Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-13
RADICAL CAPITAL.
The Case of Capt. II. A. Louis IN
the u. y. Commissioners Court.

the u. -. SOmiuissioher S"
Capt II. A. Louis, one of Sheriff
Wrights efficient deputies, was arrested
at the late election under an act of Con-
gress for the enforcement of the Eff
teenth Amendment. That this is purely
political trick to make Radical capital
| for Northern consumption and tolay be-
fore Congress at the next session, we
are perfectly satisfied. An exparte ac-
count of Democratic election out
RACES will no doubt be laid before the
Reconstruction Committee by some hum
CRY, desperate office-seeker like W. j.
Smith. Capt. Louis was bound over in
the sum of $500, as We have before
stated. to appear before the U. 5. Court
for trial. on the third Monday in October.
He will be represented by some of the
ablest counsel in the city, and the case
being the first one of the kind in Ten
nessee, or in the whole country, as far as
we are aware, will attract general atten-
ton.
That the public may know the facts in
the. case, we publish the following state
ment, as furnished one of our reporters
by Capt Louis:
On August 4th, election day, Sheriff
Wright sent me to the Seventh Ward
polls to keep the peace. While there a
negro, c. C. Dickinson, came to the door
set apart for white people and demanded
from the police on duty there the priyi-
lege of going in with the white people.
He was told politely that the other door
was reserved for colored people, when he
pulled outa copy of the Fifteenth Amend
ment and said he had the same right to
90 anywhere white man had. He then
walked away.
Next day, on ] am informed, Judge
Hudson, United States District Attorney,
sent for him, and after questioning him
for some time, issued warrant to arrest
the two police that were on duty at the
polls, as well as myself, which was accor-
dinghy done. | was anxious to ascertain
whether knew the negro who had sworn
out the warrant, and for that purpose
went to G. c. Dickinson's barber shop,
which is on the corner Of the alley be-
tween Union and Gayoso streets, on
Main street, west side, and asked some
negroes sitting there to show me Diokin-
son. and was told he was not there; but
what did | want with him?' ] replied,
| wanted to see the man that swore out
warrant charging me with preventing
him by force from voting; that he had
perjured himself, and that | would pros
ecute him TO the utmost extent of the law.
The negroes, instead of telling him
this, told him / would kill him, and for
him to keep out Of my way.
Mr. Ned Adams, his partner, came to
see me, and asked me if ! had made any
such threats. | told him ] had nothing
personally to do with said Dickinson,
aud that / would not harm hair of his
head; but if be had perjured himself /
would pnt him through for it to the ex-
tent Of the law.
Said Dickinson swore in evidence that
never touched or spoke to him on the
day of election, and when ! asked him
WHY lie hNOTt OUT tue HdIfdhif MS un
swer was: Il was sent for by Judge Hud-
son, who read a paper to me, but | did
not swear you used force 10 keep me
from the polls" He has also told other
negroes he wanted to drop the whole
thing. but Judge Hudson forced him to
prosecute what he knew was not right.
Judge Hudson was particularly venom
Gus on the Democratic party, and spoke
for half an hour to convince his hearers
who he was. In speaking Of the party
in power, he said: " And this is the jus
tee you give 10 HS-Hs c0lOred people ]
mean" and then turned and bowed TO
the audience outside the railing, that
was composed entirely Of negroes, who
recognized him as one Of them by smiles
and bows in return.
In conclusion ! will say ] was put un-0
der bonds to appear before the United
States Court on charge which does not
appear on the warrant Of arrest, and Of
which the prosecutor acknowledges that
] was innocent, namely: threats to in
timidate him and forcibly preventing
him from voting
This negro, who thinks himself better
than a white man, should certainly be
paironized by ali good Democrats.