New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-18
THE BATON ROUGE RIOT
The Third Days Examination


the examination proceeded.
The first witness called, Hypolite Stevens,
knew nothing whatever about the matter.
Fenton Wiley was next called to the
stand. The only material point of his evi-
dence was the identification of A. Culsinard
as the person who shot at him.
John Alexander, was next put Oh the
stand. The evidence Of this witness was
somewhat tedious and confused; but i'll the
main corrOborated the testimony given yes
terday. In the crOss-examination some at
tempt was made to discredit the evidence
of this witness, by questioning him whether
he or his wife had ever been in Jail; but the
attempt failed.
Jake Williams, was called to the stand.
Before being sworn, he was questioned rela-
tive to his being present at the examination
of prisoners at Baton Rouge. After some
little debate between counsel for the prose-
cution and defense, the court ruled, that
the examination at Baton Rouge had nothing
to do with the present examination.
The witness was then sworn and the exami-
nation direct proceeded.
Witness lives at Baton Rouge: was spe-
cial constable at the election; stald there
till the polls had closed.
The remaining testimony of this witness
amounted to nothing. There was no cross
examination.
Louis Robson, sworn.-Has lived at
Ration Rouge nine wears, off and on, and
was at the election held on the seventh in
stant: had returned home, but left there
after the firing had commenced; saw person
coming with "A gun in his hand, but did not
know his name; lat the request Of Mr.. Cur
lev the witness looked around the court
room and pointed out Mr.. Bellows); saw
him go to CIark's house with his gun: he
Jumped over the fence, went into the house
and opened the door; about twenty-five men
came up Main street from the river; did not
saw they came from the courthouse; said
saw two men with guns coming from
the courthouse; was not armed myself
that day: had no other arms
than those came into the world with; saw
no colored men armed on election day: after
some time went home; l live by the CathO-
| lie Church on North street; l don't see
among the prisoners present any who were
| there except Bellows, who fired Oft his gun;
was scared and ran; had come out to go
to q brick building, where was at work,
but when saw the crowd was afraid to
20 on, so l turned and ran; felt like Il
scared rabbit who, wherever he goes, his
| tail is obliged to follow.
| The most of the testimony of this witness
was unimportant, and there was no cross
examination.
ValIcry Williams, swOrn-l1as lived at
Baton Rouge over two years: was at the
| late election: saw a white man with gun,
running after cOlored man, who was
running from him; the colOred man took
shelter under a house, and the white man
coming up, looked under the house; the col
ored man was Sy, and the man who was fol-
lowing him was Bill Jack there the witness
pointed out Jack i'll court; saw three more
men armed, but did not know them.
Cross-examined by Nr. Fuqua-Live on
Africa street, between Satchez and Repent
ance streets; saw three men come down
the hill and turn to the left; they were com
ing toward the river when l saw them; the
only man l saw looking for Sy was Bill
Jack; others followed him, but did not
come up: it was Mrs. ArbOur's house that Sy
hid under: was standing on the gallery OF
my house; had been quiet all day, md had
had no trouble.
James Henderson, swOrn-Have lived in
Baton Rouge five years; was at the election
and know about the disturbances; they
| took place at night; saw Sam Jones with a
shot gun; saw others, but don't know them.
| Here the witness pointed Out Jones in
COURT Jones was coming down Main
street to the river, and another man was
with him: they stopped at the apothecary
shop; one held the gun, while the other
| opened the door, and they went in; saw
| men with arms on Church street; l was not
| frightened, because ] was unarmed and did
not think they would do anything to me;
saw no colored men with arms: l was alone.
The remainder Of the witnesses testimony
was but a repetition Of what he had said
before.
Captain Edmund s. Meyers was called.
Previously to his being sworn, Mr. Fuqua
questioned him relating to his being present
at the examination that took place yester
day. The Captain answered that he had
| been IN the courtroom a few minutes, but
he did not hear one word the witnesses
| said. Captain Myers was then sworn.
Was at Baton Rouge on Monday, the
| seventh instant; between the hours of 7 and
| 9 =. NJ. heard several shots in the direction
| OF the courthouse; 1 was then in garrison;
| Immediately after the bell sounded III the
| direction of the engine house, think four
| times; Immediately after that the firing be-
| came general, and there must have been
| five hundred shots fired, in vOlleys and reg
ular; ! am in command of the troops aG the
| garrison, and apprehending trouble, formed
the troops i'll line. ready for action ifreIuired;
soon after a cOlored man came to the garri-
son, who stated that he was the United
States Deputy Marshal, and told me there
was great trouble; ! was informed that the
United States Deputy Marshal was sur
rounded and in danger, his corps OF
specials being altogether unable to resist
the crowd of armed men; | at once formed
the troops, and marched sixty men rapidly
toward the scene Of the disorder; after
marching some distance l met Wies in
company with Buckner and another; Wies
told me that everything was quiet and
peaceable and that there was no necessity
for troops: at the time l was told this,
firing was going on; l told these men to go
home, for would take the matter in charge;
marched on to the courthouse, and as
reached the corner of Fourth and BOule-
ward streets, l saw light in the
livery stable; several men were standing
with weapons in hand, looking in the direc-
ton of the courthouse; l came up suddenly
upon them, and called upon them to sur
render; disarmed three of them, and took
from Scotield Colts revolver, calibre four
teen, which WAS hot from being just dis
charged another man came out of the stable
with a double -barreled shot gun, which
took from him; it had been just discharged;
the man is there (pointing to Hubbs); he
was somewhat disguised at the time.
The witness here stated that most of the
parties appeared to be somewhat disguised,
and wore clothes of a different kind; if they
were to stand up, they could be identified
with more certainty. The court directed
that the accused should stand up.
found on the road L'Otficiel. shot
through the body; he died the next day;
the stable mentioned is Lusk's; heard OF
crowd on the Boulevard, and marched there;
| saw full one hundred men; there was a
bright moon, and l could easily distinguish
their countenances; 6ey were armed with
p,ue hot and reVoiVprS. |