Le Louisianais. [volume] (Convent, La.) 1865-1883, 1871-07-29
A few words Of truth
And <~obcrness.

ansed some excitement among orr cololed
elbow citizens. Radical politicians, ever on
he aIet, for any pretext that may afford them
chance Of retaining their grasp upon the
minds of their followers, have no, failed 10
'eizs upon this opportunity 10 irilamc evil
and prejndicrs, their only stock in
trade. AS an act Of justice 10 the
arge number of colored men in our midst,
who are fast losing faith in the professions of
their former leaders, and wish to listen 10
reason and truth, we now proceed TO slate
we personally know about This matter.
We all remember villa, took place in the
Parisl, Of Ascension on the day following the
last November Elections. Owing To some
difficulties occurring a, these elections, or
Immediately after. a large number Of colored
men from this Parish, under the lead Of
Joseph C. 0ifvrr,~+~r.tt~+s14 1T Il body, ar,ned
guns, swords, etc, and encamped on the
limits dividing this Parish and that of Assem-
sion. Durin. The night two peaceful citizens,
Mayor Marx Schomberg and Judge VIM. c
Lawes, were killed, and their bodies horribly
mn,ila'ed. These gentlemen met their death
while returning from a peace mission to 0. F.
Hunsaker of this Parish, then pretending to
&C; as Biicadier General Of Militia, in order
to prevail on him TO take the necessary mea,
sures to prevent riotiny and b|ooaslled. Their
bodies were found near the very spo, wIIere
the armed men, under divers command, had
camred out and established their pickets, on
the night of this murder.
An investigation took place, and by virtue
Of warrant issued by the United States Com.
missioner, three men were arrested, David
Fisher, of Ascension, and the two brothers
Oliver, OF ST. James. A large number Of
witnesses were examined, and from their
testimony the Commissioner felt justified in
committing the three accused TO jail, in order
TO stand their trial on The charge of murder
in the District Count Of the Parish Of Ascen.
sion. subsequently to these proceedings, the
District Judge made a preliminary eAanira
ton Of the case, and from tie testimony given,
concnrrcd in opinion with the U. S. Commits
sinner, and remanded The accused TO Jail.
According to the ordinary rules Of criminal
proceedings, the trial Of these men. on the
charge of murder, would have taken place u,
the last Nav Term Of the District Cour, in
the Parish of Ascension. The case would frs,
hive been passed upon by the Grand Jury,
who would have heard the witnesses, and from
their ,es,imoney would Lave decided whether
cr not the accused should be tried. If they
had come to the conclusion that a trial was
necessary, they would then have found a true
bill, and returned an indictment against the
accused. When placed upon their trial under
this Indictment, the accused would have had
the right Of moving for a change of venue,
in other words FIR Il ,rnsfer TO another Dis.
tlict Count, Of the trial thus commenced in
Ascension.
But before any ,ling had been done in The
case looking TO the trial, before any inlic,-
,nent was found, long before the time fixed by
law for the holding Of the District Court, the
Legislature Of the Sra'c of Louisiana had
scarcely time to organize, when a bill was
introduced and adopted, providing for a change
of venue in the case Of Fisher and J. C.
Oliver and C.. Oliver, accused of murder in
the Parish of Ascension. This bill was pre-.
sented to Gov. Warmolll for his approval, but
lie did mt approve it, and it only became a
law because he did not send i, back with lii
objections within ten days.
What took place in the Parish of jefferson
under the operation of this extraordinary bill
is well known to the entire community, and
we abstain from all upon the bill
itself, and npon the circumstances Of the trial
or The validity of the proceedings. We conint
ourselves simply 10 giving a correct accoun
Of the plain facts as they occurred, and leaving
our intelligent readers at liberty 10 deduc
their own consequences.
AT the last May Tenn of the District Con,
Of The Parisl, Of Ascension, q Grand Jnr,
composed Of fourteen coIored and Two viii,
citizens and registered voters, was duly EN-
panelled and sworn, in order TO enquire int
and report all violations of law within til
Parish, since the meeting of the last Gran
jury. After a careful and deliberate e,
animation, this Grand Jury found
true bill against Joseph c. Oliver al
Celestine Oliver. and others, for til
murder of William C. Lawes and Mar
Schomherg. The indictment prepared b
John A.. Cheevers Esq. District Attorne.
was filed in Cont by him, and upon h
motion, an order was entered on the minute
commanding the is>ning of warrants to II
Sheriff Of the Parish of Ascension, for II
arrest Of the accused. It was in The execute
Of these warrants, and Of the order Of It
Court, that Lonis Lefort, q duly sworn Dep
~ Sheriff Of The Parish Of Ascension, legal
arrested Joseph c Oliver and Ce'esline oil
or, and pfared 1lIsm in the Jail of said Paris
there 10 await tho further action of the Di
trict Court under the indictment found again
them as above explained.
In conclusion We would simply repeat III
we express no opinion whatever upon II