The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-29

derstood that the negroes armed and it the
desire that a conflict should be prevented.
remember that man by the name of Baker, and
one By the name Of Roberts in the delegation,
and there was one of the McCains. l know some
thing about warrant Judge Rutland obtair ed.
dcnt remember of having seen it. 1t was issued by
Judge Reagan Justice Of the Peace. the affidavit
OF Judge Rutland 1t was given to Jas. Payne, who
was appointed Deputy Constable. When he went out
70 serve the warrant he took poi with HIM. Of
my own knowledge know nothing Of the service. In
cur section OF the parish everything was quiet:
Mr.. Whitaker read the affidavit of Judge John r.
Rutland, which declares:
First-That he was driven from his house.
Second-That certain parties named broke into his
house and stole OF of property And prays that they
be arrested and dealt with according law He also
read the warrant.
The return tn warrant that service could not
oe made, because OF an armed body got together to
prevent its execution.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Beckwith-There were some.
thing over half dozen people present at the meeting
OF citizens? Meeting was held and delegates had re.
turned before the warrant was issued.
The men were instructed to go unarmed because it
was understood that the negroes armed and it
was feared hat the people knowing this won d take
their arms and collision would be the result The
people Of Montgomery did not want to aght. do not
pistols saw Judge Rutland after the return OF the
writ. Heard no discussion to the propriety Of
returning the writ or keeping it alive Do not know
whose suggest on the return was made; supposed it
was made by the deputy himself.
Mr.. Shackleford
was the next witness. Lived in Grant parish in Arr
Of last year within about 80 yards CT the house,
almost in front At the time Of tie fight was on the
Mississippi River, near the mouth of Red River. Left
the town on the I'd of April There from ls0 to
2OO colored men in the place. Green Brantley
tax collector Railey clerk OF the District Court APP
pbcstion for arms was made to me by Mr.. Brautley
and Mr.. Railey. On the night Q the last of March
heard men moving about On the I'd and Sd saw
drilling in front of the court house by coored
Green Brsntey seemed to be in command. Left home
on the I'd and crossed the river with my family
There was runor that Mr.. Hsdnot was coming in
ynf 7 ;v,Ta-
ties IN possession of the courthouse tina. thay
intended to hold it, and anticipated trouble Went
to Judge Rutlands house on the morning OF the I'd
The furniture was strewn all about the yard Saw
the case VIII CHI supposed to contain the coffin of
his dec ased child. When crossed the river to
after my furniture, the Sd, had no difsculty in
letting over; bxt Shack White adyi ed to stay on
one side or the other. voted the Republican ticket
at the last election.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Beckwith-I have been il,
the army; know the manual of arms. Ibid not
the negroes pra"tcing the manual of ara,s. 1 saw
them going through company drill, marching and
were in command. Saw Judge Rutl nd cross tie
river; did not see any ore fire at him.
Dr. Samuel 0. Scruggs, came next. Live in Parish
Of Nachitoches. Was sick in bed Easter Sunday
Saw Mr. Prudhomme Lemoine that day. Came to
nay house between IL tnd O'Clock, with sick child
in his arms, Gave him medicine for the child. Mr..
Lemoine did not have the money to pay for it and
charged it. 1t the 18th day of April 1t is %
N les from my house to Colfax. Before the fight, on
Easter Sunday, the citizens side of the liver
very much excited and they sent down the liver
and destroyed the boats to keep the negro
from crossing, and to keep them their side-Cross
examined by Mr.. Beckwith.-I have not with me the
book in which made the charge for tie medicine 1t
has been my practice for 30 to cutter all charges
at night. Do not recollect what the matter With
the child. Don't knew what prescribed
Judge w. L. RichaNlson.
Knew Mr.. Handnct the deceased. Saw him in Col
fax April LIST. Came to New Orleans in the latter
part of March with Judge Rutland a committee OF
two to call on Kellogg in reference to the appointment
of parish officers. Kellogg sad that he would make
the appointments with tue exception Of the parish
judge. He the last visit declined to give us the
certain parties but that he would forward them the
proper time. Did not the courthouse broken
open, but was told by Nash it had been DONE and
went with him. and found Brantley, Ward and Regis
ter. knew Of the propose d mass meeting.
Hadnot came totjofax on the Friday preceding the
list of April, and Rutland, and together they de-
cIded to hold mass meeting r the purpose of en-
0eayoring to amcably adjust the diff ulties in the
parish The meeting Was not held be- ause in view OF
the large number OF armed cOlored men, it was not
considered prudent Heard threats made by the col
ored men that they intended to run every d-m Dem
Ocrat cut OF the parish, that not q d-m white man
that not Republican should live in the parish
On the night OF April there an attempt made
on my life. m2n came to the door and called me
out. Declined to CO. Went to the door, the
Court House, and the man, who had got down into
the yard, fired his gum Brantey afterward came and
guard IThis is what they call pescesble assembly
Left Coltax next day, taking my family.
Saw the fight at Colfax from the opposite side Of
the river. Gave description of it. Said there
heavy firing from both opposing sides. Saw Clement
Penn during the fight. He WIS on the same side of
gone into and the Court adjourned until o1ock to-
day.