The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-01-12
AIT NUMBER 81
The UnparaIisIIea viIIniny Kr-lp.so.ea


Tho proceedings before the o. s. Com
missioner Weller Yesterday, in reIation to
the Donaldsonyille disturbance and the
murder Of Judge Lawes and Mayor Shon-
burg, reveal the most atrocious acts of
conspiracy, perjury and outrage which
have ever been attempted IN this State, a
The guilt Of the foul deeds is clearly
and distinctly brought home to certain
white Radicals in the parish Of Ascension.
1t was by their instigation andvinAuence
that two Of the best white citizens Of the
parish, while engaged in a mission Of
peace, representing each of the political
parties engaged in the controversy, were
most brutally murdered, They were shot
whilst riding in their buggy, bearing
message from an officer Of the State for
the dispersal Of an armed force about to
march into the townof Donaldsonville.
Had they been enemies in open war, OF
even IN war with pirates, their charac-
ter as peace ambassadors, under the safe
guard of the superior officers of the body
which murdered them, ought to have en-
sured their safety and respectful treatment.
Yet they were killed, evidently under or
ders and by the instigation of q notorious
negro constable, appointed TO his uff1ce by
the Governor of the State Not only
were they killed, but the body Of one Of
them, the foremost and most esteemed
man IN the whole parish was, after he had
fallen, riddled with musket balIs and mu-
tilated with cuts Of that frighttul weapon,
the sugar-cane knife.
| These are the plain facts of the occur
renee, which has so profoundly agitated
the people of Ascension and Of the ada
cent country, as now revealed by the very
witnesses, negroes, who have been suborn-
ed to prove that this foul deed was com
mitted by white men, who were personal
and political friends Of the murdered men,
and who were, during tAe whole day, five
miles from the scene of the tragedy. The
suborned negro, who was chiefly relied up
on, fortunately had not the intelligence to
maintain his original version, and IN 6
cross-examination- broke down and freely
confessed that the affidavit signed by him
had never been read to him, and that he
could not read himself, and was prepared
by one r. K Smith, the Parish Judge elect
There were other parties, white men, anc
Radical chiefs, engaged ia this Infamous
subornation Of an ignorant and brutal ne
gro, to charge white citizen and public
official with murder, and have Linn brought
to this city and imprisoned, and held fol
trial There can he no shadow of doub
/ bA-eNb luCg huNh lllC QlbCA ldAHtnOOu. Ol Iii
affidavit they prepared for the negro Isaai
TO sign. They did it deliberately, and fo
the undoubted object of getting rid OF
political adversary, who was vigorousl,
following up the proofs of their own vii
lainy.
Isaac, it will be seen by the report il
our local columns, has been arrested an,
held for perjury, and R. K Smith,, tn,
parish Judge elect, for subornation Of per
jury. There are other whites who ough
= to be, and we presume will.be included il
the same charge. 1t is even more impor
tant the conviction and punishment c
these, to have this affair thoroughly site
in order to see whether it has not been in
. stigated, justified and sanctioned, and
not now defended, by other and highe
!. chiefs of the party, in whose interest thes
foul murders and perjuries were commit
ted.-Nel0 Orleans Times, Dec Sth.