Ramsey Plantation

An old postal map dating back to the 1800s revealed there was once a community named Ramsey situated some five miles south of Abbeville along the Vermilion River.
It was named for James R. Ramsey, apparently a well-respected medical doctor. Warren Perrin, the well-known Cajun lawyer from the hamlet of Henry, said the property was once owned by a wealthy land owner and sugarcane grower named George Greig, who at the time owned 1,000 slaves. Greig built a sturdy two-story house in 1807. The old home was surrounded by some of the largest oak trees around. The old man was reported to be mean as a snake. It was rumored that George Greig’s slaves killed him and ran away. Greig had no heirs, which meant without heirs, the property went to the state of Louisiana. Perrin said, “Aristide Broussard, my great grandfather, purchased the property in 1930, and called it Turkey Island.” The old home was moved to the Buteaud land, south of where it was originally built, and where it still stands today [May 2021] nestled among the giant moss draped oaks. “It weathered numerous hurricanes over the years and so it’s in a state of disrepair,” said Perrin.
Ramsey was also the site of a killing that took place in late September 1893. The Abbeville Meridional of Saturday, September 30, 1893, titled: “The Killing of Ford” reported that Martin Bagley, an Irishman and one of the largest sugarcane growers in Vermilion Parish, reportedly shot and killed John Ford with a pistol shot to the head. Ford was said to be from Texas and had been in the parish for about 10 days and was employed as engineer on the steamer Mary Rose. After the pistol shot, Bagley went to Abbeville and turned himself in to Deputy Sheriff George E. Lyons.
Coroner Abshire and District Attorney Gordy went to the scene of the murder. A jury composed of George Delano, Ophelias Bourque, Hunter Ramsey, Adam Brasseaux, and Elias Broussard also went to investigate, which was continued the following Monday morning. Martin Bagley was placed in jail awaiting his preliminary examination. According to the newspaper article, Bagley claimed to have shot in self-defense. He hired an attorney in preparation of his hearing.
A Saint Landry Clarion article titled: “News and Comments” of October 28, 1893, reported that “Martin Bagley, a wealthy sugar planter of Vermilion Parish, who killed John Ford on September 24, was denied bail last week.” The Meridional of Saturday, October 21, 1893, titled: “Bagley Denied Bail” was hoping to give their readers the sworn testimony of all the pertinent witnesses. However, the preliminary inquiry of Martin Bagley was said to be too extensive. It was “nearly 100 pages of closely written legal cap.” To condense it would not do the story justice it said. Bagley soon saw how ugly things began to turn when the honorable Judge A. C. Allen of the 17th Judicial District denied bail. The paper reported the evidence in the case was concluded on October 8, 1893. Judge A. C. Allen said, “After a full, just and fair application of the facts and circumstances of the case, to this law, I am forced to conclude that Martin Bagley should not be admitted bail.” And just like that Bagley’s application for bail was denied and he was remanded to the parish jail.
A vicious rumor began circulating that said Martin Bagley was allowed to sleep in his own bedroom each night at Ramsey Plantation. If it was intended as humor, it missed its mark—no one was laughing, especially not Martin Bagley. However, it had created its desired effect. The rumor began to gain traction. The more it was repeated, the more infuriated the community became, which further divided the area. Fear is a great motivator of change. Bagley wasted no time in hiring Joseph A. Chargois, a noted defense attorney from Abbeville. If Bagley thought the case was turning ugly, it was fixing to get a lot worse.
On December 2, 1893, an ad in The Meridional titled: “$50 Reward $50” paid for by then Sheriff Alphonse L. LeBlanc, who offered $50 to “whomever will bring me sufficient proof to locate the slanderer.” It was the sheriff’s crowning moment. Back then fifty dollars was considered a large sum of money. That same $50 would be worth $1,050 today in 2021. The ad ran for several weeks, but there were no takers. In the same newspaper as above there was another article titled: “Special Notice” undersigned by P. L. Terrier, who informed the public that he was now in charge of “the financial portion of the business of Martin Bagley, agent, for both Ramsey and Lyons Plantation in all transactions that may take place from this date.” Terrier also had power of attorney for purchasing sugarcane for the aforementioned factories on the two plantations during grinding season of 1893.
