New Orleans Republican., 1873-04-10
THE RIOT IN GRANT PARISH
BOTH PARTIES ARMED AND 5ELLlGERENT
ABDUCTION OF MIR. CALHOUN
STATEMENTS oP srEAMBoArMEH.


state that they saw large body of colOred
men, armed with shotguns and other
weapons, on the bank, and they did not
land. At Montgomery. twenty-five miles
above, they had taken on board Judge w.
Z. Rutland, who stated he had been forced
resentative Ward has taken armed posses
sion of the courthouse at Colfax. Judge Rut-
land, fearing he would be assassinated if he
remained there, went TO Montgomery and
remained there until taken on board by the
John T. Moore. While away from homo he
learned his house had been sacked. As the
boat passed Colfax it was hailed by Mr..
Calhoun, but did not take him on board,
being unable to make the landing on ac-
count of the violent wind. On arriving at
Alexandria they learned the La3elle, which
had passed them, had taken Mr.. Calhoun
on board, but that he had been taken off
again under arrest by the sheriff at Pine
vile. At Alexandria were body of about
900 armed men who were going to Coltax to
attack the rioters. These men took six
pound cannon from the boat, and proposed
to take it with them. They also took from
the Durfee eleven casks of bacon and TWEEN
ty barrels Of fo1r. It was reported at
Alexandria that the rioters were shooting
all who refused to join them.
The La Belle, coming after the John T.
Moore, made landing q little below Col
fax, and took Mr.. Calhoun on board at
Curry Point, very near his own plantation.
MIR. Calhoun said he had been in the woods
since Tuesday of last week, that his
house had been seized by the rioters,
and he obliged to get away. At Col
fax the boat was hailed by a woman.
Mr.. Calhoun stated that she was a
teacher, from New Orleans, in a private
family. On reaching Pineville the Belle
was boarded by armed men from Alexan-
dria, who took Mr.. Calhoun off with them.
They told him no harm would come to him
if he was innocent, as he said he was, of
creating the riot. He was searched, and o
letter found on him from Representative
Ward to Governor Kellogg, reciting the
existing disturbance and asking tor as
sistance. The Belle was obliged to come
down and leave Mr.. Calhoun in their hands,
and it 10 feared he will suffer violence.
The cause of the riot seems to be the dupli
cate commissioning of the parish officers.
Governor Kellogg had. at the instigation of
Rutland and others, commissioned Nash
sheriff. and others Vho ran on the Fusion
ticket. Some of those on this ticket were
of the party who are charged with having
burned the house of Judge Phillips and
murdered Recorder White September 25.
1871. Mr.. Ward represented these facts to
Governor Kellogg. who thereupon issued
other commissions to the elected Repub-
licans. Mr.. Ward took the commissions,
went to Grant and demanded the offices.
He yas refused possession of the court
houss and then took it. Richardson
and Rutland. who. il 10 alleged. had
been in communication with the
piney woods Democrats, sent to them
for assistance 60 retdke the Offices.
Mr.. Ward then ordered Rutland and Rich
ardson to leave town. DR.. Cockrell and
Mi. Paul the Fusion candidate for sheriff.
are leading the men from Alexandria, ~ho
are going to Grant to fight. IL is believed
that they will be reinforced from the par
ishes of Catahoula, Eatchitochee. Sabine,
Winn and Rapides. Hadnott. the member
of the Odd Fellows Hall Legislature, is
said TO be among the active members OF tho
bands from the piney woods.
STATEMENT OF JUDGE RUTLAND.
Judge w. Il. Rutland, who arrived here
Yesterday morning on the steamboat John
T. Moore, furnishes the Pieayu,,c with the
following version. In reference to the
statement that he wrote letter TO the New
Orleans REPUBLICAN, which we refused to
publish. we can only say we never received
any communication from him:
The Lynch returning board ignored the
election of our parish officers, and M. KeI
logg appointed set OF men to I'LL the va
cancies, but who did not qualify according
to law, and allowed the time to elapse in
which they are required by law to do it
in. hr. Kellogg, at my instance, c0mmis-
stoned all officers who we're elected, includ-
ing both Republicans and Fusi0nists, white
and cOlored, except parish judge who had
already qualified aud was Republican.
Ward, member of the Dryades street
Legislature, learning that Mr.. Kellogg was
going to issue these commissions, fastened
to Culfax and took violent and fOrcibe pos
session of the courthouse and offices with a
mob. There was proposition to hold a
mass meeting of the people for the purpose
of expressing their condemnation in b
quiet way at the course pursued by these
men, but when the day arrived for the
meeting to have been called together
there were such violent demonstrations
made by Ward, Register and Flowers, and
the armed band that was backing them,
that the few white people who had
the matter in hand did not pretend
to do anything, but quietly returned to their
homes without going near the courthouse,
DR. assembling anywhere. After this was
advised by friends to seek safety, as my
lie was in danger. / took their advice aud
started to- cross the river to Mr.. j. c.
Morsntini's place, but when got 60 the
river was interviewed by another friend, !
y no told me that it would not be cafe for |
ne to return to this sioe Of the river that |
hight. After crossing the river vas met |
again by persons y hO told me there was a
lete ninatioB tu assAssinate the ii ] re-
urned 50 the Colfax side of the river.
At twelve O'Clock at night ] found out |
hat the mob had sacked nv house and that |
hey were going to attempt to cross the |
'iver and arrest me. I made my escape by |
Mr.. Morantnl furnishing ine with horse |
md guide, and 1 went to Montgomery. !
where found my family, which had pre- !
eded fne by boat. Since that time have !
,een quiet and have done nothing, remain. I
ng at Montgomery. ! did not go OUT of
Own at all until got on board OF the /
teamoost John T. Moore to come TO this
,lace. IN passing Colfax, last Monday |
0crning, was discovered on board Of the !
'oat By the mob of negroes, and my ears
we're greeted with prolonged and serri 10
ellis from the shore. and many, mounting |
heir horses, got their guns and pursued I
fteg the boat .or some distance, some even