The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-26
BLOOD MONEY FROM THE CITIZENS
OF GRANT PARISH.
w. B. Phillips Wants q Fee.

Among those who took prominent part IN
giving information and having arrested those
suspected of being connected with the Grant
parish affair, was that notorious carpet-bagger
W. B. Phillips, who Was appointedjudge of that
parish some years since. It now transpires
that this man has for some time been carrying
on game of blackma,l as villalnous as were
the prosecutions before the United States
Courts, Of the innocent citizens who were
arrested. His position and influence with the
Radical spies and informers, gave him appor-
tunity to peculate on the miseries and fears
of others and that he carried out this game
the letters given before will prove.
1. will be remembered that on Saturday last
we published the particulars of the foul muir
der of one Nellan Waters, in a mysterious
manner, near Colfax. He had been arrested
on the charge of firing Philips's house, in
1872. It was rumored On the 10th that he
had made his escape, but his body was dis
covered soon after, his head almost severed
from his body. During the time he was un-
der arrest in 1872, the following letter passed
between friend Of Phillips, and one of WAL
tiers, which explains itself:
| ST.. B. L. HODGE No 2 Feb 3rd 1872
Mr.. T. J. Love-
DR. Sire-After my best respects and 1 wish
| to inform YOU that have seen Judge Philips
and have would seen the arrangements to
have the old man Walters and Henry released
and restore the warrants against them as the
Judge is the best man that has any thing to
do with the case SO you may say SO to the old
man, If he and Henry will come to the city
and take them up there shall not be molested
any more as they will have to get Bonds and
that will put an end to the affair: If they
will come soon while am in the city and
will see that all is done for them como as soon
as possibly, Say the next trip Of the Hodge
you will please write as the return trip Of the
Boat what can be done or what they see will
ing to do. Ifthey will come will be respon-
sibly for their getting out on Bond and the
Judge says If they will do that he will want
cash they shall not be molested hereafter the
Judge says that he will let them off for one
thousand Dollar in cash you can fix that by
sending Draft for the amt to me or the mo-
ney or If you will come or the old man or
J Henry we can fix that think this is the best
plan If they will do that it will settle. all
He was again arrested as the following letter
shows in October, 1874, and his murder soon
followed. 1t will be seen Phillips again re-
newed his opportunities for money, but with
out success :
MONTGOMERY, Nov. Is, 1874.
| Mr. NRDoM WALTERS
was arrested upon the 24th of October,
1874, without showing any warrant and carried
to Coltax, Mr.. O'Neal, at the instance Of the
United States Marshal, had petition signed
by nearly every citizen in the town and neigh
borhood giving the good and peaceful charac-
ter of the prisoner, his peaceful and private
devotion to the interest Of his family,
and to the effect that he had been often
reproved by his acquaintances for want OF
Judge Phillips the only obstacle in the
way of Walters release from the Gus
tody of the troops, an interview occurred
between O'Neal and Phillips to the effec.
that, as O'Neal was stranger to Phillips,
, that he had certain proposition to make to
Walters but that he, (Walters,) not being
willing to talk to them upon the subject, it
was deemed best for them to send for me.
O'Neal came and made these facts known to
myself I went to Colfax TO see Phillips on
Thursday, the Doth October; seeing him, he
proposed to have Walters released for the sum
of $1,000, saying that he should not go to
prison, so that he would not appear against
him, and no witnesses should; said that he
did not think that he (Walters) had anything
to do with the killing of White or the burn
ing of his (Phillips) house. He afterwards pro-
posed to have it all arranged TOR the same
amount, but would only ask $500 or $500
now, and that the remainder could be paid
whenever the thing was entirely settled
told him that Mr. Walters had no money
to pay him. He Phillip replied that he knew
/ l., nd dol
lars in New Orleans The matter ended with
this, as we had no money to pay the old man
out OF his trouble.
Phillips has been annoying old man Walters
about this affair for about three years.
Several attempts have been made to arrest
him. At one time he was compelled to
abandon his home and remain away an entire
year. 1. D. LOWE
Phillips himself now speaks, and in the
malignant spirit Of money grabber: He was
endeavoring to squeeze out Of the old man
Walters the last drop of his blood, in order to
satisfy his greed:
CoLFAx, La, Nov. 4, 1874.
Hon. c. c. Dunn:
Dear Sri had a conference to-day with
Mr.. Gray in reference to you.
Before Gray's arrival I had engaged mes
Seu31f 10 WISH your lOWu Auu SUULAis pAOpO-
sitiOn. which now submit to Mr.. Gray, who
essays to be friend to both you and .
am in need Of money, and if you will
send mo at once 500, I will stand by you
and champion your claim to q seat in tho
Legislature besides, I will proceed at once
to New Orleans and arrange matters to your
satisfaction, with reference to the Indictments
against you, etc
If you will follow my advice, you will be
exonerated Of all charges against you a. to
the Colfax nuisance.
Possibly you may think I am promising
more than can do, but presume you will
concede have moro influence with the al
thorities.
Do not let the man had arrest you. When
l get to New Orleans will notify you when l
have arrangements complete. assure you if
you work in good faith with me all will be
well.
Of course, when that is done, shall expect
you to reward me.
When We meet shall explain to you the