Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Murder of James Baptiste


On February 2, 1886, James Baptiste and Marie Dujoe were to be wed at the Jamisen Plantation near Thibodeaux, Lousiana. What should have been a joyous occasion became a tragedy. During the wedding, the lights were suddenly extinguished, and the room would go into complete darkness. There were screams in the darkness.

When the lights were relit James was found lying on the ground dying from seven stab wounds. He would die a few minutes later. The murderer was Keziah Collins who was a former mistress of James. She had friends help turn the lights out and she was able to escape onto a steamboat called the Alice LeBlanc.

I couldn't find any articles about if she had been captured and charged for the murder.

SOURCES:

Murder by Gaslight

Clay County Sentinel Feb. 11, 1886

The Pleasanton Herald Feb 12, 1886

The Conservative Feb. 13, 1886

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