New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-26
THE DoNALDsoNvILLE RIOT
FIRST DAYS EXAMINATION



Examination on two affidavits, one by
jenkins, charging Felix Reynaud, Charles
Gecks, Morris Marks, T. Brady and J. A.
Cheeyers with violation of the enforcement
act, roting, and the murder of Marx Schon-
berg and William c. Lawes, and with
shooting with intent to kill one Abraham
Howell.
The other affidavit was made by Colonel
Rightor, charging David Fisher, Joseph c.
andCelestin oliver and others, with killing
Marx Schonberg and William c. Lawes,
and conspiring to take possession OF Don
aldsonville.
Messrs. Cutler, Mills and Earhart, appear
ed for the prosecution of the two Olivers,
and for the defence Cheevers and the four
others. Judge Shannon appeared as eoun-
sci for Fisher and the two divers.
1t was agreed by counsel to try both the
charges together.
Isaac Jenkins, swOrn--Was Deputy Con-
stable at Ward No. l, across the river: took
ballot box to the courthouse; nobody dis
turbed ballotboxes but Reynaud, who
put them on the Judges stand; heard Rey-
maud say that no one elected that day
should take his seat; saw Cheevers, Field,
Reynaud and Marks armed; they got guns
at Marks house; this was next morning,
there being no disturbance the night before;
they went toward the river and heard the
firing. where the cOlored man Howell, was
wounded; did not see the shooting; did not
see anybody threaten; heard Judge Marks
say the courthouse was the place tn count
the votes, and the boxes should not be
taken away; knew nothing about the MUIR
der Of Schomberg and Lawes; had only
stated his opinion in the affidavit that they
were the cause of the murder.
This witness was subjected to very
searching cr0ss-examinatiOn, and at its
close, Mr.. Cutler gave notice that he would
make charge of perjury against him.
George Williams saw the man Howell
wounded on the river bank; he was chased
by five or six ar ned men, and shot; witness
did not know who they were; saw some
armed men about the courthouse, but did
not know who they were he witnessed the
killing of Schonberg and Lawes; he was
with Fisher and about 1900 others; they
met Schonberg and Lawes going to Donald
sonville in buggy; Fish her told Schonbere
it was not safe to go to DonaldsOnville, and
he had better stay there; Sshonberg agreed
rs he rose, the pistol went off, and SchOn
berg fell out of the buggy; Fisher caught
hold Of Lawes and pulled him out of the
buggy: Lawes asked Fisher not to hurt
HIM Fisher said ho would not hurt him, but
would arrest him for killing Schonberg: the
crowd cried Kill him. and when Fisher
let 90 of Lawes twenty or thirty shots were
fired at Lawes, and one man struck him
with cane-knite: Fisher tried to keep the
.l, I
Samuel Miller sworn-The testimony OF
this witness threw 10 light on the previous
evidence; he did not see Cheevers, Brady
Gecks. Rrynaud or Marks on the ground.
Anthony Barrett. swOrn-This witness
related the difficulty in which Schonberg
and Lawes were killed, and said that after
SchoDberg fell, a man named Harry Long
struck Lawes on the back of the neck with
cnne-kufe; that when Lawes was on the
ground he received several shots.
None of the witnesses agree exactiy Y about
the manner in which SchOnberg was killed
but the weight of the testimony points thai
he was killed By pistol in the hands O
Lawes, when the latter was struggling will
Fisher. This witness charges T.. Olive,
with threatening to shoot L,wes because ht
had killed Schonberg.
Robert Brown testified cOrrOborative O.
the last witness. He says that Schonbers
was NOT killed XII r1Snef atteIlpttu to iITtS
Lawes.
Prince Whitesides was the last witness
examined, and his testimony was to grea'
extent cOrroborative of the testimony o
Barrett. Witness, after Lawes was dead
took ring from his finger and carried it t.
Donaldsonville, where he delivered it up.
At the close of the witness testimony The
court discharged Cheevers, Brady, Marks
Reynaud and Gecks as to the murder. bu
held them to appear on the charge OF infl
midation at the polls.
ID. Fisher, G. Oliver and j. c. Oliver were
reInanded without bail for further exannina
ton.
The court then adjourned till this morning
at eleven O'clock.
After the court adjourned the five person.
discharged made an affidavit charging Isaac
Jenkins with perjury. They are preparing
another. which will be sworn to to-day
charging Il. X. Smith with subornatioI o
perjury.