New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-24
THE BATON ROUGE RIOTERS
The Seventh Days Examination

The court opened at one o'clock yester-
day. On motion of District Attorney Beck
with, for the prosecution, the names of the
accused persons were called over by the
Marshal.
The prisoners had not all been bailed
ont except six persons, the previous
afternoon, as we had been led to sup
pose; for when the guard made its ap-
pearance it had in custody at least twenty,
instead of six prisoners. We learn that
these unbailed parties were strangers in
Baton ROuge, having happened there about
the time of election. Moreover, two Of the
number were known cOnvicts, for one of
whom, at least, q warrant is waiting to
celebrate his release from his present
trouble.
Charles Smith, sworn-Lives m Baton
Rouge: was there On the night of the cleo
ton; knows no one engaged in thenlfouble
but Mr.. SkOltield and Scott GordC; was
sitting Oh steps when SkOltield passed by;
he alked ON to the front of the saddlers
shop and shot up the street; Scott Gordon
also fred up the street; these two are all
that recognize; after these two had fired,
there was firing about the courthouse;
don't know how far from the courthouse it
was; l was in sight of and opposite the
courthouse, where the saddler's shop is.
Cross examinatiOn-There was no firing
at the courthouse till SkOltield and Gordon
fired; l was standing on the steps Of the
saddler's shop; Gordon was standing before
the BARRIERS shop when Skolfield fired
saw Skoltield when l was trying to get
away, but could see Gordon also l am
positive that SkOlfeld fired the first shot
that evening did not say, at the exami-
nation in Baton Rouge, that SkOltield had
fired up in the air !; said he fired Ap the
street there are shade trees in the court
house yard; the moon was shining.
John Nicholas, swOrn-Was in Baton
Rouge at the time of the election. The sub
stance of his evidence was: that he was in
the courthouse when the firing commenced;
was standing near a China tree in company
with L 'Officiel and another person started
with the others to run in the direction Of the
market place; as witness passed by black
smith shop, Scott Gordon, who was in a
yard, fired at him; he turned to run one
way and L'Officiel another; witness jumped
into ditch for safety, and prostrated him
LOfficiel, 'halt;" Gordon then shot and
killed L'Ofhciel; at least, he died the next
day.
On the crOss-examination there was con-
adorable fencing between the counsel for
the defense, Mr.. Fuqua, and the witness.
The latter, when asked how he knew it was
Scott Gordon, when he could not see him,
replied that he knew his voice; that he made
no mistake, he knew Scott: he knew it was
he who shot and wounded l. 'Officiel, because
there was no one else there.
William Riley, swOrn-Was in Ration
Rouge; recognizes Hernandez as one of
those he saw at the courthouse; Hernandez
did nothing, but spoke to Captain Chapman,
saying there was a fine election, and every
thing went smooth; did not see him during
the firing, nor after; was on the courthouse
steps lying down; saw nothing.
Walton johnson, swOTn-Lives at Baton
Rouge; was in his yard when the firing be-
gan: saw some gentlemen pass: there were
five together, only two of whom were
known to witness; one OF them, witness
knew, WAS .. Arbour, the other, William
Jack; the latter said he would like to know
where any of the id niggers had gone
to; that he could blow their brains out"
Jack had double -barreled shotgun; wit
ness knows nothing further.
No cross examination.
William Davis, swOrn-PreviOusly to tes-
tifying, this witness, in answer to counsel
for the defense, admitted having been in
Jail for larceny; didn't know how long. At
ter a remark or go from counsel the witness
testimony was admitted.
Witness hives at Baton Rouge; was there
on the. day and evening of election; saw
Garig shoot at Sy Potts. [Garig is not
among the prisoners under examination.
not having been arrested]. Witness was
going home in company with Sy Potts when
they were fired at; Sy and another colored
man were standing together l stopped
to speak to them, until l saw
some white men coming; then we started;
Garig missed Sy when he fired at him, and
killed his companion; there was n lamp
burning, and the moon was shining; Sy
Potts got in the State House yard over the
fence, which is high; after firing at Sy,
Garig went to his house; l saw Philip
Bower and two mora white men, who cried
out to the others not to shoot tor they would
shoot them; Bower had no weapons; Garig
had arms, or he could not have killed the
colored man.
Cross-examined by Mr.. New-Was ar
rested and imprisoned for stealing copper,
but was cleared; l did not swear at Baton
Rouge that Philip Bower had a double
did not say at Baton Rouge that l had hid
under bridge.
Moses Gustave, swOrn-Lives at Baton
Rouge: was there en- election day, about the
courthouse in the evening; don't know who
shot or who didn't; know that ran.
Cross-eXamined-Went from the court
house to A. Cuisinard and asked him for
protection: he told me that he would give it
to me, and that ] would stay with him all
night.
Horace Greeley, swOrn-All in the court
room arose to see Horace Greeley; time had
not touched his curly locks, for they were
black as Jet. 1t is true that he has aban-
dOned the grey coat, for he was dressed in
a close-titting suit of the seediest black.
Horace sat in the witness chair and forth
with told the court all that he did not
Al. H. \.
Oss-examinatiOn.
Richard Martin sworn-The testimony of
this witness was to the effect that he was
hailed, halted, searched for arms, and
marched to Jail by armed men, among
whom he recognized Loux.
Lizzy Williams testified that passing
along the street, Guss, calling her an oppro
briOus name, fired at her.
Alexander Martin was set aside because
he had been in the Penitentiary for raising
a riot. Mr.. Beckwith remarked that raising
a riot appeared to be respectable and
fashionable these days.
Louis Williams testified that he had been
wounded in the leg and in the thigh by
shot; had seen T. j. Bird, and heard him
say, Don't fire till you see a man, then
every man you see down him - he showed
the holes the balls had made in his ctOthes,
and stated that the ball was still in his leg.
aAei0 0iu AscUilASouy w IlucSS " tho
too excited to see or hear much he got
shot in the market-house; does not know
by whom.
Earle Turner-Was out on the night of
the riot; ia fireman; had gone with his
company to keep peace; had been arrested
by three soldiers; had gone by order of the
foreman, who acted under the direction of
the Mayor; the bells at the engine-house
have the bell ropes hanging on the outside
If Ho h,1i1 huf WV
them; don't know who rang them that
night