New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-10
NEW ORLEANS TUESDAY, MARCH 10 1874

AprlI, before tho hight; saw armed mounted
| colored men in Milbank's field, going to
ward Cruikshank's; knew Louis Aeekin
johnson and Peter; they threatened my
life; asked me if Jim Hadnot, Daniel and
Harris were at home; they told me they
| were going to Hadnot's; that was the
second day of April; they had double bar
relied shotguns and six-shooters; / was told
that it was the second of April; do not re-
member who told me.
Cross s-examination-Was at John Had
not's place on the first of April; Easter
Sunday was twenty miles from home; went
there to save my life; did not see old man
Harris there: first learned that l would
have to testify was about three weeks ago;
Meekln drew his gun on me in the road,
on my way to Mr.. Lewis; they were near
Mr.. Cruikshank's quarters.
Henry Emory Cruit sworn-Last April
lived ten miles east of COlfax; saw Irwin,
one of the accused, several times Just be-
fore the fight; saw him with Nash a week
before the fight did not see Irwin Easter
Sunday; saw him on the first day of April
early; saw him on the fifth day Of April; he
was at my house; did not see Irwin at my
sons house Easter Sunday evening.
Cross examination-I am sure that was
not at the Baptist church the night before
the fight; saw armed white men pass nv
place going toward Colfax the week pre-.
ceding Easter Sunday; after the fight saw
more armed white men; first heard of the
fight Monday morning; armed white men
who stopped at my gate, Informed me; they
were strangers to me.
Louise Meekin sworn-Live about q mile
from Bill Irwin; about the time Of the fight
Irwin was at home; he was planting corn
and plOwing full week before Easter Sun
day; week before the fight he was at my
house; did not SEQ Nash there.
Cross s-examination-I saw Calhoun pass
my house in company with ten or twelve
men; it was early IN the morning; they re-
turned that evening; some Of the men
stopped at my house, remaining an hour;
know old man Hadnot and Cruikshank;
they were not in the company; think saw
Irwin Easter Sunday evening passing my
house.
Frank Soult testified to something, but
his voice had such cold he could not be
heard or understood very well. Apparently
his evidence threw but little light on the
Coltax fght. He had heard that there
would be . fight; heard it the day before
Easter Sunday; colored people told him.
Jacob Irwin sworn-Live in Alexandria;
w. j. Cruikshank is my son-in-law; he and
his family remained at my house several
days before the fight; he left the day before
the fight.
Cross sexaminatiOn-In Alexandria we
knew that there would be q fight at Colfax;
did not see the cannon taken from the
steamboat John T. Moore; heard that Rich
ardsOn's house had been burned.
Samuel Fellowes sworn-Live in Alexan-
driA; saw Cruikshank there from the seventh
of April until Saturday morning before
Eaeter Sunday; saw him the day after; he
tOOk drink in my bar room.
Joseph SOlidanis swOrn-Live opposite
Alexandria; saw Cruikshank several days
before the hight.
Cross mination-Cruikshank was in
the crowd when Calhoun was taken off the
steamboat.
At this juncture the defense announced
that they had no more witnesses present,
but would offer some documents.
The letter addressed to the kov. j. John.
son, intercepted at the Cotile ferry, claimed
to have been written by Ward. The letter
purports to be call on johnson for assist
ance of men.
A something was presented which was
called muster roll, written in hand re-
sembling Wards.
Nash's commission as sheriff, issued by
Warmorh was offered. Mr.. Beckwith Ob-
jected, and the objection was sustained by
Judge Woods
A certificate that Shaw had not filed his
oath of office was offered, but Judge
Woods thought that no officer had right
to certify to something that did not exist.
Defense presented copy Of the daily
which contained a news item
that Nash had been appointed
sheriff of Grant parish. Ruled out as not
evidence.
Defense is quite confident that they will
close their evidence to-day; at least an
effort will be made.
The court adjourned until ten o'clock this
Mr. r. II. Marr appeared in court today,
assisting counsel for defense.