New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-20
A STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC.
We D1SAONbEs
Secretary Of State, q,

Having felt it my duty to issue my proclamation
offering a large reward for the apprehension and
conviction OF the murterers in the COushstta out
rage. and to the end that the law abiding citizens
OF the state may fully comprehend the magnitude
of the crime committed, and be induced TO render
more active assistance to the officers of the law.
| deem it proper to make the following statement.
These facts are gathered from reliable inforna.
ton received at the Executive Department.:
On or about the twentv.eishth day Of August.
1874. body of persons. belonging to semi mill.
tary organization known as the White League Of
Louisiana. assembled in the town of Coushatta,
parish Of Red River. in this State for the purpose
Of compelling. by force of arms the State officers
of that parish to resign their positions.
These officers were men Of good character: most
of them largely interested planting and mercan.
tile pursuits. They held their positions with the
full consent Of admittedly large majority Of the
legal voters Of the parish. this being largely
Republican parish, admitted even by the Fusion
returning boards.
The only known objection to them was that they
were Of Republican principles. Frank s. Edgerton,
the duly qualified sheriff Of the parish, in strict
compliance with the laws of this State and of the
United States. summoned q posse comitatus Of cit.
izens white and colOred, to assist him in protect.
ing the parish officers in the exercise Of their IN.
doubted rights and duties from the threatened un.
lawful violence of the W bite Leagues HIS posse.
consisting OF si1ty-five men. was overpowered by
u superior force assembled from the adjacent par.
shes. and finally, after several cOlored and white
men had been killed, surrendered themselves pris.
oners with the explicit guarantee that their lives
would be spared if the more prominent Repub
icahs would agree to leave the parish, and those
holding office would resign their positions
Thasn SIT NIL att hon oh
were complied with on the part of the Republican
officials, who were then locked UP in the iait for
the night.
The following named persons we're among those
80 eurrendering and Yesignins:
Homer J. Twtchsn planter and tax collector of
Red River, and deputy United States postmaster
In charge OF the postoflice at Coushatta Robert A.
Devices, supervisor Of registration, De Soto parish
Clark Holland, merchant and supervisor of regis.
fratcn. Red River parish; W. J. Howell, parish
attorney and United States commissioners Frank
). EdgeSton, sheriff Of Red River parish: n. G.
Willis. merchant and justice CT the peace.
on the following morning. Sunday. the thir,eth
lay OF August, these persons were bound and
conducted by An armed guard to the Mcfarland
just over the parish line of Red River
within the boundaries Of BOssier parish, about
orty miles east Of the Texas line. There they
we're set upon and deliberately murdered in cold
'iood. Their bodies were buried near where they |
ELL without inquest or any formality whatever.
On The night preceding the surrender q body Of |
orty members OF the White League Of Caddo
arlsh. mounted and armed. left the city Of
hrevsport and were seen riding in the direction |
the place where the murder was subsequently
WILLIAM p. KELLOGG.