New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-02
HAVOC TN CRIME,

with the assassisns Of Trenton, Iennes-
see, in the cold blooded atrocity Of their
crimes. Five or six victims, legally and
morally innocent Of any crime whatever,
have recently been arrested at Coushatta,
placed under guard, which, under pre-
tense Of taking them to Shreveport, led
them into ambush at McFarlanes planta-
ton, and cruejy put them to death. Nothing
that has ever come to our knowledge il
this State equals the enornity OF this bar
barous act against the laws Of the land, the
dictates of hu mainly, the precepts OF the
Christian religion and what little these is
left of the ia ir name of Louisiana.
The victims, Homer Twtchell, Robert
Devices, Frank Edgerton, Howell, Hol.
land and Willis, were all peaceable and
reputable citizens of Coushatta, engaged
in legitimate and honest business. Some
Of them held unimportant parochial
offices, and this fact seems to have con-
stituted the gravamen of their offense. A
committee representing the White League
movement waited upon them and de-
manded their designations. This was re-
fused. The next step was to put in cir
culation rumor, having no foundation
whatever, that eight hundred negroes
were under arms and marching on Cou-
shatta, threate ming destruction to all the
whites The six murdered men were
named in the rumor as the leaders of the
negroes In an incredibly short space OF
time and with o coincidence as to
time which is very suggestive armed
bodies of white meu INSTANTLY started
from Shreveport for the purpose. as
stated ns tie stilted language Of the
Shreveport Times. Os 'protecting their
homes and fresides." As the reported
danger was fstr miles away the danges
could no. have been Imminent When
the moi. which they call a posse up
there. arrived At coushatta they found
nothing that resembled eight hundred
armed negroes. No one was armed ec.
cept the White Leaguers themselves.
But the so-called leaders were there. and
they constituted the :es! objects Of the
expedition. These were speedily cap.
tured and held as helpless prisoners BY
Che posse. One accoun: says q cpiored
man was K illed. but gives no particulars.
We are left in doubt as 70 the Immediate
otfense which Jed to his assassination.
but the infere ce is q fair one that some
one wanted to try a'aeS revolver Q: Win.
chester sife.
It sometimes h.ppens as,cn: the IN.
dams. who have heretofore been regarded
as the worst specimens Of saSags iu'
mainly. that helpless prisoners are spared.
or at least given 8 chance OF some kind
Sor theis lives. But the Red river assas.
sins went for blood. and proceeded in .
systematic manner TO obtain il. While .
guard was escorting them from Coushatta
to Shreveport. confsdersses in the latter
place were inyen:ing . highly improbable
story that two hundred Texans started from
Marshall 20 intercept the prisoners. and
the report IS 8. first received gingerly
added: 'Is Is feared they accomplished
their purpose. rs nothing has been heard
from the prisoners since .hey''ett Con.
sha.ta.' Now. we protest gains: charging
this borrii deed upon the Texans Some
Of the outlaws Of that unhappy State s:e
bad enough. no doubt, but they are no:
SO fond Of what would bo so'thesn = gain.
less assassination Is 20 march eighty cs
or ninety miles and bacl: for no othe, pus.
pose shan 20 Waylay and n1rdes only six
men. As she numbers Of the guard aye
not stated. Nos those OF the Naylayiag
force known. We can 40: say whether cs
no: it vas possible to ses;ss and prosecs
the prisoners. Possibly they were killed
by sheis own pretended guardians. 4
dispatch from Niindea says che whole
at3aiS vas witnessed BY persons living near
there, and there is = bare possibility tia:
The truth will come cc! at i.s:.
The story ~ Is comes 20 cs ss:ds more
Ike the syas;.e and excui?a.osr rec;.a!
Of participants IN se:fous Outrage than
eae Sair state ment OF one who condemned
The asrocious scs Il IS painfully esiden:
that Che whole scheme was sencoctetl in
Shreveport and pus :nto execution by
people. The na.ns o! that
,ityo which has heretofore been held
~ "a as a proud one. saus.
forever remain ssllied by this acs. unless: f;
which is anose improbable. the seally good
citizens, if ans these Be- sal's. pursue and
overtake the nurderers ana infi;cs ppoa
hem most su mmary eengeancS
1t is ysically impossible for the State /!
at this time 20 Bring the per.
,etrators of this outrage 20 justiccb FL
1ancial diffic ulties are in the waso Ee. J
tides, it is to be feared there IS NOT eour-
lgeous sirtue enough in al Northern
Louisiana to control the bad Clements
Unless, sheretere the general government !
'omes promptly to our assistance more
innocent blood will be shed, and 6nore
lisgraces inflicted upon the State Ex-
'erience has shown that the colored people |
re incapable of protecting themselves,
ven with the ballot in thsie hands
Unless, therefore, the genera! government
S willing to stand by them with soldiery
Until they advance further in the science |