On December 16, 1893, a lengthy article appeared in The Meridional titled: “The Bailing of Bagley” which stated in part “as is well known to the public, Martin Bagley has been confined in our parish jail since September 24, 1893, to answer to the charge of having murdered John Ford.” The article continued by saying in early October 1893, Bagley was denied bail by Judge Allen. Since that time Bagley became ill during his imprisonment. He again applied for bail on the grounds of being “dangerously ill and likely to die or have his health permanently impaired.” The newspaper published Dr. F. F. Young’s petition of December 6, 1893. Dr. Young wanted to certify that he was the attending physician of Martin Bagley, and that his patient was seriously ill with “acute inflammation of hepatitis of the liver and perityphlitis.
The jail where Bagley was confined was apparently kept terribly unsanitary. Dr. F. F. Young explained that his patient needed “proper nursing care with sanitary surroundings,” which in his estimation, regarding Bagley’s medical condition would take several months to improve. His professional belief was if his patient was not given proper medical care, he would in all likelihood perish from his illness. Judge Allen was caught in the middle. He was not wanting to show favoritism to one of Vermilion’s largest sugarcane growers. Bagley was examined by several physicians and each one was interviewed separately by Judge Allen.
The physicians were: F. F. Young M.D., W. D. White M.D., J.T. Abshire M.D. & Coroner; and by Robt. J. Young, M.D. The article indicated that each physician after examining Martin Bagley had determined that continued confinement as it was would “very likely prove fatal or permanently impair his [Bagley’s] health.” After hearing from all the above, the court made an unusual decision by allowing bail, which was set at $20,000. The Meridional of February 23, 1895, titled: “Town and Parish” reported Martin Bagley had furnished bail and was released “after nearly a month’s confinement.” That same newspaper titled: “For Sale” reported that Martin Bagley was selling two eighty-acre tracts of land at Prairie Greig. The property was “fenced and well ditched” and included one dwelling, two cabins, and multiple farm implements, along with four mules. The price was not listed, however, it did include “easy terms.”
When it rains, it pours. As if Martin Bagley’s legal troubles weren’t enough, the Meridional of Saturday, January 6, 1894, under the title: “Attention” followed by the Lyons plantation sugarhouse was set on fire intentionally. “It was the work of an incendiary” reported the newspaper. It was believed that “a number of hands who had been docked for lost time had expressed dissatisfaction thereat.” The total loss was estimated between $18,000 and $20,000 with only $10,000 insurance. The rest would “fall heavily on the owners, the Messrs. Bagley.”
Martin Bagley’s historic trial began in Abbeville in the spring of 1894 and lasted an entire week. When the jury began their deliberations on Saturday; they were locked away for the weekend. Monday came and went without a word from the jury. A look of uncertainty had to have been on Bagley’s face. Finally on Tuesday morning the jury said it was useless, they were deadlocked. The judge thanked the jury for their service and declared a mistrial. The entire community was split. According to The Lafayette Gazette of April 7, 1894, titled: “The Bagley Case” reported the jury was out fifty-five hours and were unable to agree on a verdict—eleven for conviction and one to acquit. It was also learned that after the jury was discharged, one of the jurors, J. D. Morgan, was arrested for perjury. . . . Note: Nearly a year later an article from the Abbeville Meridional of March 30, 1895, titled: “Town and Parish” mentioned Jeff D. Morgan’s perjury case had been continued. No mention of court proceedings, only that his perjury case was continued until “the next court term.” Try as I might, this author could not find any information regarding Morgan’s perjury trial other than he had been arrested for violation of his oath.
The Lafayette Gazette of Saturday, April 13, 1895, titled: “Bagley’s Case” reported that Martin Bagley’s murder trial was set to begin in Lafayette on Thursday, April 18th. The newspaper stated that Bagley was in Lafayette on Tuesday of the previous week and returned to Abbeville the following day. Back during that era, it was a day’s travel by horse. The saga of Martin Bagley’s court proceedings wore on as his second trail was getting ready to get underway in Lafayette. This time Bagley wasn’t taking any chances—he was loaded for bear due to his near conviction in Abbeville a year earlier. Bagley hired some of the best legal minds in the area according to the article above. All six of his attorneys were from south Louisiana.
