New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-22

Having felt It my duty to issue my proclamation
Offering a large reward for the apprehension and
conviction Of toe murderers in the Coushatta out.
rage, an. to the end that the law abiding citizens
of The Stat. may fully comprehend the magnitude
Of the crime committed. and be induced to render
more active asss: to the officers of the law.
deem j: proper to make the following statement.
These facts are gathered from reliable iniogma.
ticn received at the Executive Department.:
On. or about the twentv-eIs!th day Of August.
1884: q body OF persons. belonging: to a semi.naiii.
;ary organization known AS the White League of
Louisiana, assembled in the town of COushat;a.
parish Of Red River. in this State. for the purpose
Of compelling by force of arms. the State officers
OF tina: parsl. to resign their positions.
These officers were men of good character: most
Of them largely interested plantin: and me,can.
tile pursuite. They held their positions with the
full consent of admittedly large majority OF the
legal voters o: the parish. this being a largely
Republican parish as admitted even By the Fusion
returning boards.
The Only known objection to them that they
were of Republic an principles Frank $. Eigerton.
the duly l,ai!ed sheriff OF the parish. in strict
compliance with the laws OF this State. and Of the
United States, summoned posse comitatus Of cit
izens white and co!ored to assist him in protect.
ing the parish officers i'll the exercise Of their
doubted rights and duties from the threatened
lawful violence OF the " bite Leagues. HIS posse.
consistn: o: s!xty 6ve men. was Overpowered by
q superior force assembled from the adjacent par.
is!es. and finally. after seveya! cOioyed and white
me-. had been killed, surrendered themselves pris.
One.s with tire explicit guarantee that their lives
would be spared il the more prominent Repub
;icaAs would agree to leave the parish. and those
holding Office would resign their positions.
These s;iru.ations. though uniawfullv exacted.
were complied with ON the part Of the Republican
officials. who were then locked UP in the Jail tor
the night.
The following named persons were among those
so surrerdering and Iesisnin:
Homer J. Twtcheli. planter and tax collector Of
Red River. and deputy United States postmaster
in charge of tn. postoice at coushatta: Robert A.
Devices. supervisor OF registration De Soto parish:
Clark Holland. merchant and supervisor Of regis.
attorney and United States commissioner: Frank
$. Edgerton. sheriff Of Red River parish: ". G.
Willis. merchant and Justice Of the peace.
On the following morning, Sunday. the thirsiefh
day OF August. these persons were bound and
conducted by an armed guard to the Mcfarland
plantation, just the parish line OF Red River.
within the boundaries OF BoSsier parish ABOUT
forty miles cas-: of the Texas line. There they
blood. Their bodies were buried near WheIc tney
tell, wthou, inquest OK any Formally Whatever
On che night preceding the surrender ooGy OF
forry members OF the White League Oh IaddO
parish mounted and armed. !est the citv OF
Shreveport and seenflldn@ III the dfectlUn
OF the place where the murder was consequently
'''''"'''e WILLIAM p. KELLOGG.
Governor