The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-05-20
The Mower and ShipIsland TRACED,

The Mower Ship island TRACED,
FURTHER PARTICULARS,
From the Handsboro' Democ,..
Every week adds something to tha l;c..
which is being shed upon this dark m,s sas
~. The lame and impotent attem1. 4;
New Orleans to hush up the matter h y
only resulted in an inconceivablel cnns H.
Of testimony among the volunteer vitn ss'
es, and concentration Of public attent;or
throughout the United States unon az
most singular and remarkable event. 's
In the first place Yankee puppv !.
the name Of Perkins, on the pubiicatiioo,, y !,
our first article, came forward in Nav ~ :.
leans, and denounced it as utterly talss =
This miserable whelp must carts;nI,
have been inops consilii when be TIM.
thrust himself SO prominently forward. e.
on the same day, the carpet-bag scalav ~
sheet in New Orleans, came forward ana
stated that the negro had attemptsa -
commit a rape on Miss Mower. Int b.S
failed! and declaring they had been coon n
zant of all the facts for two weeks! I'm.
confirming the essential truth of all Wa had
stated, and giving the "lie direct" to tha
swift testimony of the volunteer Perkins
Since our last issue we have received ths
letter below, which we publish in full. a.
follows:
SHIP ISLAND, MISS,
April 80, 1868.
To the Editor Of the Handsboro Democrat
Handsboro Miss:
S1R-We, the undersigned, officers at the
Post of Ship Island, MISS, have read The
article published in your paper, and re-pub.
lished in the Commercial Bulletin, of New
Orleans, concerning soldiers entering the
house of Gen. Mower, one night, during the
early part Of this month.
We desire to inform you, that the state
ment, as published by you is essentially
false. A man did enter the house of Gen.
Mower. but his designs are not positively
known, neither did he succeed in doing any.
thing more than to alarm the whole family.
His conduct was sufficiently suspicious 10
warrant his arrest and punishment; while
undergoing the latter, he escaped from the
guard. Very respectfully,
. Your obi Servts.
D. A. Ward, Richard Robins, James F.
Randlettt, Captains seth Infantry; D. j.
Barr, Chaplain seth Infantry; Luke O'Reily
Brevet Capt q. S. A. Geo. +. Ford lst
1t. 39th Infantry; 81. B. Quimby, LIST Lieut..
and Post Quartermaster, Both Infantry; B.
Gesner, Acting Assistant Surgeon, b. s..
A., and Post Sugeon; Emmett Crawford,
G. Villars, S. K. Tompson, Henry P. Rit.
zins, I'd Lieutenants 39th Infantry.
We have several comments to make on
this letter, to which we invite especial at.
tention:
LIST. If this letter is true, then witness
Perkins was guilty Of 9 willful and wicked
falsehood.
End. If this letter is true, then the scala
wag Republican wss also guilty Of willfal
and wicked falsehood.
Sd. We are at o loss to know the mean.
ing of the charge that tour statement is
essentially falae." No evidence is adduced
to convict ne or our informant.
4th. These officers state substantially
that a negro soldier I" did enter the house
of General Mower" that his designs
were not positively" known-that his
conduct was sufficiently suspicious to
warrant his arrest and punishment
So now it seems that Perkins lied and
the Republican lied-a negro did enter
Mowers house, that his designs were
doubtful, but in spite Of this doubt be was
arrested and punished!
Now, we have but one question to ask
these Military Gentlemen, on Ship Island,
do they arrest and punish on suspicion.
Such thing is unknown to all civil law!
Where is the Military law, the Rule or Ar
ticle Of War which would sanction punish
ment on suspiCi0nf
But it seems, while undergoing the pun.
ishment he escaped" from his guard!!!
Escaped from water-bound Ship Island !.
Howq by swimming, in sail boat, schoon.
or or steamboat? Bah Messieurs Officers
this wont do, as you will fndswhen the fate
of the negro comes to be investigated by
higher military authority as II must and
sciH be.
We have collected and are collecting fnr,
ther testimony, which we shall publish ct
/ the proper time. Suffice it now to cay,
that we are satisfied ft0m all we know OF
IL IA L.