Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-15
Murder and Outrage,

We copy the following details in refer.
ence to the recent conflict in Northwes-
tern Louisiana from the Caddo Gazette
of the 3D.:
A thousand conflicting reports Of the
horrible assassinat in Bossier parish
have been circulated far and wide. To
correct erroneous reports, and give our
readers a plain, unvarnished history of
these revolving acts, is the object of this
article. The apprehension, so long en-
tertained, that the two races would even
tually make war upon each other, has
been changed to horrid reality.
We present the following statement of
all the facts we have obtained connected
with the disturbances and murders which
have occurred in Bossier parish during
the past week:
On Sunday morning Mr.. Elisha Glib
son, with several of his neighbors from
Columbia county, Arkansas, were re-
turning home from Shreveport. They
had sold their cotton and made their pur-
chases, but still retained several hundred
dollars, which were in the hands of Mr.
Gibson. This party stopped at the Shady
Grove plantation, on Red river, eight
miles above this place, and purchased
corn While there, pistol was fired. 1t
is not proved that the pistol was fred at
any one. Gibson asserts that it was an
accident, while the negroes on the place
declare that he shot at one Of them. At
any rate, nobody was hurt.
L. 1oG ur.nIa- 6
groes followed them and arrested Gibson.
No resistance was made, as the whites
were unarmed and unprepared to defend
themselves. The negroes returned to
Shady Grove with their prisoner, and for
safe keeping be was chained by the neck
10 tree. Mr.. Brownlee, DIR. Vance and
Mr.. Byrue, of our city, advised the ne
grees to release Gibson, assuring them
that he was a worthy citizen Of Arkansas,
Failing in this, Mr.. Brownlee went to
Benton and secured the assistance Of
several citizens, who came down and
rescued Gibson from the clutches Of these
infatuated bsrbarians. Gibson then in
formed them that he had been robbed of
all his money, his hat and coat.
There was an interval Of two days-a
lull which preceded terrible storm Of
passion. On Wednesday morning before
daylight, party Of about thirty men, said
to be from Arkansas, surrounded the
negro quarters at Shady Grove and de-
manded the surrender Of the guilty par
ties. A fight ensued, in which one negro
was killed and three wounded. Five
negroes, charged with stealing the money,
were taken in the direction Of Arkansas
Thus ended the first bloody tragedy.
On the same morning Wednesday, q
number Of negroes from adjoining planta-
tons posted themselves along the road
near Mr.. Brownlee's, and when the latter
left the residence Of Mr.. Saggus, his
fsther-in-law, in company with Mr.. Fran
els Ogden, they surrounded them, and
then deliberately shot them down. Mr..
Baer, who was present, protested against
the assassination Of these young men, bat
the negroes stated that they bad rescued
Gibson from them, for which crime they
must be killed. Bird shot we're used,
mixed with q few buck shot, and these
white men we're literally filed with lead.
Neither Of them was killed instantly, but
Mr.. Ogden died in q few days, and Mr.
Brovnlee is in critical condition. The
negroes, having fred BY platoons upon
these helpless men, left them in the ago
MES Of death, a. they supposed, and
walked OF as quietly as II they had
obeyed 3 military order.
When the news reached our city It pro
duced the widest excitement and great
fears we're entertained for the safety Of
white families in the nsighborhood, Who
we're outnuubsred ten 10 one BY the ne