New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-15
ASSASSINATION OF JOHN Il. WIsNER,

lSh OF Ouachlta. be went ~ [nonioo "A
the first regiment of colored troops that
took possession of the place after the sur
render in 1866. He was a lieutenant IN
the federal army. In 1866 he was attached
| TO the Office of the Freedmens Bureau. IN
1867 he was engaged in planting was
elected Sheriff of the parish in 1868, which
Office be held up to his death. As
soon as he was indicted into office,
he commenced its discharge by arrestiDg
parties who we're accused Of murder, but
who had previously defied the officers, and
almost went at large. The only escape
from arrest was to leave the country. IN
one instance party charged with murder
fed to Texas, away up on Red river, and
got into the neighborhood of the notorious
Baker clan. That party had defed
and threatened Wisner; finding the place
Of refuge of this man, Wisner pursued
him into Texas, passed through Bakers
clan, arrested the party and brought him
back to Monroe, where he died in jail. The
prompt arrest Of these parties accused Of
murder and other high crimes soon brought
quiet and safety to the parish Of Ouachits,
and the name of John II. Wsner, Sheriff
OF the parish Of Onachita, became ter
ror to evil-Goers. He was from the State
Of Michigan, where his relatives live, and
was about twenty-eight years OF age-of
robust constitution; very quiet and gentle
in his department; firm and brave; took
no very active part in politics; SO acteG
as to make himself one of the people;
identif ed his interest with them, and COM
manded their respect and esteem by his
sober, moral, industrious, liberal conduct.
In the fall of 1868, a party of men went
to the plantation of General Albert Rust,
about eighteen miles below Munroe, on
the Ouachita river, at night, surrounded
cabin in which was negro named Obey
johnson. They called him to open his
door. He endeavored to escape from his
house and was shot at. The next day he
came to Munroe, and made affidavit that
Beavers, Terrill, Faust and two San
fords were the parties who had shot at
him, and named the witnesses. A war
rant was issued for the arrest of the par
ties. They were arrested and brought to
Monroe. They gave bond for their ap-
pearance to undergo an examination
before the committing magistrate.
The witnesses, Offey Johnson and others
had also been summoned and were in
Monroe. As soon as the bond was given
by the parties under arrest, the witnesses
(all colored) started home. They stopped
at a plantation about three miles below
Monroe, on the river, and were there when
the arrested party came along. This party
got the witnesses, left the main road, and
went out lane between TWO plantations,
took the witnesses some distance back OF
the plantations, into the woods, and com
menced to shoot them, and their horses
were killed and left on the ground. Ofey
johnson escaped. The afair created
great excitement. Offey Johnson made
another affidavit, and warrant was issued.
Sheriff Wisner took strong posse, and
went by night to arrest the parties accused
He and bis posse failed to make any arrests.
Wisuer took some of bis posse and secured
the woods to find the dead bodies, and did
ind them and identified them, having
known thsn before they were killed.
Time passed on the District Court was
about to meet, and Ohey johnson was
spirited away to Texas. The Grand Jury
met the District Attorney did nothing
the matter was hushed up; the Governor
offered a reward for the arrest Of Beavers,
and Sheriff Wisner found his hiding place
in jackson parish, and arrested him and
brought him to Monroe and he was in
Jail. In the meantime Ofey johnson had
been found in Texas and brought
back, and was also in jail for
safe keeping. The time for the hold
ing of tie District Court for Ouachita
was coming on. On Wednesday night,
between eight and nine o'clock, band OF
armed men surrounded the jail and the
Office in which Sheriff Wisner slept, close
by the Jail. The evidences are, that be had
gone to his office, went into his back room,
where was lamp and fire burning, took
off his coat and hat and went to the front
door, passing through the front room in
which there was no light, except that
which shone through the door from the
back room, and which he left open as he
passed through, to answer knocking or
hail +; the front door was double door,
with transom side lights approaching It
from the inside he could be seen through
the side lights; be opened with his left
hand half of it; seeing SO many persons ne
| endeavored to shut it, but before 1t was
closed shot was fired through the door,
| which took effect in his left side near the
heart, and killed him instantly. Another
shot was fred, passing through the door,
within few inches Of the first, and lodged
in the ceiling Of the room-the house Is
raised from the sidewalk about two and a
half feet, and the shots from the sidewalk
ranged up-before the second shot was
fired Wisner had fallen dead. The Office
and Jail stand on square east OF The
Courthouse square, between which runs Q
street; back of the Jail end Sberif's Office
is the Catholic Church. and other build