New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-05
From Richland Parish.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
1t may interest your readers to hear from
this part Of the State, through which / am
now travelling. Two papers are published
in this parish (Richland,) but they do not
give the news unless it suits them. They
are Democratic sheets, and their mission is
not to enlighten the people by telling the
truth. but to deceive and mislead by false
hood. The Republican exchanges which
come to the Beacon office are not even read
by the editor. Its readers do not know that
Blanchard ha. confessed. As to local out
RACES. these papers are carefully silent.
ON the nineteenth Of last Angus. one
Robert Williams, who claimed to be a con.
stable. arrested q colo-ed man. Joshua
Harms. hear Lafourche lake. eight miles
from Rayville. He gave no reason for the
arrest, bu: told Harris he must 60 before q
Justice at Girard, for examination.
After proceeding short distance, five
armed teen me: Williams and Harris. and
ordered the constable to give up the pris-
oner 20 them. saying they wanted him
OF course. these five good citizens had their
way. They took Harris and led him OF
into the woods. It does not appear what
became Of William. just then. l. is GER
tain. however, that ne made no resistance.
and was suffered to 90 home unmolested.
Harris was made to lie down. and his cap.
tors commenced whipping him. They gave
no reason for il. He was not told why
Williams arrested him in the first place.
nor why these five men took aim from the
constable and whipped him. While beat
ing him they said they meant TO kill
him. Up 20 that time Harris had
submitted quietly, thinking that was
the best course to save his ite. but
on being told they intended to kill
hi,n. he resolved to make an effort TO es-
cape. SO he sprang up suddenly. and ran.
The men seized their guns and fired at him.
but he dashed into the thlckets and man
severely wounded. Those who saw him
soon after describe him as full Of shot"
4 great number OF shots struck him. infict-
ing flesh wounds. and what appeared 20
have been a pistol ball passed through his
side. He knew the men, and gave their
names. as follows: Byron Burnett. Mr.. Hy-
man. Sam NJ. Duffy. Nix. Cooney and Henry
Spencer.
Not long after this outrage warrants were
Issued for their arrest, but 70 arrests were
made. Plenty Of time was allowed to
enable the accused to leave the parish, and
they Left. In a few weeks or months they
will be back, and nothing will! be done.
Many such ou:rages are committed which
never become public. In parts of Richland
and Franklin, and in certain conmunitie.
in other parishes. the colored people are not
free. They do not enjoy the rights of free.
men. They receive no protection from the
law. ard are often mos: shamefully wronged
and in sred withou: hope Of justice. Men
IN Rayville openly say that certain Eepub-
licans ought to be killed. Senator Craw.
ford is one thus honored. Pablo schools
DO not exis. in Richland. The old board.
which: was appointed early in 1877 was
Democratic. and the funds were used for
.he benefit Of a certain class and not for the
Scou ia &HC lSppiOo hio oiN pooAu
turned over :osthe present sshoo! direct
ora deb: with no money 70 pay it.
After deduc:ins the amour: Of the
deb: the presen: board did no: have
enough. money to establish schools until it
was too late to do any good this year. and
with the advice Of the division superinten.
dent. they determined to make no attempt
iii! after the end Of the cotton picking sea
son. Mos: OF the children are in the fields
now. and schools opened in September
would have few pupils.
TIE proceeds OF the parish tax viii enable
tie board 20 build school houses next year.
and they expec: to begin the work of edu
cation in earnest. OF the 500 colored chill.
dren in the parish, less than one-ffth have
received the slightest benefit from the $4,000
which was spent ostensibly for school pur-
poses. The present board will do justice
10 all.
Hopir, 20 write 70 yo.: again. remain.
SCRUTATOR.