New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-15
ORLEANS WEDNESDAY,
KU.KLUx IN GRANT PARISH.

NEW OnAEAV
| KU.KLUx IN GRANT PARISH.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
Early in the morning of the twenty -thir'
of October, 1.-THE day after the prisoners NO,
on trial in this city were removed from Col
fax, saw man named Jack O'Quin, VIII
told me that there was to be q party raised il
the hills (meaning back from the river) to g
to the falls, or some narrow place below, and
stop the boat, rescue the prisoners and ami
hilate the militia force organized at Colfax
He appeared to be in favor of marching di
rect to COlfax, and giving the militia fight
but did not advance that as the main 0biec,
of the party.
He stated that he was sent to obtail
aid from Montgomery and vicinity. and hai
| made q detour and collected some hal
dozen young men, who signified their vii
lingness to join the expedition. l tried tt
they were after would be out OF
harms way long before they could
arrive at the falls or mouth, and that
with regard to attacking the militia, there
was no doubt in my mind that there could
be force raised that could kill every mem.
ber of the militia; but, to put an end to the
militia would only be to inaugurate the
BEGINNING of things.
His only reply was, that they did not look
want any of my preaching. Two of our
tOwnspeOple, both reliable men and justices
OF the peace, went, at the request Of the
people of Montgomery. to confer with the
hills people. They returned, but made no
report Of what occurred further than to
state that they advised the party to disperse,
which they suppose they did. used my
influence to prevent the young men Of
not think single one left town with him.
On the morning Of the twenty fourth of
October, found, in bush in my yard, tho
following note:
Mr.. Jules Lameraux:
You must leave this parish by November
!, next. If you stay longer. you must risk
1t. We did n0t-yOu this before. We
know your wife was sick; keep silent, and
60; don't come back: you can't live here.
This is from the Grant parish safety COM
mittee.
(Signed with red cross) X.
showed it to . few particular friends,
some of whom wanted me to nail it up in
town. but We concluded to keep quiet and
watch. To explain what will hereafter
occur l will state that have child but
six weeks old now, that was unwell at that
time and kept me and sometimes several
mel, members be =. Of d:y my family up the greater
On the night of the thirty-6rst of October
went to one of the doors to procure wood
which was piled in the passage, and then
saw two men standing before my gate.
disappeared in different directions. On the
night of the first Of November. about
twelve o'clock, the same thing occurred
(bOth nights being sort of gray, q moon
under q slight clOud). At about half-past
two o'clock A. NJ. l again had occasion to
procure wood, when l again saw the parties
in nearly the same position as at twelve.
did not make any noise as was in my
socks.
l returned and took shotgun heavily
loaded with buckshot, and stepped out,
first into the passage, which was too dark
foE any one to see me plainly in. crept
along toward the gallery, which
extends along the entire front of the house.
When nearly out of the passage, my eyes
being fixed on the two parties, l touched a
chair with my knee, which made q slight |
noise, upon which both parties disappeared. |
stood still in the dark for perhaps fit |
stepped toward the outer edge |
If the gallery. When within about tour |
Feet of the edge land it was light enough
here to make me distinctly visible from
he street,, q man rose in the street and |
eveling gun over the fence, snapped at |
ne. l retreated perhaps five or six feet |
ind cooked my piece, when l heard re-
reating footsteps, upon which ran to the
,ate and fired at the party, who was then
It rather long range for my weapon.
l was disturbed no more that night: l
ould not recognize my assailant; several Of
ny neighbOrs who heard the shot in the
light came by in the morning to ask its
meaning. when told what had occurred
ust before night, one of my neighbors
allied on me and requested me to accom-
any him to the Masonic Hall that night, as
he citizens had agreed to come together to
ear my statement, and, if possible, remedy
be evil. went and after an Introductory
peech from the president, l was asked to
elate the circumstances as they occurred,
'hich did.
was followed by others: one advised me
} have any one arrested whom l sus-
lcioned; one allowed that I was probably
listaken in regard to hearing gun snap,
ating that he had rode all over the parish in
erfect safety. But, although the only one
no tried to cast any doubt on my state.
adopted aVthis meeting. Besides
yself but three persons said word rela-
We to the matter in hand, although all who {
gned the resolutions were there. Mr.. &
agan, one of the justices Of the peace, who F,
ent to the hills the day the people met as
lated above, was there, but upon being I
He'd on replied that he had nothing to say.
The parties who did speak we're honest T
their convictions, but we're not situated y
ighbors. They, after passing the resolu- II
ms, asked me what should do. l re- t
led that did not know, but thought l h
d better leave, as those resolutions Z
me safety in the town $50 far as +
the power of the community" but it was d
? business to travel all about in the par A
making surveys, and that after what had 7
Cured did not feel safe to do so; that
're0ver, but three gentlemen in the as G
nbly had spoken, and they, according to 81
eir own statements, knew nothing rela- a
e to the matter at issue, but that among
I'M were men, not one, two nor three, but
re, who had said nothing, who knew that
was in danger, but dared not tell it: that Il
y were right, that it was too late then to O,
me any good, and would only bring per- f.
uti0n upon them; that the meeting itself =
I'D do me no good, but might be the IL
ans of making mine the last case of the al
ID. rs
cited them to a case that occurred less a,
n year ago, when another citizen was ~
lered away; how l then proclaimed in a.
street that it was an outrage, and that eG
people were doing themselves a great of
nstice to allow any outside clique, mob "
vigilance committee to dictate to a II
zen Of their town. offered to he one of NJ
+ q dozen to 60 to the house of the party C.,
ered away and protect him in having q -.
il, which he begged Of his fellow citizens "
rain. was advised by friend not to an
7e too much to say, as l might excite the m,
.or of the committee etc. an
he excuse of the citizens in that case "'