The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-02
THE INVESTIGATORS.
LOUISIANA'S LONG STORY.


DUCING THE GREENES.
NEw ORLEANS. Jan. 50--At the congress
sional Investigation to-day, Leo E. Head ties
titled as follows: am major OF TIE Sd in
fantry and came to Louisiana about Sep.em
ber 10 and went to Monroe on the 25th o.
October. was requested by Marshal Seelys
10 assist him in making arrests. / Was
shown a warrant by the marshal and list
of $50 names of persons TO be arrested. Or
election day Marshal Seelye sent detach.
ment to the town of Cuba 10 make an
arrest. I can not say WI ether the troops
were used for any specific political pur.
poses. Seelye had a number of blank war
rants in his possession. While ut Vienna il
was not stated by Seelye that he
had failed Ia executing legal processes. He
was unpopular and probably would have
been unable to make the arrests, but other
men could have done SO. could see Seelye
WIS active in his cooperation with the re-
publican party. The troops were kept in
their barracks on election day with the ex.
ceptions of the expedition to Cuba. There
were no disturbances in the parish at the
election or since. When Seelye was in the
Vienna Jail he proposed TO me that I should
fill out one of the blank warrants in nv
possession with Seelyes name and arrest him
so as to get him out OF the clutches
of the authorities. He afterward carried out
this plan, and filled out q warrant charging
himself with embezZlement. Judge III. G.
Myers testified: L reside in Natchitoehes
parish. Have been there for 20 years.
The principal trouble among the peo-
pie originates from the taxes. As to
intimidation, he gave as evidences the
resolutions of a mass NEE ting near the town
of Natchitoches, and several extracts from
the parish democratic papers. Myers said
that he had lived in the parish Is years.
During the last election, he does not think
many negroes voted the conservative ticket
De stated that he was afraid to return
to Natchitoches, and that he was
threatened through the papers. Up to the
time OF the mass meeting the republicans
were in no danger. He never heard of the
negroes that were hung In the parish, but
there have been about thirty murders in the
past few years. The population ranges from
$4,000 to 10000. Mr.. Frye then
asked few questions an to
the relative registration, etc. The witness
stated that he knew of but five or six negroes
there who would vote the democratic ticket.
Also as to the cause of his leaving home,
the witness stated that It was from
fear of personal violence and in
jury; that republicans there, were safe
up to the time of the meeting on the 22d of
July. He and his family were ostracised.
lie did not think 1t safe to return to
Natchitoches. There were no courts held
NO oUrRAaRs
there that he knew Of personally
persons have been killed there
since 1868. Twenty-Five were eolored men.
There has been no punishment for the MUIR
terers. Some men had been brought to
rial but were acquitted. Mrs. Octayia Myers.
.he wife of Judge Myers, Of Natchtoches,
as to the causes which compelled the
udge TO leave home, and oorroborated
fully. the statement made by him in his
testimony as to ostracism, persecution, etc.
Before Judge Myers came down to the con-
vention in July he was much
liked, and bis decisions In court
were complimeHted in the papers.
Her husband was once at the point of death
for weeks and no democrats came to sit up
with him. On the 9th of July there came 8
mob into town TO ask the officials to resign
Mr.. Isnacb, of Nstchitoches, ,wss next sworn,
and corroborated the previous testimony
as TO Intimidation, ETC., in that parish. He
was q republican, and was shot at the mig ht
after the election. BE heard one shot that
was fired at Pierson. A general intimida-
lion prevailed. The mayor had 200 White }
Leaguers on duty as policemen on election1
lay. Ordinarily there were but two.
The special policemen ~yere all democrats.
he was threatened and prevented from per-
forming the dulles of supervisor by threats
rom the White Leaguers. who told him If
be attempted to qualify they would
put him and his books ont of
he way. On his cross examination
10 stated that about five hundred colored
men were prevented from voting by intimi-
iation. He saw no violence at the
meeting toward the colored men. He
was 200 yards from the court house
when Pierson was shot at. / was shot at
81. IL - - .1-s
him. He saw man when he fired. Then
ne broke and ran. Be had remained
here ever since. Thomas Lightfoot,
colored man and resident of
his city, testified that while under bond for
,ow stealing, Mr.. James came to his house
Ind told him that if he would use his infiu-
snce, work and vote for the democrats he
would obtain his final discharge of the crime
ne was charged with, and that he (James)
lid so. He was offered $4o0 or $500 by the
president Of his club il he should come be-
ore the committee and testify tor the DEM
,crafs, but he had not been offered any
hing by the republicans, The witness also
Produced safety certificate, which was
lied in evidence. He got $50
,olored men 10 vote the democratic ticket. |
Horace Phillips managed the voters turn |
shed by him on election day, and saw that |
hey voted. The witness was then cross
by the counsel for the |
conservatives, but nothing important
vas ELECTED. Sandy Rice, another colored |
democratic voter, was next sworn, and
Identified his safety certificate. and testified |
IS to his connection with the election. He |
eceived 81 so for voting, and he kept the |
money. He did not divide with anybody. |
The democrats offered him 81 90 IL he would |
ome before the committee and testify in
heir behalf.
Gov. KELLOGG
sas cross-examined at great length. In re-
,ly to Mr.. Marr as to why he had not sent
he metropolitan militia to Grant Parish |
Turing the troubles there, he said that frst
here was a persistent effort to mislead him,
Judge Manning and other prominent con-
ervatives assuring him there would be no |
rouble, and, secondly, there was combins- |
ion among the stesmboatmen to refuse |
to the state militia. he made |
many efforts through Gen. Lougstreet to OBJ |
ain Transportation, but was refused. Subse- |
.,aotI,, ,vhop Gan Emory desired 70 |