New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-11-18
The Donnldsonville Riot.

Yesterday morning, u case was brought
I'D in the United States Commissioners
Court. Commissioner Van Ornum presiding,
which has close connection with the Don
aldsonville troubles. The following is the
affidavit upon which the case is based:
State of Louisiana, District of Louisiana,
ss.-Before me, William Grant, United
Estates Commissioner for the District OF
Louisiana, personally appeared Felix
Reynaud, of the parish of Ascension, who,
being duly sworn says that on the night OF
Tuesday. the eighth day OF November. 1870,
at said parish of Ascension, five miles below
Donaldsonville, and within the District
of Louisiana, one David Fisher who had
organized mob of several hundred
persons for the unlawful purpose of burning
the town of Donaldsouvills, i'll said district.
because the Commissioner of Election re-
fused to surrender the ballot boxes, which
had been deposited in the courthouse,
in which the votes taken on the seventh
dav of November, 1870 ut the election held
that day. under the laws OF Louisiana had
been deposited; that after organizing said
mob and while the said David Fisher WAC
assembled with them at the Augustine
Richard plantation. in said parish, he. the
said David Fisher, did shoot with a
gun, and cut a IA cane-knite, William
{. Lawes and Marks Schonberg. and
then and there, with malice atorethought,
kill and murder the said William c. Lawes
and Marks SchOnbcrg, with the weapons
and instruments aforesaid, in violation of
the laws of the United States in such case
made and provided. Wherefore attiant
prays that the said David Fisher may be
arrested and dealt with according to law.
(Signed), FELIX REYNACD.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
tourtpentl day Of November. 1870.
WILLIAM GRANT.
United States Commissioner.
Mr.. Gurley appeared on behalf of the
government, and Judge Shannon conducted
the defense.
There were no witnesses for the prescott
ton in court and under the circumstances
the counsel for the prosecution moved that
the case lie over, and the prisoner be re-
manded till tomorrow
Judge Shannon, for the defense. opposed
this, and desired that the accused BE- adj
mitted to bail.
The government counsel, Mr.. Gurlev. con-
tended that the charge was too grave for
bail. and the ends of substantial justice re-
qliired that the prisoner should be remand
ed till tomorrow.
The court finally ordered that the case be
postponed till to-day at twelve o'clock. the
prisoner meantime remaining in custody,
without privilege of bail.
As will he seen, the charge against David
Fisher of killing Mayor Schonberg and
Judge Lawes, is based upon the affidavit OF
Felix Reynaud. Now, the evidence is
abundant that one of the slain men killed the
other: that Schonberg was shot by Lawes.
1t seems equally certain that the concoc-
fion of the affidavit against Fisher, Felix
augurated the disturbance. 1t is equally
provable that Lawes attempted the life of
Fisher. All this points to the conclusion
that the affidavit OF Reynaud against
Fisher, and Fisher arrest, are merely at
tempts to dispose of Fishers evidence. that
it may not be of avail against the really
guilty parties in the Donaldsonville riots.
The truth will appear i'll a few days.