported, without further provocation, the three men, who were drinking, pulled their knives and fell upon the unfortunate would-be peace maker and stabbed to death.

The authorities were instantly summoned from town, the assailants captured and brought to town, where, after a preliminary examination, they were remanded to jail to await trial for murder.

H. C. Phillips was hanged in a Natchitoches jail, and Fletcher was shot by the Rangers three years later.