New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-01
Jottings in the Grant Parish Trial.

CO0SlOerdDle auXloIy LIDS Uotn 1u6ul-
tested the past week in the trial of W. j.
Cruikshank and others, now in progress in
the United State. Circuit Court, for con-
spiracy and murder in Grant parish, last
April. Others than attorneys watch the
proceedings closely. for people generally
have taken sides in the case. The jury
listens attentiyely to every witness, and
seems patient. District Attorney Beckwith
goes along quietly. always keeping up with
the proceedings. Judge Woods does not
miss a single sentence, and makes elaborate
notes in the direct examination. His digni-
fed manner and prompt rulings keep every.
thing in order.
Counsel for defense, Of course, have made
but little headway as yet, making no fur
ther success than confusing some with esses
on cross examination. The defense is striv.
ing to show that the colored people in Grant
parish had made threats against the white
residents. but they have produced no thing
yet. They are making an effort to show
that the colored men in Colfax had mill.
tary organization. with captains and other
officers, and that drilling was indulge d in;
also, that others than old Mr.. Hadnot were
wounded; also. that Mr.. Rutland's house
was piliaged. and that Mr.. Scarber, or Scar.
boro. was prosecuted by colored p eople. Up
to the present time they have failed to bring
out single item to prove anything in that
direction.
4 thrilling circumstance Occurre last
Friday. A colored witness, .wh 0 was
wounded in the massacre was on the stand,
and when asked to name persons whom he
saw in the fight, called out the names of
! several persons. among them the nam es of
all but one OF the prisoners at the bar Mr..
Becky with told him to step down and point
out the persons. The witness dolibe rately
walked among them and confidently laid
| his hand on each. As he did SO thr i'll ran
| through the entire courtroom, for the act
| declared the men murderers; even att orneys
| for defense looked on gravely.
| The defense lays some stress on the points
as to who furnished the people in Colfax
| with provisions and ammunition, and every
witness crossexamined is questioned about
it. The testimony is that the colo peo-
pie furnished their own supplies.
| A witness who was wounded was detail
| ing his experience as to how he escaped.
He stated that he hid himself in tn pine
| woods and remained there two week g, liv'
! ing all that time without a morsel of food,
and said hs believed he could have lived
that way two weeks longer.
Another witness was told to point ou!
! prisoners he had seen at the fight. He was
correct in tie first instance. but his second
attempt proved quite a failure. he laying
his hand on one of the audience. However.
before hs made the mistake he said that he
was not certain.
The widow of one Of the murd cred mei
testified yesterday. relating how she wit
messed the bloody deed of the murder o
her husband. She was standing in higf
weeds hear the fatal spot where the victim
was stood up to be executed. She heard
him beg for his life. and she dared not lift a
finger TO save him. She saw the self elected
executioners aim their guns at his head
fire. and saw her partner drop dead almost
at her feet. Clement Penn is the man. anC
there he sits.'''
The widow of Mckinney was on the stant
and clearly stated the manner Of her hus
bands death. He was toiling near his
home. when band of marauders rode uI
and one Of them deliberately shot him
| dead. "The poor man was wet with the
sweat of honest toll when he fell.' The
corpse remained in the house several weeks
! and was not inferred until soldiers burie
it.
| The defense admits. to save time. tha
there was massacre at Colfax last April
and that cannon was used.
The present prospect is. that the trial vii
last month. Thus far, we have endeav
| 0red to give our readers all the evidence a
fairly as possible. and shall cont inue TO d.
| SO until the close. One thing is very Ger
tain-ths prisoners will have fair trial.
I