The second oldest son of Lemuel S. Earl and his wife, Mary. Ward would be running his own plantation, close to his father's at the time of his murder. The convicted murderer, Alfred Edwin Batson was Ward's hired man. Ed Batson would murder Ward in his bed, then kill Ward's mother and three little brothers by cutting their throats. Apparently, L.S. was headed to Wards, his body was found in a ditch shot to death. None of the Earl's would be found for two weeks, when Batson would show up in Lake Charles impersonating Ward by trying to sell his mules. Maud Earl, the only daughter of the Earls would discover the bodies. Batson would be captured in Missouri at his mother's and brought back to Calcasieu parish (where Welsh was located in 1902) to stand trial twice. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, but not before becoming a sort of celebrity during his trials, receiving gifts and marriage proposals from women all over the country. He was hanged on August 14, 1903 for his horrific murder of the Earls. Maud Earl Ingram would sue her only surviving family member, oldest Earl son, Fred for her share of the estate in 1904.
The second oldest son of Lemuel S. Earl and his wife, Mary. Ward would be running his own plantation, close to his father's at the time of his murder. The convicted murderer, Alfred Edwin Batson was Ward's hired man. Ed Batson would murder Ward in his bed, then kill Ward's mother and three little brothers by cutting their throats. Apparently, L.S. was headed to Wards, his body was found in a ditch shot to death. None of the Earl's would be found for two weeks, when Batson would show up in Lake Charles impersonating Ward by trying to sell his mules. Maud Earl, the only daughter of the Earls would discover the bodies. Batson would be captured in Missouri at his mother's and brought back to Calcasieu parish (where Welsh was located in 1902) to stand trial twice. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, but not before becoming a sort of celebrity during his trials, receiving gifts and marriage proposals from women all over the country. He was hanged on August 14, 1903 for his horrific murder of the Earls. Maud Earl Ingram would sue her only surviving family member, oldest Earl son, Fred for her share of the estate in 1904.
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