By Jessica Gorman
Two of the names in this story, Levy and Zodiag, are names that I recognized primarily as they relate to the history of Shreveport. I had no idea that members of these families had also lived in Minden and I had certainly never heard this particular story before stumbling on it in an old newspaper. The third name, Peiser, is one I was completely unfamiliar with.
Albert Levy was born in France in March 1837. He and several of his siblings immigrated to Louisiana. By 1879, Albert, his brother, Arthur, and their sister, Louisa, were living in Minden. Louisa was married to Harry Peiser. Albert and Harry were business partners and operated a store in Minden. Arthur worked as a clerk in the store.
Harry and Louisa Peiser had been married for two years and had two young children. According to newspaper reports, Mr. Peiser had, for some time, “been in the habit of treating his wife…in the most brutal manner – frequently beating and otherwise mistreating her.” Albert had warned his brother-in-law to stop. Reportedly, the severity of the abuse increased instead.
On the afternoon of December 14th, Albert Levy goes home to find Louisa crying after another beating. Levy rushes back to the store to confront Peiser. A physical confrontation immediately ensued. Levy “began to mete out to him such punishment as (Peiser) richly deserved, by striking him a severe blow in the face, felling him to the floor.” Mayor P.W. Paul was in the store. He managed to separate Levy and Peiser. Peiser exits the store. Outside, he pulled a knife and “began swearing vengeance against Levy.”
As this unfolds, Charlie Zodiag, a friend of Levy’s, arrives at the store and sees Peiser’s intent to harm his friend. He enters the store to warn Levy. Albert Levy had already drawn his gun and, expecting Peiser, he fires. The fatal shot struck Zodiag in the forehead. Overcome with grief, Albert Levy threw himself on his friend’s lifeless body and cried, “Charley, forgive me; I loved you as a brother!”
“Fearing that he might be mobbed,” Harry Peiser asked Mayor Paul for protection. Mayor Paul did not oblige. Peiser flees to Shreveport and reportedly left by train the next morning, his destination unknown.
Charlie Zodiag was buried in the Hebrew’s Rest section of Oakland Cemetery in Shreveport. He was well-known and “highly respected and esteemed for his noble qualities of heart and nature. He was only twenty-three years of age.” (His headstone seems to indicate he was killed on his 22nd birthday.)
On Tuesday, Judge R.C. Drew hears the case against Albert Levy who is acquitted.
In the aftermath, the Levys and the Peisers leave Minden. The Peisers moved to Shreveport. In 1880, Louisa Peiser brings a case against her husband which is settled in her favor. The specifics of the case or the judgement are currently unknown. Louisa stayed with her husband and they had two more children. Also in 1880, Harry Peiser sued Albert Levy to dissolve their partnership.
In 1885, Albert Levy marries Julia Kern in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. They make their home in New Mexico before ending up just across the Mexican-American border in Juarez. Albert Levy died in New Orleans in 1901.
Harry Peiser became a traveling salesman. He was found dead in an outhouse at the Eleven Brothers Saloon in New Orleans on 2 January 1910. He was reported to have been ill for some time.
At the time of his death, Charlie Zodiag was likely living in Minden with his brother Herman who also owned a store in town and became a partner in the Long Springs Hotel. In April 1881, a son was born to Herman and his wife, Rosa. They named him after his uncle, Charlie. Sadly, the younger Charlie died at the age of three. The two Charlie Sander Zodiags are buried in the Hebrew’s Rest section of Oakland Cemetery in Shreveport.
(Jessica Gorman is Executive Director of the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Webster Parish Historian, President of the Minden Cemetery Association, and an avid genealogist.)