The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-06-09
Military Brutality.
rArEnESr OF THE VICTIM

| - = = ~>SOo'N''N
cessarily impeffect) Of an outrage perpe
trated by the military upon an nnofendint
citizen OF .Alabamu, MI. Roberts, resi,lin,
in the neishborhood Of Gadsden. we Enc
in the Gadstltn Times; of the 18th, thu
history Of the affair, given by Mr.. Roberts
himself:
Thursday morning, at 8 o'clock, the 22d
Of April, was arrested by Capt. Craig
head, of the 9TH United States Cavalry
| was in my bed asleep, when / was ava.
kened by some heavy rapping at my door.
The house was surrounded by eighteen
yankees and two pilots. got up, struck
a match, lit candle and opened the door,
when three carbines were pointed at my
breast. The first word they uttered was
You We're in the fight at Hale's store,
d--n yot, and we want revenge. Where
are those horses you stole from Us?
Inever stole your horses, replied.
You are a d ID liar, was answered. don't
say you didn't; come, we can't wait on
you any longer. Get your mule.
s. got ont my mule. -
Soldiers+Have You negfo here
have. Do you want u man or woniam9
Soldiers-A man. sir; lead him out
Where is he :? a
q He is in yonder house.
Two men went after the negro; and
brouelit him from bed out to the detaii.-
The, first question the soldiers asked him
was 1pf isa
Where were you yesterday Was Sam
Roberts at home then m
He was; replied the negro.
You lie like He'll replied the soldiers.
No DON'T answered the negro:
Where is the hdises he rode home?
What did he ride Ia muleq Didu't yIu
feed the horses? all followed In 1uick sue.
cess on. sg
No sir; from the negro.
You are liar again replied the Yam
KEGS:
The negro theii stated that be did not
feed the horses; that no horses came there;
and that if they wanted TO kill him for tel
ling the TRUTH they would nave to do So
Officer-Come along, DIN you; we'll
take you along too; to the negro. Then
to the guard Where is our pilot?
lie is hunting another watch, was ar-
swered the QUE he gotis an old fashioned
bull-eye. ,lnd he thinks he can get better
one. l,; ift0 ss.as e
Tell him to come out of the kitchen:
come pilot. s. 6as
We then set off and travelled. four miles
10 Mr.. Patterson's, where we halted until
daylight. 'i'liefe was handeuHed. We
an hour after daylight there, and
ed from Mr.. Patterson's corn, which, l
link, he got no pay for. On starting the
were taken trout my wrists,
vas placed Oh my mule, and we started for |
ward, reaching the command at Turkey
Town abntit or Q O'Clock in the morning. |
Then and there my troubles commenced |
ally. On arriving at headquarters, the
Captain in Charge said to the Major:
Well Major, here is the man that was
eported to US rs being in the fight at !
[lale's store.
Major-Come up here: was you in
hat fight
No sir.
Major-Did You not see it, i
No sir
Major-You are DID liar, ard then
urning to the Captain: What do you
hnk Of the horses, Captain?
Captain Some of his ncighbors say he
las two stolen horses.
Major ito me) Where arc those horses,
II?
1 don't know.
Major- You do know who got them, |
nd where are they?
don't know, sit. III knew would
ell you:
Major Sergeant bring Up the rope
We must hang this id bushwhacker and
orse thief to that apple tree. We viii !
low have revenge for the murder at Hale's.
Put the rope around his reef.
The rope was brought and fastened
round ny heck.
Major-Fiye men get fhefe to the end
# that rope, and if he don't tell where the
orses are in two minutes, hang him deed;
ow ito mey tell who has them and where
hey are.
I do not Know, Major, who has them,
or whore your horses are til did I
'ould tell you.
Hang him dead, csiei the Major.
One man raised me up to the height Of /
bout three feet, the others held the end |
4 the rope until lfeng about one minute. |
well remember when the Major said /
1et him down. Now, flo mc,y Twill give
GU one moe chance TO teH whero The hor
es are, and if You dous tell yon will be
eft TO that lire dead; sgain asking me Of
he horses. again replied That did Dol
now and eoaid not lel,. The rope was
hen ordered Of my neck, and The men d.
orfs,1 10 4, Ia ,rsx 4 a. ia. ....,. -