The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-03-23
VIOLENCE.
ANOTHER Brutal AssATLr.-SgNaroa BuT-
LER MALrREArrp

On Sunday evening, while sitting quiet
.ly in the forward cabin of the steamboat
Bannock City, on her way from the Low
or Coast to New Orleans, Hon. Edward
Butler, State Senator from the parish Of
Phquemines, was suddenly and unexpect-
edly set upon by the chief clerk, Oliver
Canton, Jr., the bar tender, and five OF
Six boat hands, cruelty beaten, ard drag
ged out on the boat guards.
The history of this outrageous tran
saction is this: Mr.. Butler had taken o
first class passage from his landing. in
the parish of Plaquemines, for New Or
leans; and, at the time of the attack. was
sitting in the fore part of the boats cabin
IN conversation with Captain William A.
Brainard, late of the United States Ar
my, when the porter of the boat conveyed
n message to Mr.. Butler, from the clerk,
desiring him to leave the cabin and %
out on the guards. Mr.. Butler declined
to leave then, with the statement that he
was there busy talking and would see
the clerk after while. Immediately
aftt rward, the clerk hastened into the
cabin, and peremptorily demanded of
Mr. Butler if he had not received his
message to leave where he was, as it was
not his place on the boat. Mr.. Butler
expressed desire to know where his
place was; the clerk replied, 'sout on the
guards Mr.. Butler told him lie thought
lie was mistaken; the clerk said he was
not, and that he Butler must go out, as
it was the order of the Captain and the
owners o: the boat that colored men
should not occupy any part of the boats
cabin.
Mr. Butler refused to leave voluntarily.
and, with the statement that if he de-
SIRED him to so out on the guards after
securing frst-class passage, he would
have to put him out there Scarcely were
the words uttered, tn N the clerk Ia ed
his hands on him, and crowd of men.
armed with the dinner-bell, q bar of iron
End knives, rushed on him, struck him
several blows which knocked him down,
cut HIM severely i'll several places about
his head, and dragged him out on the
guards and left him there, bleeding and
suffering from his wound, nd their fiend-
lsh conduct During the attack, Mr.. But
Ter attributes his escape from death to
the intervention of Captain Brainard in
striking downwards the hands of ore of
the would be assassins, wl.o hsld knife
and aimed thrust at him.
Mr.. Butler remained on board until
the boat made Magnolia landing, some
two or three miles from the scene of the
outrage, and there got off accompanied
by Capt. Brainard. This gentlemen i'm
mediately after the attack on Senator
Butler, urgently requested the Captain |
(Jeff: Posey) to land his wife, as he was
sverse to his family travel ng on boat
where such actions were permitted and
carried ON. They were accordingly put
oil, and came to the city on the San Nc
oias
MIR. Butler is in the City at present
under the medical care of DR.. Roudsnez.
MI. Buffers head and body bear very
ugly marks Of the cruel assault he suf-
fered. This gentleman informs us that
he had frequently travelled on steam
boats under the identical officers, and
had enjoyed undisturbed access to every
part of their boat, and never until this
wanton outrage had been subject to any
He further informs US, had
he anticipated that such savage violence
" ,uld have be a res FED to, he would
not have subjected h.mself to the indig-
mites he endured.
He has entered two suits in the Courts
Of his Parish, where the assault took
place. One in the Civil Court for the de-
lial of his rights as q citizen of the
Ua;.el States, IL tie pcacab.a and law:ui