New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-12
THE TROUBLES IN GRANT PARISH
NARRATIVE OF EVENTS
The Sheriff in Peaceful Possession

The steamer st. Mary, which lett Cola.
on Wednesday morning at daylight
brought down to the city quite a numbe
of gentlemen who were witnesses of tn,
recent tumult in Grant parish. They re
port everything quiet at the time they let
Coltax, all the attacking parties having dis
banded.
Captain ID. W. Shaw, sheriff OF the par
ish, with his deputies, was in charge of The
courthouse. and there were no apprehen
sons of further trouble
Measures have already been taken by the
authorities here, State and federal. which
will insure peace hereafter.
The following statement OF the Difficult
ties at Colfax has been prepared by some
of the party who came down on the St
Mary:
In view Of the misrepresentation made
of the recent difficulties IN the parish OF
| Grant, and in Justice to ourselves, we deem
it proper 20 put the public in possession OF
the facts. Everything appeared quiet up
| to the evening of the thirty first of March,
| when rumors reached us that body OF
armed men intended, on the following day,
to make an attack on Colfax, take posses.
sion Of the courthouse, with the public
| property therein, captere the officers ap-
| pointed by Governor Kellogg, who were
| quietly exercising their duties. and put the
| appointees of McEncry in their stead. and
| made threats of q more serious character
against our r. p eesentative, William Ward.
and other prominent Republicans.
Our sheriff, Mr.. Shaw, Immediately took
| such steps as the emergency seemed TO
| ra1t1ira nv HppntIyjpp good pitiZana n aid
in protecting .he public property aud keep
| ing the peace.
On the morning of the first of April a
small body of armed men, supposed TO be
| twelve in number, we're reported on Cal.
| hOun plantation, in the direction of Rock
ford; and another body, as far as seen seven
in NUN Der, headed by one G. w. Scarbor-
ough. brother-in-lsw of Rutland. armed.
came in by the way Of Bayou Darro, on
the road leading from Colfax TO Lecroix
ferry. A third party. numbering sixteen.
armed, and headed by James HadnOt came
directly TO the store of z. Brulland, situate
about 300 yards from the courthouse, but
made no further demonstration than sundry
threats against the aforesaid officers and
citizens A respectable body Of citizens,
under the guidance of the proper authori-
ties, served as a wholesome restraint to
their further proceedings, and about p.
NJ. the whole body disappeared.
Fearing a second advance, and for the
further securing of the peace, guards were
placed at intervals where danger was ap-
pretended. About six o'clock w. R.
Rutland, with family, moved across the
river without threat or hindrance though
well known to be the prime movers and CO.
worker with Hadnot in these as well as
other troubles that have afflicted this other.
wise peaceable and orderly parish.
Some time, during the night, some person
or persons, without the knowledge or con-
sent of the authorities, entered the house
left by said Rutland aud committed some tri-
fling depredations on some articles of cloth
ing, leaving furniture, and articles of value,
together with box containing the EN-
balmed body of child, entirely unmOlested,
the truth of which can be amply esta hlished
by w. F. Harvell, attorney -at-law. from
Montgomery, who was deputlzed by the
citizens of Montgomery to INQUIRE into the
existing difficulties.
On the second day following Mr.. W. L.
Richardson moved his effects across the
river, in view of all present, and unmOles-
ted. From the first to the fourth instant
bodies of armed men were seen lowering
around. keeping the people in an excited
state, many of whom from terror had left
their homes and focked to the courthouse
for mutual protection. On the morning Of
the fifth an armed party was discovered
moving on TO Smithtield Quarters from the
direction of Rockford. While maneuver-
ing there, a part of the same body passed
down to the crossing of Bayou DarrO, three
miles east of Coltax, and there shot and
killed one Jesse McKiuny in presence of his
wife and children, he being unarmed and
in bis own yard. The party first mentioned
continued their advance along a piece of
timber skirting Rock Island and within a
half mile of Smithtield Quarters, mounted
and armed, when their approach was sud
denly checked by our forces, advancing in
three companies, endeavoring to flank them.
and thereby prevent retreat. This move was
discovered by them ba ely in time to save
their whole party from capture. They fired
at our approach and made hasty retreat.
hotly pursued by the footmen and few
mounted men of our party, resulting in the
loss on their part of two pistols, saddlehags,
etc. On the same day a small party ap.
peared near Smilhtield, in which was one
w. Strong Representative from VIM, and,
no doubt, largely composed of men from
Winn and adjoining parishes las the mass
of citizens of this parish are much incensed
W tn Hadnot for forcing this issuei. Strong
was questioned by some of our men and
stated that he merely came 10 company
with some men from Montgomery to make
arrests OF certain men charged a6 having
destroyed Rurland's goods.
On Sunday, the sixth instant, d small!
body Of mounted men from Colfax. while
guarding the approaches. suddenly en-.
countered a band of armed marauders near
the foot of Boggy Bayou, on the Calhoun
Plantation. Here sharp conflict ensued,
in the rout of the entire band,
who fed precipitately across the bayou, |
with what loss is not fully known, leaving |
de vi on. the field, il was said, one Jack |
O'Quinn. of ku-Klux notorety.
1t should be borne in mind that all OF |
these occurrences took place on the planta. |
ton cultivated by the defenders and in |
sight of their homes and families. To get |
up a body of men for the unwarrantab!e |
attack on the peaceable and inotfensive |
citizens of Colfax and vicinity, it was nee
essary to resort to pertidy and every con
ceivable and infamous lie was industri- |
nu>Iy circulated through the pine woods to
accomplish the purpose.
Communication by the Republicans was
entirely CUT of, thereby giving the culprlts
ample time to disseminate false and vii
ainOus reports of their own wantun and |
cowardly acts: and we submit in all con
science, that the Republicans Of our parish
are deserving of the highest commendatlon
for the moderation and forbearanCe shown |
20 some bad men living in our midst, who
lOw happily bg their own act and on their
,wn motion have left our parish. On a
thorough investigation of the facts, which
will speedily take place, the above state
nents will be abundantlv proved.
Il. c. REGISTER.
G. D. BRANTLEY.
WILLIAM WARD.
Il. H. FLOWERS.
CHARLES SNOWDEE.
VALUABLE MARBLE MILL AT AUCTION