New-York tribune., 1875-02-05
LOUISIANA INVESTIGATION.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE.

CONSERVATIVES MORE THAN REPODiLCANo-
BrATEMENT BY T. W. ADNEY OF THE CoUsHATA
TBAGEDY-TEsTMOSY OF ROBERT p. HUNTER
LOUIS TAXADRA AND DAVID PERsoN.
NEw-ORLEANs, Feb. 4.--The investigation
before the Congressional Committee was resumed to-
day.
r. Fl. Mari recalled. He said that his statement
that the two white men, Hadn't and Harris, Killed ut
Cofax, carrying flag of truce when shot down,
and that this really the cause OF the subsequent Oc
manly founded the testimony OF Jas
Marnet Italian, whose house was across the river,
some i've six hundred yards from the Courthouse,
bur he believed there was cOrroboraiiye testimony.
Mr.. Frye gave notice that unless this eorrooorauVe
testimony produced he should ask that Mr. Mari
nets depOstio taken in evidence the only testi
mony on which the flag Of truce theory was based
Mr.. Mari said ne would consult his associate counsel
this point, be WAS not present during tue nrst
part OF the trial.
10 answer ~ Mr. Frye, Mr.. Mari said he dd not make
speech at Baton Rouge justying the turning OUT OF
the parish officials but he dd that il the results OF
far election wrested from them BY fraud there
no law that justified the people In submitting 10
the usurpaon. aud that their last resort must be nm APP
peal to and to the God OF hosts and that though
had never set squadron the field, yet, for want OF
better leader myself would lead them did not take
possession OF tho Western Union Telegraph Office on the
4h OF September found guard there, aud prevented
tho Governors Secretary from sending dispatch
gave him paper TO pass him through the lines TO MS
home this at hs request; Mr. Flanery the tee-
graph manager, demonstrating about the interference
with the business OF the telegraph. admitted the I'M
proprety and had tho Suard removed believe the mo-
tive placing there vas to prevent news OF whdt was
Occurring being North prematurely witness stated
thai the midaoD IN the last election was directed
against the Conservatives than The republicans
he declared that ho had idea that there was going to
be an Instruction Sept that 10 precpia'ed
tl,a NJ fhn hn haI
people to have quiet aud fair cecton It was repre-
sented that the cOlored people armng ana dtlli-
ing and the whites 10 Dc dsarned before the elec
tom there generalization about the uprising on
the 14h il spontaneous, and afCr the assembly NJ
the Clay statue was tnat there to be ehera
mob or a cont oiled body, aud the latter expedient
was chosen.
TIE COUSHATrA TRAGEDY.
T. W. Abney, examined Tor the Conservatives, read a
written statement OF the COushatta affair. II was un-
the prosperity OF CoUshatta had been but up
by Northern men the settlement more prosperous
before they came than 1t had ever been since. The
negroes OF Red River arming against the whites
a number of armed coOre1 men assembled at Mr.. II.
Twiichelps house. ana some Of them fired upon and
wounded Mr.. Dixon, a white man. few days before
tho killing OF the prisoners mob OF fully lOOD per-
sous came Into the parish, and elamo[ed ,Ior for
the witness ARRESTED six men ana paced
them for safety ia tho basement o. q store ore
persed he prisoners themselves requested to De sent
out the parish under guard he furnished guard or
clpfaiu guard, chosen by the prs-
oners themselves. was John r. Carr, known 10 me as
desperate; expressed surprise that ho shOnId nave
bqen chO5cn Carr himself said il account OF his
bravery do not think the guard Killed the prisoners;
they were killed by unEuown persons most OF , tac
tins killing look took place Oh Sunday the people OF
Red River deprecated the killing and regarded 10 as
breach their pledge OF safe conduct TO tue prisoners
when pursuit occurred the prisoners, who we're well
mounted, rode away from tho guard, who wer9 poorly
haunted; Hyams one Of the guard, Witnessed tho
killing, hut coud not identity the men had heard that
the shOrse OF Honcr Iwchell, one OF the prisoners
killed had subsequently, been seen ia Cleburne, johnson
County. Texas. .
