New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-04

before: do not know that Shaw was held
prisonef BY the colored people.
Meekin Jones swOrn-Live at COlfax,
five miles from the courthouse; was in Col
fax Easter Sunday, and before, in the
courthouse; there were about eighty cOlored
people there then think; there was Skin
mish on Friday before Easter Sunday, but
! was not close enough to recognize any one;
Easter Sunday the white men attacked US,
first firing from Smithfield quarters; they
had a cannon and small arms: was lying
down inside the intrenchment; We left the
intrenchment because it got too warm for
as: went into the courthouse; some took
to the woods; those who fed were chased
by the white men and shot down; ! saw
this from the courthouse; at that time
the canmon was firing at the court
house: we were doing nothing IN
the courthouse; we were badly scared
when the building was on fire: attempted
to put out the fire; we took our pocket
landkerchiefs and waved them, saying
Surrender, Mr.. Irwin" Irwin told us to
drop our guns; the white men rushed on the
opened door, and Tillman was the first man
to leave: he ran about 600 yards after he
was shot; few of US went under the hoor;
Ben Brim was sent in after US, and we went
with him and were made prisoners out IN
field a man said, "We will put you to sleep
Directly" at dusk they took us to tavern,
over to the sugar MILL and in the morning
turned us loose; every two white men took
two colored men; l asked a man if they
were killing us; he answered that they were
killing the wounded; ! was marched out
with Levi Nelson; they called us beeves;
one man said he was weary of guarding,
and another said, 'Shoot 'em down." when
a man pointed his gun at my head raised
nv hands and told him that if he shot me
he would kill an innocent man: then broke
and ran; was shot at, but got over fence
and would not halt when called on; Judd
Burrows got one of the bullets meant for
me; | escaped to the woods; when l left the
courthouse saw Bill Irwin, u. and T. Lee
moine, NoIbert Lemoine, Jack Lewis, John
H. Lewis, Clement Penu, Willy Marsh,
George Marsh, Andrew Cruikshank, Oscar
Lacour, Gus Lacour, Hopkins and Nash;
some Of them are here in court, namely:
Bill Irwin, Clement Penn, y. and Z. Lee
moline: saw them while / was a prisoner;
saw Tillman when he left the courthouse:
did not leave the house because was ex-
cited and saw the men shooting our people
| as they went outside; Sam Morris was shot
| in the courthouse. after the door was
opened; he died there; l pitched my gun
| into the fire, but had it with me under the
! floor, | went to Colfax because l could not
work contented, because | saw men IN
arms, and the white men had said they
| would have none Of kellOgg's representa-
| tives; considered that was unsafe when
! they were threatening to kill us; telt safer
| in Colfax than in my field, because ii we
were together we could defend ourselves;
| knew of no scheme to attack white men;
| when the declaration was made that we
| had been threatened ! deemed it best to go
| to Colfax.
| At the night session the following test.
mony was ELECTED:
| Sterling Wheeler sworn-Saw some
1 white men who said they would not be i'm
posed on any longer, and that they would
take the courthouse; they were armed
when saw them Saturday night; the next
| day after Easter Sunday saw large
| number Of armed men passing: some OF
! them stopped at Mr.. Wheeler's house; some
of the men who lived in my neighbour God
who were in the fight have left and do
| not know where they are now: some OF the
| men had more than one horse; saw none
with more than one gun except Lanabere.
| he had four doube-b barrel shotsuns; he said
he 60. them at the fight; saw Mr.. Wheeler
in the yard Easter Sunday: heard firing
that dav as if at COlfax: they took provI-
| sions which belonged to Mr.. Wheeler; do
not know that ,hev paid 1or them: Tie
camp was near our place.
Crosseyamination--I live about SIX or
| seyen miles from Cclfax: none OF our peo'
| pie went 20 Colfas; saw tt. men taklns
| provisions away: the name OF the place
| whe:e che men We're campeu Is called JANA
| Springs or SummerhOuse.
! Charlotte johnson eWorn-l live az Cox.
I fax now: Easter Sunday lived at Charley
I; Wheeler's: was at Wheeler's during the
! riot. and was at Coifax Friday and Satur'
| day. returning home Saturday evening; the
! morning after the fight saw plenty Of armed
men on the road: Saturday saw many white
men going into Coltax: know Charlie!
f.; Wheeler. +. Wheeler, Clement LanabsTc.
Oscar Watson and Milton Dunn; saw
| them with the men: saw plenty
! Of armed men n Cola: 90 Monday;
they were hunting for men no; dead: they
| spoke 10 me: knew Hopkins and Nash: a
/ stranger asked me il saw any men not
! dead: Kit Smith and jim Bounce johnson.
g.! 1iy cousins. were killed at the fight: found
| Bounce in a sitting position under pecan
| tree, between Mirebeau plantation and Coll
fax: did not hear Nash or Hopkins say any
| thing. saw one wounded man; his name wa.
Isaac, and he died: ne was lynn. ia - small
room.
| Virginia Davis sworn-fived on Rock
| hayou last April: was in Coltax Easter Sun
day and nv father was in ColfaE then and
| took food for him: his name is Godfrey
| White: saw armed white men ali the Week
| returned home Sunday morning and saw
many armed men going toward ColfaX
| knew ID. and =. Lemoine and cscar'Giyeh;
they were riding along in the gang and they
| had guns; went into Colfax after the fight:
| saw John Henry Lewis on the road, and he
! told me to 90 on and would see plenty
| dead beeyes; another man told me to &C
back home; | went home; next morning
went to Colfax and saw Jack Nicely dead
and Shack White; the latter was partly
burned, good ways from the courthouse
door, my father got home Sunday night, NOT
wounded; when we We're hunting KIN 'oikS
one of the men said Listen at the cows
! believing over the dead bulls.' was in Col
fax when the United States marshals ar
| rived.
Cross. exnmination-Do not know why
my father was in Coifax and d" not know
tina. he ever had a Gun: we had never been
| molested at home.
Martha White sworn-Live about two
miles below Coifay. at Horseshoe bayou
| was at home Easter Sunday: was in CoitaA
the Tuesday before: ! was afraid to wori
because there were SO many white meT
! around: my husband is Godfrey White
saw Oscar Given and ID. and p. Lemojne
they took my corn and water: they told nt
that when they returned / would be more
| excited than ever; they asked III" Tor ny
husband; l told them he was in the bush;
Sunday morning saw an awful lot OF armed
men going toward Co!lax; they did not
stop a, my house Sunday morning: heard
| men passing at Lii ght; saw armed men pass
ing Monday morning. goin. toward thu
pine woods: saw Jiui .:atland TAX" NJ,
horse On Tuesday after the fight. and
neye: 90. it back; he took it out o: .nN
| yard. John Henry Lewis inov dead, TOLD
ire to 90 70 Cc...x il | wanted 70 see Z
sight: he lived near hue: don. knew how ht
died: sa " him day after the fight,
ss-eXamlnatlon-Do not know the
difference between Easter Sunday and any
other Sunday: my husband. Godfrey White
lett home Saturday morning. and ! do nOI