New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-10

| conference was held; Etienne Elsie was q
| corporal, and he wore stripes; Levin Allen
| and Thomas had swords on; never saw AL
len wear the sword before the troubles be.
| gan; saw them drill, but don't knew what
drilling is; do not know the men who were
with Nash at the conference.
j. &. Marintiny sworn-Live opposite
COlfax, ON the other bank; can see Colfax
plain from my house; last April saw many
colOred people in the village; when the men
were marching they had guns; my place is
closer to Colfax than Crafts store is; saw
the fight in COlfax from beginniry to end;
sawa white flag hung out the courthouse;
three men went toward the courthouse
door, having a white flag: when they were
about seven or eight steps from the door
smoke Isl ued from the courthouse; can not
say what became OF those men and flag: i'm
mediately afterwari the firing became gen.
eral; l know William Ward; would not
recognize his handwriting.
Cross examination-Easter Sunday there
were about thirty people at my house; can
see one end Of the courthouse from my
tinually; at the last firing saw colored
people run and white men chasing; saw
one black man fall and get up again; went
to COltax next day; saw many dead
negroes; saw one oolored man wounded,
but he couldn't speak; first knew the fight
was to come off week before Easter
Sunday; heard there was body of armed
men somewhere; have not since bOasted
that l was in the fight; have never heard
white men say they were in the fight; have
no idea as to what white men were in the
fight; was not in the light myself; can tell
q white man from a colOred man across the
river.
Sam Cuny sworn-Lived in Grant parish
last April; was opposite Colfax Easter Sun
day; was postmaster and merchant at
that time; know William Ward; the docu-
ment now before me l think is that of Cap
tain Ward; was formerly slave; the col
ored people in Coltax drilled often; during
one of the times l was near the steamboat
landing, Thomas, son of William Thomas,
drew a gun on me. saying that was q spv;
Levin Allen told me he was in command;
had four men on guard at the postotfice,
but Alien ordered them off; took the mail
matter to Alexandria, belong to the Repub-
lican party; Easter Sunday there were not
more than $50 men, and all Of them we're
not armed.
Crosse -examination-The colored people
did not give me any reason tor calling me
spy; there was no trouble before Jesse
Mckinney was shot; never telegraphed to
white people that passing steamboats, had
or had not soldiers on board; Ward and 1
once had little difficulty.
Railey swOrn-Left Colfax on the eighth
of April, with Flowers, Register and others;
the colored people generally did not know
that we intended to leave; took the steam
boat St. Mary for New Orleans; threats had
been made against old Hadnot, Nash and
Others publicly; am not certain who made
threats; Spencer White made threats
against Hainot; and Ward made attempts
to induce cOlored men to go into COlfax; we
sent verbal messages; we got go men; there
was drilling by Ward and Allen; there
were pickets; men were armed with shot
guns and other arms; do not remembeS that
there was a roll.
Cross examination-l sent for some of
the colored men; before 1 left I made
speech and indorsed all that Ward said,
though l did not know what he said; then
knew that would run away from them; l
know Terry; l was clerk of court; in my
speech advised the colored people to stick
together; did not know that Register, Ward
and Flowers had skulked off.
Edward Clark sworn-Was in Colfax a
week before the fight; saw armed men
going around the country recruiting men ts
go to Coliax to fight for their rights; did
not know what rights; went because l was
threatened if l remained away; took let
ter. from Ward for Rev. Jacob johnson, a
preacher in Rapides; would not know the
remain long.
Cross-examinatior-f delivered the letter
at the Cotille ferry, but can't say that the
ferryman delivered it; after Jesse Mckin-
ney was killed the cOlOred people became
greatly frightened, supposing that others
would be served likewise.
p. A. Huger swOrn-Was at Mr.. RhOrer's |
house Easter Sunday; saw Tom Hickman
there about ono O'Clock, and reported that |
h;o h,z, do Il ho, hot thav,
went toward home.
William Brooks swern-I was at Tom |
last Easter Sunday; saw Tom !
5wlce that day; woman with two children |
passed along and told us that we had bet |
5er leave, as the colored people had all |
Deen killed in Colfax: never said that |
carried provisions to him in camp; did not |
see him riding about Easter Sunday; think |
le had nothing to ride; Easter Sunday al |
ways falls on the thirteenth of April:
AdOlphe Le May swOrn-Llved in Natchi- |
,oches last March and April; on one occa-
ZION attempted to go to Colfax, and was
that it would be unsafe; before
he first of April there was spirit of law
essness abroad.
Allen Richardson sworn-Lived In Grant
parish last April, seven miles from COfax,
,ast; was at home most of the thirteenth of |
April last; Cazabat, Grayson, j. Lynch
nan and others were together at Darrow
,ayon, not far from my house; heard firing
IS II at COlfax then; we expected that the
liggers would carry out their threats and
he excitement was great; saw armed white
nen Easter Sunday.
CrOss-ex heard that there
would be fight; heard that there was a
lumber OF white men camped on the Dar-
ow for a week before the fight; Mr..
iunDycut first told me about. the fight; he
rOught crippled man to my house; never
eard but one man, Mr.. Woods say that he
vas in the tight; Cazabat was not armed;
One of those / saw at the Darrow were
rmed.
r. G.. Walk sworn-l live about one
nile from Tom Hickman; saw him about
our Or five o'clock Easter Sunday evening
t his home.
Cross-examination-H about the
ght from some colored people; can't say
'hen first heard that Tom Hickman was
rrested for participation in the Colfax
ght; never heard white man say he was
! the fight.
Recess until P. NJ.
The first witness called at the night ses-
Henry T. Pursell sworn-Live sixteen |
lilies below Colfsx: know Tom Hickman,
nd live six miles from him: Easter Sunday
let him at his gate about IL A. NJ; had ten
linutes conversation with. him.
Crosse 90 to the ROsedale
every Sunday; first heard OF the
ght when l reached the Rosedale, Easter |
unday; first heard of Hickman's arrest at
he time Of his capture; did not know for
hat purpose l was summoned: first knew
the fight when l saw, from the Rosedale
lace, some colored people running away.
hen we were eating dinner; did not visit
olfax until few weeks ago; saw no armed
len after the fight; on my return home saw
gorge Hickman and Mr.. Ussey; ate dinner
bout two o'clock.
Jerry Williams sworn-Last April lived
DR.. Luckett's, twelve miles above Alex
1dria; saw Charles Thomas and Glasgow