The Meridional of April 27, 1895, titled: “The Bagley Case” reported that the murder case against the accused murderer, Martin Begley, was supposed to take place the previous Thursday morning hit a snag. Two material witnesses for the prosecution were “unavoidably absent” So, District Attorney Gordy moved to postpone the case until the following Saturday or Thursday. The defense team opposed the dates and asked for the case to be continued. A continuance was granted. It was said that a number of people from Vermilion Parish had come to Lafayette to see the trial, including Sheriff LeBlanc, Dr. Abshire, George Lyons, and Simonet LeBlanc, which was reported in the Lafayette Gazette of April 20, 1895, without a heading.
The Lafayette Advertiser of October 26, 1895, reported that Bagley was a native of Ireland having first lived in St. Mary Parish and later moved to Vermilion Parish where he “acquired considerable means and married a prominent lady of that parish.” In the same newspaper as above, Martin Bagley was sketched in a pencil and ink profile. He was shown wearing a thick shock of dark hair nicely combed. Bagley was dressed in a stylish suit and tie, clean shaven other than sporting a fin-de-siecle mustache, which was common during the turn of the century. Throughout history there are countless stories like the Martin Bagley case, but this one was reported to be the most famous case ever tried in Lafayette Parish. Of all the newspaper articles, there weren’t any that fully described what transpired inside the courtroom. We can only imagine what took place. You can bet the courtroom was crowded, probably standing room only since it generated a great deal of interest. We know Martin Bagley had a front row seat as he sat among his horde of intelligent lawyers and probably fingered his mustache while calmly watching the proceedings.
Bagley’s attorneys were: Judge John Clegg of New Orleans, Judge C. Deballion and Joseph Chargois of Lafayette, Chas Fontelieu of New Iberia, Robt. P. Obrien of Calcasieu and Mr. Southon of Houma. The honorable Minos T. Gordy, Lafayette Parish District Attorney, represented the state of Louisiana. Despite having what he thought was unassailable facts, Gordy knew he was in a fierce battle, especially when defense attorney, Southon from Houma had the floor. Southon confidently rambled on for two hours straight, meticulously tearing away at the prosecution’s air-tight case. Gordy wasn’t worried; he had clear and convincing evidence that the sugarcane grower was guilty as charged.
During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that John Ford was employed at Bagley’s planation, an argument ensued over wages and Ford was ordered to leave. Ford went to the plantation store to “arrange settlement preparatory to his departure.” Some of the items he had purchased on credit were returned. While at the store, Bagley informed the manager, Mr. St. Amant, not to give Ford any more credit, since “he had been discharged.” A heated argument occurred while inside the store between Bagley and Ford. That was when Ford left and went to a barge on the Vermilion. Bagley probably expected trouble, prior to leaving the store, he armed himself with a 44-caliber pistol and followed John Ford. At the boat is where the two men met again and it’s also where “the tragedy took place.”
The State claimed Ford was on deck of a steamer that was attached to the barge. Bagley was standing on shore approximately 15 to 20 feet distance from Ford. Bagley called out to Ford “to put back the mosquito bar which he carried under his arm.” Ford refused and Bagley fired the fatal shot which struck Ford in the head. Bagley immediately turned to a bystander J.P. Long and said, “Did you not hear me say to him twice ‘to put that bar back’ but he refused?”’ Evidence suggest that Long vanished. He could not be found to give testimony. During the court session, it was discovered that a razor was found on the ground near John Ford’s body. Defense attorney Clegg argued that “Ford was about to make an assault upon Bagley.” Clegg also stated that Ford had insulted Bagley and had threatened his life with the razor and intended to use it against Bagley if he hadn’t been shot first.
After three days of court proceedings, it finally came to an end on Saturday October 19, 1895. The article reported that the jury deliberated a short period of time. All throughout the proceedings Bagley maintained his composure even after the jury said, “Not guilty!” After thanking his attorneys, Martin Bagley walked out of the courthouse a free man. He was free, but probably on the brink of bankruptcy.