Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-09-27
Louisville Riots.
IcoycLUpEp.7
Statement Of JOS. D. Sterqrt.

stott"tSt ~ Jus. u OtEuHTs
Being called on to state what tTanspired of a
violent, or dlsordcrly character, at or near the
polls, during the progress of the election on the
9th Of August, would respectfully submit the
following:
| arrived home from the east in the afternoon
of the day of the election; and about o'clock,
NJ, reached the court house yard, adjoining
which my law Office is situated. Voting was
then in progress at the court house-the Sixth
Ward precinct As / entered the enclosure, and
before had got quite to my office, my attention
was attracted by 4 noisy disturbance en- the
southern part OF the court house, fronting on
Jefferson street The building so interviewed
that could not at first see what was doing
By receding n few steps from where then Stood
towards Jefferson street, l perceived one man
was being knocked down. beat. and kicked 10y
n crowd which seemed 10 number about seven
ty-five persons, or NJ least az many OF such a
crowd as could get a chance to aim blow at
the assaulted person. | halted for 4 moment TO
see if some OF the many would not do something
to arrest the violence that was then directed II
this one person. l IN al instant, perceived that
ihore was no disposition manifested To protect
him; but, on the contrary, he received blow
from about every man whose proximity favored
! him with opportunity to infict one. l i'm
mediately ran TO his relief-begging, as | ap-
preached, for the as>ailants to desist-not to
kill him Don't murder him." Pressing
| through the crowd, which was thinnest on the
side at which | approached. l reached the as
sailed, and underworld to rescue him, by get
ting between him and the assailants, begging
them not to strike him any more. l now had
my left hand upon the assailed; dense crowd
was pressing from the opposite direction; /,
with the assailed, was borne eastwardly toward
the stand erected for public speaking; endeavo-
rfucy l-oar, hand aG-aIlpd and IN
hinder with my right hand the effect of the re-
peated blows aimed at him-receiving several
pretty heavy jars upon my right arm. We had
now approached the platform alluded TO; the
crowd had now accumulated to my left, wholly
surrounding my position. 1 felt a heavy blow
upon my left arm, which, on turning my head
| saw had been inflicted by man with a hand.
kerchief wrapped loosely on his-rlght hand, aud
! was evidently aimed at the asssiled. l per
ceived could not shield him from the rapid
succession of blows aimed at him; endeaYored
to push him uEder the platform, when he was
Knocked beyond my reach, and being let 60
I fell backwards under the corner of the platform
his head ranging toward my feet. At this mo
ment man with Ratchet in his hand ap
preached the assailed who was PROSTATE, hold
/ ing both hands over his face, and raised tho
Ratchet rs if to strike him on the head. Two
men now interviewed between me and the as
I sailed. L reacDeu over lneiT Hcduo anu dliueu
to catch the Ratchet Igot but partly hold up
or the arm of the man holding the Ratchet
when two others got a full hold and arreste
the blow. The PROSTATE man was then picked
up by four or six persons and borne in the di
rection of the Jail. / did not follow.
This is about what l saw, and, | may add
felt The blow on my left arm was evidently in
ficted by some hard substance concealed under
the handkerchief on the hand that inflicted it
1t differed widely in effect and sensation from
those received on my right arm, which were
nothing more than the ordinary confusion pro
duced in warding of blow aimed by the fist
| saw the man who inflicted it, but don't know
him; passed him as | entered the crowd oil
my first approach
After tho man who was assailed was born,
away / demonstrated in somewhat positiv,
terms against such brutality. ! was Informed
that he was one Of those who had been shooting
out of house up town. and had endeayered t,
escape from arrest. / was soon afterwards in
/ formed land believe the latter statement) tina
this man was not one of those who had beer
/ shooting. nor was he under arrest, but spoke L
some one who was under arrest, when he wa,
moved. !" and treated rs above stated.
JOS. r. STEWART