New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-24
The Trouble in Jackson

Senator Weber. Of Bayou Sara. furnishes
the following statement Of the secen: diff.
Guilty in East Feliciana parish:
That may no. he nisrepresented. and
that truthful statement OF the jackson af.
fair may be laid before the public. 1 send
you the following particulars, which will! be
subsiantiateI by responsible citizens Of
jackson.
4 meeting Of the friends Of Hon. James
Law, Hon. John +. Breaux and III; selt was
called a. jackson for Saturday. the seven.
teen:h instant. Several Conservatives were
advertised 20 speak with US at the same
place. and the object Of the meeting WAS
principally 70 nominate a parish ticket
which. would he acceptable 70 all classes OF
citizens. irrespective of race or color. The
81. Francisyille brass band. composed Of r..
spectacle young gentlemen from that town.
was engaged tor the occasion. At about
A. NJ. the band was driven in town to the
store Of Mr.. Law. which is situated almost
in the centr- OF the town. After playing z
several fine pieces il trout Of the store. Mr..
Law and his friends had the band marcl.
around town playing. after which Mr.. Law
with his friends. Numbering several hun.
dred, and the band returned 70 the store,
where &. place had been arranged for the
meeting.
1lIIc eUCCCucS ~CIC UcluS IuduS WtIJs
bers Of the band were approached by
PC. Butler and 4. Bannon. both friends
and supporters Of John Gair. and told that
it they were TO play any more that they
IButler and BannOn) would fire into and
disperse them. Mr.. Law. being q justice
OF the peace. commanded Mr.. Butler not "a
interfere with the band. Thereupon Butler
thrust his hand behina him. drew forth a
large Remington revolver and commenced
firing at Mr.. Law and the crowd assembled
around his store. Fortunately. Mr.. Law
was not injured. but three cOlored men
that were standing quietly and peaceably
looking on. were badly, perhaps fatally
shot.
Bannon. Butler and G. II. Griffin offered
to pay the band the amount they were
playing 10. it they would not play any
more for the meeting. This proposition the
band refused, telling those gentlemen that
they had promised and intended to play
for the meeting. despite all the threats and
,nenaces of the Gair clique. However. two
of the members of the band, from some un'
knswn cause, left. and thus prevented the
baud from playing any longer.
Thus matters stood when arrived. about
six O'Clock in the evening, accompanied by
Messrs. Breauz, Swaizie and others. As
soon as my presence was made known the
crowd again began 60 assemble. and at
seven O'Clock IT, had increased to at least
300 or 300. Several speeches were made by
different parties, ana at nine o'clock the
meeting broke up and all parties went to
their homes. with the exception Of some six
or eight men. and these were in Mr.. Laws
store conversing with Judge kilbourne,
when Butler with some Others quietly stole
up to the back door and com mmenced firing
into the room in which we were. The firing
was promptly returned by some OF our
party. and Butler and his companions in.
medlately took 10 flight. In this shooting g
Hon. George Swaiz:u was shot through the
thigh.
This. sir. is .rre, correct, minute and
unpreiudiced statement Of the whole affair
from beginning 70 end. notwithstanding the
ungrnunded statement OF q. II. Griffin in
the Times and P.c0ynme.
l desire to SAY further that neither Mr..
yse,i sea w., any % our AZ , 'vhs ,ba
shooting Of Mr.. G.ir. nor do We justify the
act ia any way.