10 Mr Fryc-I was in N9tchitoches when the parish
officers there forced out; dd not say this hao
taught lesson which would put IN force III lEed
RIVER; present when two negroes were hanged on
Wednesday after the killing OF tho prisoners; tDere
10 negroes IN all arrested charged "ith shCOihS
Mr. Dickson; committee Of %, OF whlch was presi-
deut, investigated the case and decided tha d except
should be released; BODY OF men, salH 10 9e CAPT.
Jacks men, from DE 5Jto fode up anu uSi'lucu thIt
an the should be hanged; opposed this; tney TOOK
two and hanged them to "a tGei ana pot try 10 pre-,
vent tIat: 10 was no Use cou Hot iueIslS guy ,g 81
these had heard nat IL was this same capt Jacks
men VINO haa kl,eo Tue fSs mnrdrrrG
Devices, the "HO" OF Ono ol A,, ano nutaI aI!
men, had received back her husbands Walch;
heard that man riding Homer TTltcnePs horse
had been seen III the streets OI C0ushatd ~, le SIX
prlsoners except married. and three bad emil
dren; Homer Twitcno had only just Oeen married. 10
very young la0y from Vermont; do not know that
Tie widows had been refused permission 10 VISIT the
places where their husbands had been inferred m long
alter decomposition had set in; myself nad arranged
10 accompany Mrs. Twitchell 10 the spot when was
al
conspiracy and murder; arrested on tut Is Of
October; the men killed on the 1s,h OF August.
TESTIMONY or ROBERT p. HUNTER.
Robert F. Hunter, being sworn, testified as follows
Resides Alexandria; in the last campaign the negroes
were not as well organized as in previous years; the
election was peaceable; no intimidation used at
this time there large demand for labor and ques
tions are asked to the politics Of la0orers
the colored know that they are inde-
pendent; many Of them are landowners; there was
never auy organization known as the White League,
nor WAS there any secret organization OF white people,
the relations between the two there have been OF
friendly character the Cousnatta ali Iir affected
the negroes but slightly; always condemned tho killing
of the six men at Couslatti.
TESTIMONY OF LOUIS TEXADRA.
Louis Texadra was sworn: Resides in the Parish OF
Rapdes. lie testified generally and minuteiy to the
fairness of the election in every detail was arer In
reality than any that has been held in the parish since
the war; The reports Of intimidation grew out Of the
earnest and desparing efforts of the whites in getting
an honest government The assessed value Of Rapdes
Parish before the war was seven times what
IL IL He thought that Louisiana ought
to be left ~ adjust the troubles OF Louisiana.
TEsTIHONY OF DAVID PIERsON.
David PersOn, swOrn-Resides in NatehitOches is an
attorney; last May the movement OF the people was
brought about solely by burdensome taxes; It was
composed OF men Of both and parties 5000
Of land at that time advertised for tax sales in the
parish Meyers, who bad been made judge to enforce
III, 80 lakes haa 1etn accused Of being interested
in every scheme of fraud gotten up by the parish OF
hcers and police jurors About that time mass meet
ing was called consider this unhappy CONDITION OF
affairs Meyers appointed judge Of newly created
judicial district. the bill for the formation OF When was
pushed through Legislature at his instance lie then
called Appropriation OF $500 70 pay for the pnbca-
on Cf some pamphlets inviting Immigration 10 the new
district. The mass meeting already FAMED requested
Meyers and the DisrictAttOrney 10 resigu when they
did. A Committee Of Explanation having waited on
Gov Kellogg the latter supported their acton, and 50
did the Auditor. The Tax Association was dissolved
about month before the election witness tes'ne 10
enormous frauds perperated by the Issuing Of parish
bonds. which attested with the name Of phuptr