The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-09-30
CRIME IN C0USHATrA.
How the White League Reforms. Abuses
and Protects Life and Property.


From the Statement of Henry Smith. in the
New Orleans Republican,
In the early part of the month of August,
1874, public meeting was held AT the Court
League party. Among them were several
persons from the city of Natehitoches. viz;
W. Ii. Jack, j. Ii. Cosgrove, and 5. NJ.
Hyams. Speeches were made publicly, pro-
claiming that the object of the meeting Was
TO demand and compel the resignation OF the
parish officers. Before the Natehitoches deli
egation left for home it was stated by them
that they came there to assist in compelling
the resignation of the officers. Several days
after this meeting prominent citizen of
the town of Coushatta said, in my presence
and hearing, that the parish officers would be
made to resign, leave the csuntry, or
die. About two weeks before the murder,
Mr.. Il. 4. Devices was in Mr.. Gus DeRus-
sey's store, when two white men came IN,
and one of them said to him: Here is ons
of my Republican t friends now. ! say You
drawing his pistol and presenting it to Mr.
Devices az the same time said: "Show il to
me now" Mr.. Devices retreated, saying:
Gentlemen, keep your hands of of me; L
tor of the store, said to Mr.. Devices, bob,
YOU had better go home; see there is gong
to be row." Mr. Devices remarked, Keep
them of, Mr.. DeRussey, and will go home.'
Mr.. DeRussey opened the back door of the
store and let Mr.. Devices out, and he went
home These two men both stated in my
presence and hearing that they came 10 Cou-
shatta TO kill Radicals, and intended to do II
before they left
On the next day following these same two
white man came TO Coushatta and got into a
difficulty with young man who was on a
boat aground in front of town, because the
young man said he was Republican. Soma
friends of the young man called on the
Sheriff, Edgerton, to arrest the white man.
The Sheriff arrested him. and intended to put
him in JAIL when a leading citizen, and a
member of the White League forbade tho
Sheriff from putting this man in jail; but
when he fought the officers and made such
disturbances, this leading citizen and others
agreed and consented that he should be put
in prison. On the night Of the above trans
action, Captain t. w. Abney, with twelve
fourteen other citizens ofthe town, surrounded
the Sheriff and his deputy before the Court
house, formed ring around them. and or
dered him to put Frank Commodore in jail,
saying that y on put white man in Jail for
getting drunk, you must pu: this negro in
Jail also for getting drunk" The Sheriff re-
piled that he had not seen him drunk or rails
ing any disturbance, and that he would not
put him in Jail without warrant. The
swer by these citizens to that was, War to
Judge being present and fearing trouble un-
less their illegal demand was complied with,
told the Sheriff to arrest Commodore and
put him in Jail. The Sheriff went to Com
modore's house and arrested him in bed,
where he had been asleep several hours, and
put him in jail.
On the night of the 26th of August 1874, 4
body of armed white men went To the house
of Tom Cioid, q " bite man living in the Third
ward of the parish of Red River about seven
miles from Coushatta, entered il and shot at
him while on the floor with their six-shooters,
then ordered him out and they took his gun.
door he asked them: Gentlemen, let me
speak one word to my wife before you shoot
me-" They replied: cd d-n you, We
have got no words for you to say" His own
gun was placed to hi. head, and his brains
blown out by one of the white men.
Daniel Winn another colored man, living
on the same premises, heard the firing, and
seeing them kin his friend. fred on the crowd
and wounded one of them. They pursued
Winn, shot him, and left him for dead in
Robieu's field
On the following evening, the 9th of Au-
gust, report was circulated throughout the
parish that an insurrection had taken place
at Brownsville, which is about ten miles
below Coushatta, and short distance from
where Cloid was killed The Sheriff Edger-
ether citizens OF the town, most of
them belonging to the White League,
started for, and reached Brownsville
appearance whatever Of a distnrbance-cv-
erything quiet. When the Sheriff and his
posse returned that night the u bite League
was congregating and surrounding the town
There was u disturbance in or around tho
town, or IN the country to cause such steps to
be taken by them.
! am satisfied that from the reign Of terror
in that section of country the ignorant color
ed people, in order to save their lives. viii
swear TO any statement required OF them by
the White League committee. / am also
satisfied that sensible men and men Of judg-
ment win not believe such statements COM
ing from q section of country whore reyolti-
ton predominates to such an extent that one
Is afraid TO express an opinion, unless that
opinion is in accordance with the creed and
tenets Of the White League.