New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-26
GRANT PARISH PRISONERS.
Trial In the United States Ciscuis Cou


Trial In the United states Ciscuis Court.
Third day Of the proceedings against the
Grant parish prisoners. j. P. Hadnot ct ais,
charged with conspiracy and murder at
Colfax last April. Before Judges Woods
and Durell.
District Attorney Beckwi,h addressed the
jury explaining the United States law of
1870, under which this prosecution is had.
especially mentioning the fact that accused
conspired together to deprive Alexander
Tillman OF his liberty and life. He also
gave q short history Of the Grant parish
troubles, from details furnished the govern
ment by competent witnesses. The attor.
news recital was listened 20 attentively. as
he deliberately related the leading horrors
Of the Colfax massacre. lie quickly made
it apparent that he was in possession of all
or nearly all tho leading fact. in the case
He explained what tho crime Of murder
is, etc.
A recess for IS few minates vas had. and
witnesses separated.
The first witness called was
4. c. Register, of Grant parish, sworn-
In March and April last was resident Of
Grant parish: was parish Judge OF that
parish; ID. Shaw was sheriff; there was a
disturbance in Colfax on the first Of April;
it was made by an armed body, who, it was
understood, was to take the courthouse;
instructed the sheriff to guard against the
mob; l remember one or two of the aggres-
sors; the elder Hadnot l recognlzed he is
dead; saw the mob Of about twenty men
before the above date; Mr.. Calhoun showed
me a message purporting to be from Judge
Cazabat; the mob was armed with fire
arms; saw that Hadnos had red scarf
and . sword; was at the time near
| the courthouse; saw two other bodies of
armed men, who arrived from differ
ept directions; there were i've men In
one squad; they were j. w. ScarbOr and
Grayson: Sheriff Shaw was sixty yards
from the courthouse; he had fifteen depu-
ties; other persons were about there, more
than usual at Colfax; there was no hostile
demonstration at first; sent no reply, but
said if the force attempted to capture mo
would resist; the message was menacing
/ one: the sheriff had no men; Hadnots men
! left about 3 p NJ; the sheriffs posse was
! increased during the day; the posse was
| mostly of colored men; colored men made
no hostile demonstrations on the first day
of April; ON the second OF April saw
| mounted armed men going in the direction
| of Rocky bayou, three miles OIL; the men
| had firearms; the colored people were great
| ly alarmed, and fed from their homes; some
| of them took shelter in the courthouse-
men, women and children; on the night of
| the third 2G0 or more had congregated
| there; knew mono Of the armed men who
| appeared on the third or fourth OF
| OF April; there were incessant alarms on
| on the fourth and fifth; armed men were
| seen moving about every day; on the sixth
4 of April saw that there was line OF com.
| municatlon among the sskirmishers; know
| of skirmish between the first and tenth of
| April l am uncertain about date; Wa sin
| the skirmish for defense; there were 200
! men in sight; we made stand because we
! believed an attack was to be made on our
| homes; we were about $50 yards apart;
| there was firing; the assailants were mount
| ed, and fired as they wheeled; did not re-
| cognize any of the assailants; they ap-
preached rapidly, and so disappeared;
there were several hundred colored people
in the courthouse at that time; Monday was
court day, and nothing occurred; on Tues
| day the same; l left on Wednesday, the
! ninth; there were four or five hundred
colored people in Colfax when l LETT;
/ Jessie Mckinney had been killed before
| left; he was a colored msn; the coiored
| people had no design to commit an aggres-
| colored people had their arms stacked;
| previous to this date {: party from Mont
| gomery. represented by Mr.. w. +. Howell,
I made overtures for a compromise, saying
| that settlement could be made; several
! persons were present at the interview at
1 my house; this was on the second or third
| of April; returned to within one mile OF
| Colfax on the fourteenth, and was opposite
| Colfax on the fifteenth of April; saw mounted
I tbcrn. lie nf hOnSa were
left standing; could only see that the court
house was burned; went into COlfax on the
| seyenteenth: then saw that men had been
| buried, and some of the limbs protrudlng
from the earth; wounded men; knew Llvl
Nelson, colored; knew Alex Tillman, grille
| they lived in Grant parish; know all the
| prisoners at the bar; saw mono OF them al
Colfax on the ninth OF April; may have
had conversation with accused about the
troubles.
Mr. Whitaker cross-examined the wit
ness. bat elected nothing Of the least i'm
! pertancs no: embraced in the examina tior
| in chief.
At this iuncture the court decided thai
| the interrogation Of witnesses must be
| confined to one counsel. Mr.. Whita ker.
| after his cross examination. made Mr.. Reg
ister his witness, and afterward declared
his object in asking him question was tt
lay foundation to impeaeh the witness
testimony. The court informedthe attorney
that he could not ;mpeach hia own wit
| pesses.
The court then adjourned until clever
O'Clock this morning, and Judge Woods in
timated that no would hold . session
tonight.