The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-04-10
Q. by Mr.. Marr.-What assassina-

A. This attempted assassination.
q. What attempted assassination
A. NJ y own. On tho night of the
4th of November, when in company
with some gentlemen, Democrats,
who were compiling the returns, We
had a discussion about ward No. 8,
which they wanted to throw out.
objected to it. They wanted to throw
it ont on account of a little !nformali-
ty, it was not properly headed.
stated that wanted the vote com
piled. They overrulcd mel then
got Col. Burke to draw up an agree
ment, that all the papers connected
with ward No. 9, should DO forward
ed to the Returning Board, to I've left
to their decision. We agreed to that.
Immediately s..afters that, | started
home. This was at half past nine
O'Clock at night. On leaving the
room | called the Supervisor of Reg
istration to talk to him privately. As
| got to the Court house door from
where We had been compiling the re-
turns, stepped out on the steps in
front Of the door, and saw some
one sitting on the steps, remarked E:
"Let us step asiIe.' We stepped
aside and as we went from the Court
house step to the outside, this man
got up from the step aud was Joined
hy man at the corner; aud another
one came from around tho Court
house. Then as | was addressing
this man, one of these three men who
had on a slouched hat and an over
coat, staggered up to me. l saw his
figure bnt did not sec his face. lie
was a tall man tho two others were
following. They passed me about
fifteen steps. noticed them because,
as tell you, have been in dread of
my life, and l watched those men. l
went on talking; they started to
come back. and just as this tall man
came up turned around he threw a
pistol right in my face and fired. l
started to 80 into the Courthouse and
he fired second shot, and as I put
my foot on the step Of the Court
house he fired third shot. l went
in and said. "Boy's, this is not fair,
this is assasination.' The whole
room was in commotion. Mr.. Pirrson
asked, "wl'at is the matter!" told
them, "they have attempted my as
sassination." One of them said, Ego
in this dark room, and We will pro.
tect you.' l walked in there aud
called upon some Of my intimate
friends, Democrats, and asked them
to escort me home. lcame down in
town the next day, and l received
two or three letters from my friends,
telling me to get home Immediately
and not to be caught out at dark.
One Of my friends told me, "don't
you leave this house under any cir.
cumstances." lie told me there were
men standing ready for me, and he
named one man with q double bar
relied shot gun, and he told ME not
to mention his name, or they would
probably do away with him. l re.
mained in my house; my house a
perfect arsenal, and remained there
that week unable to make my Is.
cape, and finally l did make it by
leaving my house at half past two
o'clock in tie morning, and riding
eighteen miles to take q steamboat.
l had, while l was at home, some
gentlemen who had my welfare at
heart, although belonging to the
Democratic party come to me. One
Of them came to my house and told
me that two Texans had been en-
ployed, and strange to say, by man
high in position, to assassinate me.
Aud he said, II beg you never to
mention my name"
Gentlemen, that has been told me
whs this person was, and will here
state that WIN. NJ. Levy was that
man who offered money to persons to
take my life.
G. Congressman elect?
A. Congressman elect and my old
law partner. That l will prove by
the gentleman who told ME. And he
was heard to remark on his arrival
from the Baton Rouge Convention :
"My God, do you let him live here I
Why don't y"u kill him I" ] was
bolstering mp tho Republican party,
and the only man who stood up ut
that time for what l believe was
right; my principles and my rights.
Q. You have been so long in the
parish, can you state any murders Of
colored men that have occurred
A. The most notable one occurred
in August. I don't know that tia,
was ou account Of politics. l know
the man was hunted down by sever
sr eight men and killed after he had
run in his house. He had received Q
wound I am told that would have
proven fatal any how because the
Coroner who held tho inquest told
me. After he got in the house ani
locked himself IN, several young mer
who pursued him, broke the doe
open aud fired upon him rs he wal
Lying on tho floor, and killed hin
dead.
Q. Was he white or colorcd?
A. Colored. But it il but just t.
say, that he had snapped cap at
white man.
Q. Were these men indicted, VII.
killed him
| A. M.
Q. They are at large YETI
| A. Yes.
@. When was that !?
=. A. This was 10 August, previous t.
the election.
@. State any other murder?
! A. know Of q number If muir
TAacs hint Il "a ;,,,nnss;llo fur mo n