The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1875-01-21

Shank anu tCueTS, Ill INeW OIlcduS, III
March, 1874; he said: "In the case on
trial there are many facts not in contro-
versy. I proceed to state some of them
in the presence and hearing of the coun-
sci on both sides, and if state as con-
ceded fact any matter that is disputed,
they can correct me-" After stating the
origin of the difficulty, which grew out of
an attempt of the white persons to drive
the parish judge and sheriff (appointees
of Kellogg from Office, and their attempt
ed protection by colored persons, which
led to some fighting, in which quite a
number of negroes were killed and taken
prisoners Fifteen or sixteen of the
blacks had lifted the boards and taken
refuge under the floor of the Court
House; they were all captured. About
81 men were taken prisoners-the num-
Der is not definitely fixed. They were
kept under guard until dark, when they
were led out by twos and threes and shot,
most of the men were shot to death. A
few of them were wounded, not mortally,
and pretending to be dead were afterwards,
during the night, able to make their es-
cape. Among them was the Levi Nelson
named in the indictment. The dead bod
les of the negroes killed in this affair
were left unburied till Tuesday, April
18th, when they were buried by duputy
marshall and an officer of militia from
New Orleans. These persons found
FIFTY-NINE DEAD BODIES.
They showed pistol shot wounds, the
great majority in tne heart, and the most
of them also in the back of the head. In
addition to the dead found, some charred
remains of dead bodies were discovered
near the court house, and six dead bodies
were found under warehouse, all shot in
the heart but one or two, which were
shot in the breast. The only men injur-
ed from the beginning of these troubles
to their close were Hodnot and Harris,
at the court house, and its contents en-
tirely consumed. There is no evidence
that any one in the crowd of whites bore
any lawful warrant for the arrest of any
of the blacks, and there is no evidence
that either Nash or Oazabat, after the af
fair ever demanded the offices for which
they had set up claim, but the Register
continued to act as parish Judge These
are the facts in this case as [ understand
them to be admitted. To hold the peo-
pie of Louisiana generally responsible for
these atrocities would not be fact; but
a l. xlo@ bla
obstruction were thrown in the way OF
Furnishing these murderers, and the So
called Conservative papers of the State
not only justified the massacre, but de-
nounced as Federal tyranny and despot-
ism the attempt of the United States Off
GERS to bring them to justice. Fierce
denunciations ring through the country
about office holding and election matters
in Louisiana, while every one of the Col
fax miscreants goes unwhipped of JUS
tice, and no way can be found in this
boasted land of civilization and christian
ity to punish the perpetrators of this
bloody and monstrous crime. Not unlike
this was
THE MASSACRE IN AUGUST LAST.
Several young men of capital and en-
terprise had started the little and -four
ishing town of Coushatta. Some of them
were Republicans and office-holders un-
der Kellogg. They were therefore doom
ed to death. Six of them were seized
and carried away from their homes and
murdered in cold blood. No one has
been punished, and the Conservative
press of the State denounced all efforts
to that end, and boldly justified the
crime. Many murders of like character
have been committed in individual cases,
which cannot here be detailed; for exam
pie, t. s. Crafford, Judge of the Parish,
and the District Attorney of the 10Th
Judicial District of the State, while on
their way to court, were shot from their
horses by men in ambush, on the 9th of
October, 1873, and the wife of the form
er, in communication to the department
of justice, tells piteous tale of the per
secutions of her husband because he was
a Union man; and no efforts made to
seize those who had committed crime,
which, to use the language, left two wild
ows and nine orphans desolate. To say
that the murder Of negro or white Re-
publican is
NOT CONSIDERED A CRIME IN LOUISIANA,
would probably be unjust to great part
of the people, but it is true that great
number of such murders have been COM
mitted and no one has been punished
therefor and manifestly add to them.
The spirit of hatred and violence is strong
er than law. Representations was made
to me that the presence of troops in Lou
isiana was unnecessary, and repugnant to
the people, and that there was no danger
of public disturbance if they were taken
away. Consequently early last summer
THE TROOPS WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE
STATE,
with the exception of small garrison at
New Orleans barracks 1t was stated
that a comparative state of quiet had
superveued. Political excitement as to
Louisiana affairs seemed to be dying out,
but the November election was approach
ing and it was necessary for the party
purposes that the fame should be re-
lighted Accordingly on the 14th of
September, d. Penn, claiming he was
elected Lieut.. Governor in 1872, issued
an infammatory proclamation calling up
on the militia Of the State to arm and as
s,mble and to drive the usurpers, as he
designated the officers, from the State
THE WHITE LEAGUERs,
armed and ready for the conflict, prompt
ly responded. On the same day the Gov
ernor made formal requisition upon, in
pursuance of the act of 1895 and section
4, article 4, of the Constitution, to aid in
suppressing domestic violence. On the
next day l issued my proclamation COM
manding the insurgents to disperse within
five days from the date thereof, but be-
fore the proclamation was published in
New Orleans, the organized and armed
forces recognizing usurping government
had taken forcible possession of the
State House, and temporarily subverted
the government. Twenty or more people
were killed, including number of the
police of the city The streets of the city
were stained with blood. All that was
desired in the way of excitement had
been accomplished
That there was
INTIMIDATION OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS
at the election Notwithstanding this pre-