The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-11
TRIAL OF THE GRANT PARISH
PRISONERS.

104OVN1A10'
It is now more than three weeks since the
second trial of the men charged with murder
in Colfax began in this city in the United
States Circuit Court. But yesterday the
Jury, after three days confinement and deli
beration, found verdict Of guilty against
three Of the accused and the acquittal Of
the other five. Thus ends the second chap
ter in the history Of this remarkable and
unprecedented trial.
From the commencement of this affair to
its very close, the judicial proceedings at
tending it and the official conduct OF the
administrators of the law, have been charac-
terized by species of vindictiveness, blood
thirstiness, Partially and persecution with
out a parallel IN the annals of jurisprudence.
From the rulings of Judge Woods down to
the custody of the prisoners by deputy
marshals, there has been nothing but ex-
hibtions of venom and hate toward these
unfortunate men.
The first charge Of Judge Woods to the
Jury was as heartless as it was violative Of
all principles of law and precedent. In the
second trial the same stOlid and immovable
prejudice against the prisoners marked his
conduct and all of his rulings. If the
prisoners escape they will certainly owe
nothing to the clemency or liberality of
Judge Woods. Why the sympathies of
this judicial officer should be so thoroughly
enlisted in behalf of these negroes Of Grant
parish; why all Of his rulings should be in
their favor, and manifestly unjust to the
prisoners at the bar, we are at loss to
understand.
When we bear in mind the report that
some of these semi these sons
of Africa, of whom Judge Woods seems to
have constituted himself the special cham
pion-attempted tolperpetrate an infamous
outrage upon bis wn family; an outrage 80
heinous in its character as to be enough to
make the blood of every white man and
husband boil with indignation and revenge,
we are more than surprised to witness such
an episode Of glazing partiality, and regret
that such man should be invested with
judicial power and authority over the peo-
pie.
The men charged and found guilty by a
jury drawn by Radical partisan and
prejudiced negro, packed for the purpose as
we believe, only defended their families
against such outrages as every brave and
true white man would resent, even at the
peril of his life. For this these men of
Grant parish are hunted down like wild
beasts by tho pompous DeKlyne with metro
politan policemen at his back, dragged
down to this city and incarcerated without
benefit of bail, upon the affidavits Of ne
groes whose nature it is to steal and lie
prosecuted by the District Attorney, whose
name is Beckwith and whose admiration
for the negro is pronounced ; tried before a
partisan and prejudiced judge who trifies
with liberty and life over the card-table,
and a jury drawn for the occasion. Such is
the spectacle presented to-day in an age of
civilization and Intelligence.
But it is only another proof Of the fearful
fact that Southern white men have no
rights that Republican officials are bound
to acknowledge or respect. The lives Of
Southern men weigh nothing in the scales
with negroes That when white men at
tempt to defend themselves against the
combined organizatio of beastly and inhu
man negroes, who announce their intention
to drive the decent and respectable citizens
from the parish, they are subjected to the
iuhuman treatment of such men as Judge
Woods, District Attorney BeGkwith and
Deputy Marshal De Klyne. The la ter has
been promoted for his zeal in his wa, fare
against innocent white people and in behalf
Of the negro.
Beckwith will probably be rewarded with
the judgeship in place Of Durell, and Judge
Woods may perhaps be elevated to the
Supreme bench.
And yet we are told that we are blessed
with benefcent Government. That it
deals out justice to all and strives to bring
about harmony and unity among the people.
But few more such infa nous Outrages as
this one just perpetrated upon the white
people of the State and the whites Of
Louisiana had better 'fold their tents" and
leave the country to the African and such
admirers of negro justice, virtue and intel
ligence as Messrs. Woods, Beckwith, De
Klyne, Kellogg, Durell and Norton.
A LITTLE SQUABBLE.-It will be remem-
bered that Mr.. Albert Baldwin. Vice Presi-