New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-25
THE BATON ROUGE RIOT
SEVENTH DAYS EXAMINATION
EVENING SESSION OF THE. COURT

the purpose OF examining witnesses 1Or the
defense, who had been telegraphed for from
Baton Rouge, and were compelled to return
Besides, counsel Oh both sides
were anxious to bring the case to close.
James E. Elan, sworn-Kesides IN Baton
Rouge; is Mayer of that town, and. with
the exception Of two years, has been Mayor
since the year 1889; was in Baton Rouge on
the seventh Of November last, and for a
week previous; witness then gave some
what detailed account OF the measures
adopted by him, in conjunction with United
States Deputy Marshal II. SchrOten; the peO-
pie Of Baton Rouge, of all classes, had rea-
son to apprchend serious disturbance at
the time Of election, in consequence OF the
great dissatisfaction that existed at the
change Of the voting precincts, by abolish
ing the country precincts and concentrating
all the voting in Baton Rouge, thus forcing
the people from all parts Of the parish into
town to vote. An effort had been made to
induce the Governor to reinState the pre-
cincts as formerly, and so no measures had
been taken to prevent such trouble as might
arise. When it was finally advertised that
there would be no change in the arrange
ment that had caused SO much dissatisfac-
ton, the state of public feeling was such
that it was then necessary to take measures
to keep the peace.
The witness further stated in effect that,
after a consultation with the United States
Deputy Marshal. Schroten, plan had been
fixed upon, which had been submitted to
the Governor through the Deputy United
States Marshal, and the Governor had ap-
proved of it; the plan was that the wit
ness was to have general police jurisdiction,
phys school house; these places were to
be under the control of the Chief Constable
and his deputies Mr.. Schroten, the United
States Deputy Marshal, is also the Chief
Constable; there was an understanding
that We were not to interfere with each
other; special deputies were to DO com
missioned by both Of us, the Chief Con
stable to appoint fifty and l seventy
FIVE; in carrying out my part of the
plan, l called on the foremen of the
fire companies No. ] and No. ., to hold
their respective companies in readiness
to obey any call to preserve the peace.
and to wait on me for orders; four taps of
the fire bell were to indicate disturbance,
and not fire; l further directed that the
firemen were not to wear any uniform
during the day, but to follow their ordinary
business; only to hold themselves in readi-
ness to turn out, armed, for the purpose of
keeping the peace that should they be
called to turn out at the four taps Of the
Hall, where they were to be put under the
charge of city officers; l also notified a num-
Der Of merchants and business men, who
wanted to close their stores and places Of
business, to 90 ON with business as if nothing
was to be apprehended; there was no
change in the voting places, with one ex-
ceptiOn; one Of the polls was given up at
my suggestion, and it was by this means
that peace was preserved.
The witness also stated that after the
election he encountered the Registrar, Mr.
cordially thanked him for keeping the
peace. The witness further said that in the
course of the day, having been informed
that quantity of arms belonging to col
Ored men were secreted short distance
out of town, he had sent out possee Of
men and seized them. The witness intirm
state of health prevented him from taking
that active part in the proceedings in relation
to carrying out the plans, which he would
have desired to do; but, after the arrange
ments were made, he felt no apprehension
of trouble after the election had passed off
peaceably. The witness knows, Of his own
knowledge, nothing Of the difficulties, or at
least of the origin of the difficulties
commencing at the courthouse. He
had gone home ON account of his health;
when he heard firing he proceeded toward
the point where the disturbance appeared
to be: when be reached the courthouse he
found the military from the garrison drawn
up in two lines, with number of citizens
placed between the lines, and who were
evidently under arrest; he saw Captain
Meyers in command, who told witness that
he had sent for him three times; Captain
Meyers desired to have an interview with
witness and they walked to the courthouse
together; they went into the room where
they had been counting the votes; every
thing was in confusion, and there was evil
dence of firing; a man was on the floor, who
had been wounded in the leg, and there
there witness saw the sheriff elect take two
ballOtboxes from a corner of the room;
he came back and reported that he had put
them into buggy for safety; considering
all the circumstances, l told Captain Mey-
ers that while the military were out and
had control of affairs, witness did not think
it was in his power to restore peace.
Witness states that he had demonstrated
with Captain Meyers concerning the ar
rests, and told the Captain that the men
arrested were under his orders. The reply
Of Captain Meyers was in effect that he
recognized the orders of no one except the
United States Marshal, and that if witness
demonstrated he must go to him. The wit
ness stated something about Captain
Meyers and himself searching the Jail flor
arms), and the Captain seemed satisfied.
Witness and the Captain passed out of the
Jail, and witness sat down; presently MIR.
Cooper came up and sat by witness, ex
pressing his sorrow and modification for
the troubles that had occurred. The wit
ness introduced Cooper to Captain Meyers,
who asked him Cooper if he was armed.
On Cooper replying in the negative, the
Captain searched him, but found no arms.
Mr.. Cooper explained that his object in
coming there was to procure guard over
the public documents.
In reply to q question from counsel for
defense, the witness stated that A. COusi-
nard, the jailor. had been arrested, and that
T. Williams was acting jailor in his place.
Captain Meyers marched the persons ar
rested to the barracks, and the witness
went home.
The witness further stated, in relation to
Captain Meyers, that excepting the express
sion he (the witness) had before quoted, and
betraying a little heat, that Captain Meyers
was cool and soldierly in his bearing, and
not disposed to be harsh. He wished to
cOnfine the parties arrested in foOm, but
the commissioner wanted to have them inn
prisoned. The witness further stated about
some arrangement Captain Meyers was dis
posed to make with the civil authorities of
Baton Rouge for the peace of the town,
which arrangement, on the remonstrance Of
Colonel Boyd, Captain Meyers afterward
revoked.
The remainder Of Mr.. Elam's testimony
on the direct examination threw no light on
the cause of the election riot. 1t related
chiefly to the sayings and doings Of Captain
Meyers after the arrests had taken place.
Somewhat singularly, although Mr.. Elam
spoke of the riot as originating in an out
rage on the rights Of the people at large,
and although be in his testimony spoke of
the acts and dicta of that officer in anything