The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-04-17
Testimony of z. L. Pierson.
Before the Con gressinal Committee,
Con tinued.

petition, asking for a writ Of attach
ment. l granted the writ. And tina
was the only time they recognized
me rs Judge.
9. Do you still hold your commits
sion as Judge?
A. No. the office was filed at tn,
last election by the election Of J. E
Bre1a. who is una bic to hold court.
Q. BY the ChMrman.-The name
Of the persons mardered, you coul(
not remember!
A. No.
G. During what period of time dit
those murders occur?
A. know Of the Coushatta affair
but that was in an adjoining parish
and the Colfax affair.
Q. You spoke Of ono murder tina
You know off
! A. Yes, but don't say that tina
was for political purposes.
| Q. Has there been any other muir
der in your parish!
A. Any murtlers-yes, in tho Va
rious portions Of the parish.
| Q. How much territory does thai
comprise how many miles squars3
A. I don't know that l could say.
9. Fortr or fifty mlles9
A. Yes, l think it is.
9. By Mr.. Marshall.-Did You eve,
have any difference other than po
litical, with your late law partner9
A. Yes, | have. sill.
Q. Subsisting difficulties, or old 7
A. No, sir, they never eau be set.
tied.
G. BY the Chairman.-Over what
period of time do those murders e1.
tend Z
A. In the last year--1 know of sew.
eral murders there.
9. How many?
n. know a man who il now III
prison here. who killed another.
q. Was that on account Of politics
A. cannot say that those murders
were committed on account of poll
tics.
Q. Were they white men or color
ed men, that were killed.
A. l think that more colo,ed men
have been killed than whites.
Q. Do ven know of any white men
being killed by colorel men1
| A. Yes, know of one instance,
that was the case of the State vs.
VIM. Welsh and Henry Pagan. They
killed a white man named Jake
Names.
g. Is there any thing in these mur-
ders you speak of, within the last
two or three years that You attribute
to The existing political condition
A. | cannot answer; that l don't
know.
Q. Is there anything of this kind
as tar "a you knowl
A. No, sir.
Q. Then as far as you know, woull
the effect of those murders create
any intimidation in regard to exer.
cisins the right Of voting on the part
of the colored men, unless it was
from the failure to arrest and punish 7
A. I know that there have been
murders committed, and the parties
are still at large; We are unable to
punish them; because We have no
court. The officers elected CANNOT
exercise the functions of their Offices.
Q. The Parish Judge; don't he have
jurisdiction in criminal casesi
A. No, only as committing magis-
trate.
Q. By Mr.. Ficld.-How far is Cou-
shatta from your t0wA1
A. Thirty miles.
@. How far is Colfaxi
A. Forty miles.
Q. You are familiar with those
scenes then at Coushatta and Colfax:
By reputationi
A. [ am not as familiar with the
Colfax affair. l was in Natcl,itoches
when the Coushatta affair occurred.
Q. Do you know whether any per.
son from your parish went to Red
River parish
A. l know two or three started. and
got frightened and went back. One
went about twelve miles and Law out
in the woods all night. don't think
he was implicated in the Coushatta
affair. don't think that any one
from our town was implicated in it.
! dent think there was q gentleman
from my town implicated in that af-
fair.
@. State what effect it had in the
parishf
A. 1t created a feeling of intimida.
ton throughout the parish among the
colored people. l speak of this
knowingly, because celored people
told me that they were afraid. They
have come to me for advise, and Of
ten during the campaign, asked me
what | thought about the election.
and whether they would get y chance
to vote. / told them "yes, they
would"
Q. Do yen know any considerable
number Of colored people that did
not register and votei
A. l suppose there were about three
hundred that did not register. and
more than that who did not vote.
Q. About how many, were there
That lid not register, Or did not vote
after registering1
A. | suppose-the Republican ma
jollty was twenty-six; and in ward
there were hundred and seventy
votes rejected. l have their certi-
floats Of registration. 1t is endorsed
upon their papers, mot voted."
z. In your opinion, from what you
know about the parish, and from
your intercourse with the voting pom
ulatlon, do You not know that tie
! COushatta affair dofarrad thx, cnloro,,