The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-06-06
Trial Of the Colfax Prisoners.

are by the packet on Monday last.
when one OF our Editors returned
from New Orleans. On Saturday
last the defense were still examin-
ing their witnesses, with a prospect
of concluding about Thursday last.
The argument will probably take
two days and as the verdict Of the
Jury is one of the uncertain things,
it may be Monday or Tuesday next
before the cid of the trial is reach
ed. owe learned from conversation
with the prisoners and their coun
sci, that they are confident that the
most they have to fear is u mistrial.
There is hardly a possibility Of the
conviction of any of them. The ne
gro witnesses were pretty well drill
ed in one tale, but as this tale va
ried considerably from that told by
them on the last trial and as they
suffered from cross examination by
the defense, their whole testimony
bore upon it's face the stamp Of it's
falsehood. The witnesses for the
defense made short work. of PROV
ing the perjury of. the paid negro
witnesses. For instance, numbers
Of them swor0hat Dennis Lemoine
was in the fight and that they re.
cognized him there. DR.. S. o.
scruggs proved tlyt on the day of
the fight, Easter Sunday, Lemoine
was at his house, twenty odd miles
from Colfax, with q sick child and
that he prescribed for the child.
This is a fair sample of the prepar-
ed testimony Of the negro witnesses.
Beclkwith, the prosecutor, is might
lily 'tdown in the MOUTH since Mr..
Ellis took him down Oft the high
horse he has been riding, and we
opine THAT we will have no more Of
'.iientls Of help etc III his speech to
the jury. The Judge, Woods, can
not conceal his prejudice against
the prisoners and does not hesitate
to decide nine ont Of every ten
points against them.
The jury is composed of eleven
white men and one negro, but they
are mostly men whose proclivities
are unknown. The prisoners them
selves are in good spirits and health
and say that they are well treated
by the officials in charge of them.
They are well cared for by tho com
mittee Of seventy and the citizens
Of New Orleans generally. Judge
Woods has pledged his word that if
this trial results again III q mistrial,
ho will allow the prisoners bail. We
think that it is almost certain that
they will soon be allowed to breathe
the air Of freedom again and be per
mitted to return Tor their families
and homes. after having suffered q
political persecution such as has
but seldom been met with in the
history of civilization. The witness
rs for the defense are mostly pres
ent and awaiting their turn with
exemplary patience. The Marsllals
found money to pay the negro wit
nesscs in full in cash, but when it
came to paying the witnesses for the
deff11e, it happened very singular
ly that Uncle Sam was out of mon
ey and that they could only be paid
in certificates that were subject to q
discount of % per cent. The coun-
sci for the defense soon blocked this
''littlc game by refu sin. to dis
charge amy more of them until they
were paid i'll full:
The presence of Mr.. r. IT. Mari,
the chairman of the Committee Of
Seventy, rs one of the counsel has
made wonderful change i'll the as
pect of affairs for the prisoners.
This eminent gentleman mas his
whole heart in the cause and de-
serves, as he is receiving, the most
unqualified praise for his efforts i'll
behalf of these unfortunate and per
secuted prisoners.
10 With the scarcity Of mails,
owing to the continued high water