The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-01-28

NCHGENl huhGlhuN WNN AGSNAAGu1 Nuu VI
regard to the assertions Of witnesses Pugh
and Melancon said that it would have
been impossible for him to know the re-
suit on the day named, as the returns had
not been seen by him on that date.
This closed the testimony upon the
lrst line Of evidence, when tho second
line, viz, intimidation, was begun.
Mr.. PiersOn, Of NatchitOChes, was first
sworn, and testified as to the intimidation,
murders, etc, in his parish, during which
he recoumteIl the attempt upon his life,
first stating that he had lived in Natchi-
lOchcs since his bOyhood, and that for
nlerly his politics were Democratic, but
since the last election he was n Repub-
lican; that for this change Of sentiment
he was Ostracisel, even by y resolution
adopted ut public meeting; that he
came here, was appOinted by kellogg
Judge Of the parish and returned, and
was met within sixteen miles Of his home
and told not to go home. lie did go, and
u number Of his friends there told him
not to attempt to discharge the functions
OF his office; that his life was IN danger
because Of his being Republican, On
going to his office next day he lcarped
that his life would be attempted, aud re-
ceived note from his wife asking
him to come home; then his wife
came 10 him and hc went; that his sister
told him Two armed nien were looking
about the place, she guessed, to take his
life; four armed men were In town, and
they came there to kill him, and that he
should not sit as Judge. Soon after that
the committee Of seventy held 4 meeting
and sent u committee to his house TO de.
mand Of him that he sign written agree
mGnt not to take part in tho coming cam
lMign, which he declined duing, where
upon one Of The committee pulled out his
watch and told him that he had half an
hour in which to sign the paper; he re-
fused, telling them II they meant assina-
ton tOdOitat his office or on the street, TO
spare his family from witnessing the MUIR
der; that during the campaign he was IN.
suited, and again when he went to make
speech men cOngregated with bowie
knives in sight, but OH the approach of a
company Of cavalry they secreted their
arms. There was not, continued the wit
ness, u fair registration In the parish; the
Republicans were prevented from taking
An active part In the campaign; u mass
meeting was held, and from that u com.
mittCe was sent 10 call for the resignation
Of the parish officers, and threats were
made to hang one Of them. lie then re-
COuHted the attempt to take his life in the
night; the votes were being counted when
he was fired Rt three times and retreatGd
to the Court House; reached his home
and was kept there week, fearing to
leave lest his life should be taken.
Finally he made his escape, but learned
that Two Texas desperadoes hal been em-
pl0yed to take his life, and that their
employer was none other than his own
law partner, William Levy, Congress-
man elect, with whom, as he subsequently
stated. he had had some difficulty, but It's
character was not given. \ negro man
was shot because he had snapped cap AZ
u white man. IOn'tsay this was for po-
litical purposes. | think there were
White Leagues IN the parish. Men were
armed and rOlOrCd men were afraid to go
about at night. The majority Of the Re.
publiCans In my parish ought 10 have
been 800 and at the election II was only
70. The parish il not sRfe now for Re-
publiCans. am told that | would be
hung II / returned. had u difficulty
with Colonel Levy, but will not state the
circumstances. Az fur as know, the
murders committed in the parish were
not for political purposes. At one poll IN
NalChitmhes l7O COl0red men could not
vote nnd about 800 did not register. The
bad feeling among the people has only ex-
listed since last July; before this the
parish was very quiet. This discomfort IL
probably due 10 Il desire for office among
the people, and another cause for the ILL.,
feeling Is the large debt which burdens
the parish, contracted partly by both
Democrats md Republicans. The tax
rale il about eight per cent, and land Il
asse@ed Of $40 per acre. The people have
the greatest respect for the National Gov.
esnIncnt. The fusion ticket carried the
parish in 1872. There was no intimila'
ton then.
Mr.. lIOar- You state that the cOlOred
vote IN 1872 was smaller than in 1874
and yet there was intimidation IN 1874
and none III 1872. How do you account
for thiaH
Mr.. picrson.T decline to answer that
question.
Mr.. IIOar--You were Supervisor IN
1872 and don't wish to criminAte your
self.
WiLness--Nenrly all the white mcn
Yho came from thecountryput on badges
and acted as policemen, and thus pre-.
vented five hundred cOlnrcd men from
voting; | changed my politics on the 4tll
Of July, 1874, because thought NaClii-
laches was q Republican parish; there nrc
some Democratic cOlOred men in the par
ish, but tlIeyinrG confined " the town Of
Nalcllituchcs, while the Republicans mum.
bcf~ thirty.AS; Sinre last July about six
colored men have been killed, some BY
white men and others by colored men
but | do not think that II was fOr
political purposes; might think
that the ill-iceling and discomfort among
tlie people was due 10 the objection that the
Kellogg government was listirpatiOn, ,but
for the vindiCtiye manner In which an
perRecuted ! defy any man 10 prove any
charges against my personal character
There Is Il great tlcal Of stealing and petty
larceny IN the parish, and the cOlored
people form u majority Of tile thieves
| The Mclinery appOinters arC tlnw holding
their offices in the parish. The cliargt
against Judge Myers, which made hin
40 unpopular, was that he was corrupt
that he was connected With ring which
was cntlenvOring to fasten the debt upOi
the State; Democrats and Republicans
were both corrupt; made u charge
against Judge Myers that lie had EN-.
beS1lel more than $4,000 Of the schoo
fund; these facts were rnrlly the Catist
Of the III feeling against Judge Myers.
was commissioned as Parish Judge IL
| August, 1874, and ran for the Legisla
ture In October while was Parish Judge
Lieutenant WIN. N. GOrlncl, of The Sd
United States infantry stationed al
Shreveport, then took the stand and testi.
fed Ms 10 The violence, intimidation, etc.
at Shreveport, stating that quite MIN.
her Of men there, Republicans, told him
that II was hnaafC for them to speak their
minds; thnt IL would lie dangerous for d
man In nnnOnnrn mblicly The ReDubli.