New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-20
TIE RED RIVER BANDITS.
Their Capture n Arkansas.


Their Capture II Arkansas.
From the Coushatta Citizen of August Ia
We copy the following account of the arres
and return to that town of the alleged
murderers, where deeds Of crime have sen,
thrill of horror through North Louisiana
Last Thursday morning. through the
medium of the telegraph, news reached
this city that the notorious Nicholson
brothers had passed. at an early hour,
through RinggOld, on their way to Cou.
shatta, in charge Of ten well armed men.
For the past four or five weeks our parish b
has been 10 q state of uneasiness (sOme-
times bordering on fevered excitement
concerning the whereabouts and probable
intention of these interruptions men, and
the intelligence that they were caprives
WAS, for time, disc' edited by the skeptjc al,
and diversified, indeed, were the Opipiops
relative to truth, canard, eecapes. etc.
While many doubted, but yet hoped, that
the rumUr was true, there was noo one, we
believe, in this community bet who Ge-
v0udly prayed that through some uu-
known means these terrible men were safe
ly in the bands Of the law.
At 5:15 z. NJ, al armed body rode into
town, closely guarding a wagon containing
George and Henry Nicholson chained to-
gether. The prisoners bore themse Ives
with remarkable GOODNESS, and apparently
only feared the lynching process that had
been so horribly pictured in their terrified
ina ,inatiou.
Of course, the town was in that state of
excitement attendant upon such occa- ions,
and men, women and children were on tin
toe, lest they should lose q glimpse or q
word that might escape the prisoners. The
wagon was driven through the streets, and,
Notwithstanding every one saw them plain.
", quite q crowd gathered around them at
the courthouse, where the wagon stopped
to perfect 81 me formalities Of law. Aod.
inat ed, not until the accused reached the
prison, and were safely locked in, dill some
Of the more eager believe Or consider their
anxiety satisfied.
of acting District Attorney Roach and Dep.
uty Sheriff Wesner, q Citizen reporter inter
viewed the brothers Nicholson, and the fol
lowing statement of Henry Nicholson was
voluntarily given:
my name is Henry Nicholson. 1 have
been farming ON Colonel Roubien's pl ace.
The first warning had of trouble was the
appearance of squad of men who came to
Colonel ROubieu's in search Of me, saying
that l had committed murder. 1 heard
that they intended hanging me and my
brother, and avoided arrest more for
personal safety than fear of the law. The
time the squad came to my house, met
and spoke to Mr.. Wester and another man
in the road. They said nothing to me as to
their object. do not know any thing of
the murder of Young; ! bought goods of
him and paid for. them; Colonel R0ubieu's
son and Tom Leonard saw me buy and pay
for the goods; Young lett my house alone
and went over to Gustave Birds; Young's
goods were brought to my house after
left home. After hearing Of the intention
of the crowd. went to my brothers.
house, mile distant, anfi asked him if any
one had been there, aud he answered,
'yes.' From Baptiste heard that trouble
was ahead; he told me that night. Had no
serious trouble with Colonel Roubieu; he
offered to fight any way, but refused to
have any difficulty; he proposed to buy my
crop, or sell me his; l agreed to sell, and
he told me that he wonld pay part cash and
give his diatt for the balance, which l
agreed to. After leaving home, myself and
b. other were IN the woods adjacent, eight
or ten daye, and were poisoned by negro
named Henry Dallas, who va, to feed us.
The evening We. were poisoned l was at
CasOns, and squad of men came up and
l run away; they fred at me- without
telling me to halt; the shots didn't
touch me. We left this section that
until We got to Nelms'; saw two men there.
who came up and made inquiry for US, and
We ran away; they fired at us. one ball pass
ing through my hat; didn't get wounded or
stOD to pull of my shoes In the field. From
Nrlns' Wa Went to Dunc. Dawkins' lin |
Union larish) and there another equad |
came upon u; We were in the Orcha d 1T |
The time, and stepped outside and from |
here went towards Arkansas, crossing |
Ouachita river at Wilmington, and went |
sixteen miles east; was at Mrs. Parker's when |
;he squad that captured me- came up, and |
cas not asleep. The head man said the |
quad would protect us from mob, and We |
iidn't try to escape on the way to Cou |
haHta."
Our reporter then asked him what he |
thought or knew Of the mysterious disap-
of Oglesby, and Henry very
and willingly answered:
II don't know anything about the Ogles-
y murder; they cay Tom Hinton killed
im. Tom Hinton was at my house at the
ime Oglesby was killed." The reporter
epeated his question, and Nicholson says
e don't know when Oglesby was killed.
In answer as to how they left here, and
ow they were armed, the same party said:
1--WE lett here on foot; we had shotgun
ach, and through fatigue and want we sold |
ne gun to negro man living near Tulip,
his side of Homer; he was to pay $l2 in
honey, and transport us that day in q
'agOn; never got q cent of money for the
un: passed through Arizona and Lisbon in
aylight"
The Nicholsons were captured in Calhoun
'unty, Arkansas, at Mira. Parker's house,
eleven O'Clock Of the night of last Sat
rday. They were worn out from fatigue.
I'D without money.