The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-09-05

A Most ..DemnabIe Plot.

SHREVEPORT, septembsI A,,+HJThe
Times publishes statement Of Mr. Abb
ney leading merchant of Coushatta, to
the following effect; " '.'...
Editors Shreveport Times: ..<I..~i.
We are glad to be able TO report all
quiet in Red River parish. We are in
vestIgating the charges inciting the riot,
ETC., against some % negroes now Under
arrest before Citizens Committee Of the
best men that We have. The investiga-
ton is bringing to light the most damna-
bic plot that was ever concocted by any
set of men. On the: night Of the 9th
of August, the young people of our town
and vicinity had assembled to christen
the new brick store of Messrs.. Abhey 4
Cove by dance. 1t is inevidenoe before
this citizens committee that
number Of negroes had
been brought to town armed for
the purpose of an indiscriminatc murder
of the men, women and children ASSEM-
bled there, and that Frank EdgertOn, the
sheriff, Homer Twitchel and X. A.
Demeos, and Henry Smith, notorious
bad negro, were to lead them in the as
sault upon these defcnceless citizens.
The negroes were brought from the ad-
iacent farms and packed in corn field
near the residence of Ii. j. Twitchell.
r. A. Demees rode seveaal times to the
dancing party and buck to the residence
of II. j. Twitehell where The armed
negroes were concealed, ahd%aS hearu
tosay to the negroes; 'Thc party is tog
strong for US Learning that large
number of negroes were assembled about
town the dancing party broke
up, and the young men Formed them
selves into II scouting party and
began patrolling the place. As young
Dickson and james b. Dickson, were
riding in the vicinity sof. .~Twitqhelrs
house they saw and talked With. j.
Twitchell and saw near him&cverai
armed negroes. Returning to report
what they had seen,
They were Fired'UpOn Twice,
and Mr.. j. B. Dickson dangerously
wounded. Couriers arrived Just at that
time from Captain w. A. Hersey ut
Brownsville some twelve miles below,
stating that the negroes were assembling
in force and with arms, and bore very
threatening attitude. \ squad of some
twenty Young men was Immediately dis
patched for Brownsville and tide clubs in
the county called on to conc to the
rescue of the people. Their prompt res
ponse proved our salvation. In very
few hours thousand men were here,
enrased at the .a 3 - f" =
DamnabIe Attempt 10 Assassinatc
the whole community. The demand
amounted to clamor, for the prisoners
seeing that all that could be done by the
best and most responsible citizens Of the.
place and could not protect them many
hours-thc prisoners submitted aPropo-.
sotion to leave the State and never agalrp
return. This proposition, seemed tn ap7f
pease to some extent tho wrath Of the
people, and it was accepted by the ctl-
zcns. The prisoner, chose from the pco-
pie at large, their guard, with a
brave man at their head, and selected
the route up the river for Shrcvcporti'
where they were to take the ears for the
north. About thirty miles above here
we are told, they were overtaken, the
prisoners rescued from the guards, and
shot. -
Since Mr.. Abney's statement was re-
ceived, report reaches this city that the
two negroes charged with shooting Mr..
Dickson have been murdered by the mob
at COuShatta. These negroes were among
those examined by Che Investigating
committee. They rcmand"d the two
negroes to Jail, and recommended they
be- tried by the District Court, but the
mob removed them from the jail and
killed them.
The affidavfts refrrrrdito BY Mr. Abncy
have been received here, but thcy con-
tain nothing additional to the matters
stated by him.