The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-01-22
The RECORD or CRIHB.
The White League in louisiana.
$500 VICTIMS.
GEs, sHERIDAS's STATEMENT.
GEs. snERIDASs STATEMENT.
NV ORLEANS Jan. 10. 1s15.

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 10, 1875.
Hon. ". ". Belknqp, Secretary qf War,
Washington:
Since the year 1866, nearly 3, 500 per
sons, a great majority of whom were
1 colOred men, have been killed and
wounded, in this State. la 1868 the
official record shows that 1.SS4 were
killed and wounded. From 1868 10 the
/ present tune no official investigation has
been made, and the civil authorities in
all but Z few cases have been unable to
arrest, convict and punish the perpetra-
tors; consequently there are no correct
records to be consulted for information.
/ There is ample evidence to show, how
ever, that more than !, 200 persons have
been killed and wounded during this
time on account of the political senti
ments>
/ Frightful Gassaeres have occurred in
the parishes Of BOssier, C5Jldo, Catch
oula, st. Bernard, st. Landry, Grant
and Orleans. The general character OF
/ the massacres in the above named par
ishes is so well known that it Is unnec-
essary to describe them. The isolated
cases csp be Illustrated by the following
4 instances, which take from the mas
of evidence now lying before NE Of men
/ killed on account of their political prin-
/ cipies. In Natchitoches Parish the uum
Der of isolated cases reported is 80; IL
in the Parish Of BienvIIle the number OF
men killed is so: in Red River Parish tht
isolated cases of men killed is 81; IL
Winn Parish the number killed is 20; il
CatchouIa Parish the number of isolated
cases reported where men were killed Is
30; the most of the country parishes
throughout the State will show a cor
responding state of affairs.
| The following statements will illus
trate the character and kind of these
outrages: On the 3Gth of August, 1874.
in Red River Parish, six State and Par
ish officers, named Twitchell. Divers.
Holland, Howell, Edgerton and Willis.
were taken, together with four negroes,
under guard, to be carried out of the
State and were deliberately murdered
On the 25th of August, 1874, tile White
League tried, sentenced and hanged two
negroes. On the 2Sth of August, 1873.
three negroes were shot and killed at
Brownville. Just before the arrival OF
the United States troops in the Parish,
two White Leaguers rode mp to~a negro
cabin and called for drink of water
! When tine old colOred man turned to
draw it they shot and killed him. The
Courts were all broken up in this Dis
trict and the District Judge driven out
of the Parish of CaddO. Prior to the ar
rival of the United States troops all Of
the officers at Shreve ort We're compelled
to abdlcate by the White League, which
took possession of the place. Among
those obliged to abdicate were Walsh.
Mayor; Rapers, Sheriff; Wheaton. CLERK
of the Court; Durant, Recorder, ana
Ferguson and Rentro, Administrators.
| Two cOlOred men who had given evi-
/ dence in regard to frauds committed il
the Parish were compelled to flee for
their lives, and reached the> city last
night, having been smuggled through
in cargo of cotton. In the Parish OF
| BossieT, the White League have attempt
ed TO force the abduction of Judge Ba
! ker, United States Commissioner. and
the Parish Judge, together with O'Niel.
| Sheriff, and Walker, Clerk ofthe Court.
and they have compelled the Parish and
District Courts to suspend operations.
4 lDttACA otolt5 ll1dG Allt AlIt
Leaguers notified him several times thai
if he became candidate on the Repub-
lican ticket, or if he attempted to or
ganize Republican party. he should not
live until the election. They also tried
to intimidate him through his family, by
making the same threats to his wife and
when told by him that he was United
States Commissioner, they notified him
not to attempt to exercise the functions
of his office.
In but few of the country parishes
can it be truly said that the law is prop-
erly enforced, and in some Of the par
ishes the Judges have not been able to
hold Court in two years. Human life in
this State is held so cheaply, that where
men are killed ON account of political
opinions, the murderers are regarded
rather as heroes than as criminals in the
localities where they reside, by the
1 White League and their supporters. An
illustration of the ostraeism that pre-
walls in the State may be found i'm the
resolution of the White League Club in
the Parish of DesOto, which states that
1 they pledge themselves under no cir
cumstances, after the coming election.
to employ, rent to, or in any other'manner
/ give aid, comfort or credit to any man,
white or black, who votes against the
nominees of the white mans party"
Safety for individuals who express Sheir
opinions in the isolated portions of this
State has existed only when that opinion
was in favor of the kuklux and White
League organizations Only yesterday,
Judge Myers, Parish Judge of the Par
/ ish OF Natchitoches, called on me up
on his arrival i'll thiseity, and stated that
in order to reach here alive, lie was
Obliged to leave his home by stealth and
after night-fall, and make his way to
Little Rock, Arkansas, and come to this
city by way of Memphis. He further
states that while his father was lying at
| the point of death in the same village, he
was unable to see him for fear of asses
sination, and yet he is a native Of the
Parish, and is prescribed for his polit-
icaI sentiments only.
1t is more than probable that IL bad
government has existed in this State, it
is the result of armed organizations which
have crystalized into what is called the
/ White League. Instead of bad govern
ment developing them, they have by
/ tilciE letLOlASA4 prev t44tel 10 u cDilSi0eE-
able extent, the collection Of taxes. hold
ing of courts, punishment Of criminals,
and vitiated public sentiment by famil-
iarizing it with the scenes above describ-
ed. am now engaged in compiling ev-
idence for a detailed report upon tine
above subject, but it will be some time
before / can obtain the requisite data to
cover the cases that have occurred
throughout the State. VIII also report
in due time upon the same subject in the
States OF Arkansas and Mississippi.
p. II. SHERIDAS.
Lieutenant General
Tie Only thoroughly wretched being
is the man who has been deceived in a
meerschaum. When he has expended
his money in purchasing the costly com
fort. when he has consumed tobacco
enough to unsettle the nerves OF a rhi-
noeeros and the stubborn pipe still re
F,,a1sg 10. u1lD- 20 T.s.v, ba