The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-15
IFrcm tie Livingston Gaia, journal, Oct. 81


As Mr.. Bryant Richardson, living about four
miles west Of sumterville, in this county, was
returning from experimenting some plantation
work about nigbtfall on Thursday last, he was
attacked by q freedman IN his employ, named
Enoch Brown, alias Townsend, and stabbed IN the
side, the left lung being pierced.
After infcting the third and most serious wound
the negro decamped, and Mr.. Richardson was
properly cared for. II was found the wound 10
his side was very serious one, and for several
days his life was despsred Of. At last accounts
his condition was favorable, bat still critical.
As soon as q warrant could be procured, party
of citizens went in pursuit Of the assassin and as
il was known that he was in the habit of frequent
ing the place of the notorious Dr. Choutteau, they
went in quest Of him. After searching several
negro houses, in o quiet and orderly manner,
without finding him, they proceeded to another,
the door of which they found barred. There was
one other house which had not been searched, and
TO avoid forcing an entrance unless necessary to
do So they examined that house first Subse.
quently they forced the door that was barred, and
entering, were preparing light, when some one
rushed to the chimney, and ascending It Jumped
down on the outside and ran. Surprising, very
naturally, from his strange conduct, that he wai
the man they were 10 search Of, they ordered him
to halt. stating they bad a warrant for him. He
continued running, they fred on him. and he fell.
On going up to the body the discovered il was not
that Of Brown, but that they had killed freed.
man known as yankee Ben," president Of the
SUmtervle League.
Brown, alias Townsenp, was arrested on Friday,
how ever by two freedmen-Rob. Brownrigg and
Bob Thomas. and handed over to the sutho tiles,
and on Saturday be was committed to Jail, where
be now Is.
The killing Of Yankee Ben, although doue
through mistake which. under the circumstances,
could not well have been avoided, and which was
regretted by every one, created intense excite
ment among the negroes, encouraged In it as they
we're by one or two despicable whites who have
long sought TO produce conflict between them
- stA t...&
that the lesgue was to meet at the house of
Cbouttsau for the purpose of avenging the killing
of Ben; and in consequence, the whites 10 the
neiahborhood put themselves In condition for
sss On sasqTssy some sixty armed negroes
naming until evening dispersed.
Sunday was comparatively quiet; but the next
day some $50 negroes assembled at the same
place. During the day some dozen citizens went
10 houttesus to hold an inquest over the body
Of Ben, which had been left unburied for the pur-
pose of infsmiBg the passions Of the negroes.
On announcing their purpose. Choutteaa informed
them hat they could not hold an inquest unless
the jury we're composed Of negroes, and the
negroes present were very insulting in their de-
meanor. These facts being communicated. some
hundred armed citizens repaired to the spot,
when The negroes dispersed and Choutteau be-
came rational. he interposed no further objec-
ton. Meantime, the coroner, Mr.. B. B. Sanders.
leaning that the jury of inquest had not been
duly sworn, proceeded TO Chouttean's and held
scene Is presented. .,
While the coroner and jury we're performing
their duties, Cboutteau approached and informed
them that 500 armed negroes we're advancing az a
little distance. On looking. they saw party OF
armed negroes were approaching, but they were
only nineteen in number. (Choutteau had stated
the day before that Mr.. Price, of this place, had
sent word be would be there with 500 armed ne
groes) On coming up and being. questioned as
to their business. they stated they had been sent
bv Mr. Price tn carry acme I" proper panersu to
Chou,teau. These papers consisted of twoletters
from Price, which were read by the coroner with
the consent Of Chouttesu. These nineteen ne
groes were all armed, some OF them having new
Enfield rifles. After delivering the "proper pa
pers" tie armed messengers departed, at the
suggestion of the coroner.
AT the last accounts there was still some ex-
element existing in the Richardson and Choutteau
neiehborhoods, but no outbreak Is spprehended.
The whites are pursuing prudent but firm line
OF conduct, and the blacks have seen enough to
satisfy them that discretion is the better part Of
vslor. l