The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-27

| counsel before signing returns, witness die
not know this Of his own knowledge. Il
might have been that he simply desired te
compare the figures compiled by the board
with the statements in the possession OF the
Democratic committee Witness asserted
that there were sixteen clerks in the service
Of the board, and that twelve Of them were
Democrats some of them White League
Democrats. Will furnish list of the latter.
Knows that the counsel who appeared before
| the Board in behalf OF the Conservatives was
| in sympathy with the White League and
| thought they were all members of it. In q
| cross-examination by Mr.. Zacharie, in rela-
ton to the mode of proceeding by the Board,
| the witness admitted that it was customary,
whether there was protest or not, to canvass
| and compile the returns of each parish as
they came up.
This, he says, was to facilitate business.
The statement Of witness read to the commit
tee Monday evening was written by himself,
with the exception of the legal points. They
were made by Mr. Ray.
Concerning the case Of Bienville parish,
Mr.. Zacharie read statement of Ray and
others, which had been filed as evidence
also statement Of NJ. H. Twitchell, who Wis
tied the parish before the election setting
forth that Republicans feared to organize
their party. Mr.. Zacharie asked if this was
ali the evidence which the board had before
it. Witness said he thought, besides this,
the board had few cross-marked affidavits
Thinks so; not certain however 1T was
mainly upon this that the parish was thrown
out.
In the case of Jackson parish, witness could
not say why at poll No. only the vote for the
member OF the House was canvassed; remem-
bers it was repeatedly charged that aft davi's
la1 in ha 81 of Conservatives haH baaD
distracted, bnt can not recall the fact that in
the case of Natchitoches forty or fifty of such
atfidavits were spirited away; admitted that
in Red River parish the Republicans carried
the election by a large majority; touching the
case.of st. Tammany parish there Was infor-
mal,ty, and upon the evidence the board acted.
In Rapides p IRISH the White Leaguers drove
Republican voters from the polls with bowie
kulves and pistols. Witness was not there
on election day. A colored man who had
been driven from the parish, and subsequent
ly went back to assist in an elect on III the
fall OF 1878, was killed shortly after arriving in
Alexandria. man who Witnessed the kill
ing was also killed, and two or three others
were .'lacerated with bowie knives to i'm
press them with the idea that it would be
better to keep mum. Don't say that the
White League committed this outrage, but
men who now belong to that organization
committed it. 1t is common for men to carry
arms in that parish. Negroes usually go
armed
Before the Returning Board there was no
evidence but that filed by witness, and the
protests of Republican counsel Witness
was not there but had great deal of the
matter contained in his statement from Re
publican candidates.
Mr.. Blackman and George w. Stafford are
nf cd Ma T,,
it was advocated the murder of Republicans
Knows that tae clerk of the court who had
been depo ed by a McEnery man in Septem-
Der was restored to the office for the purpose
Of attesting to the parish returns for trans
initial t the board
Admitted that the Conservative counsel
offered the duplicate returns from the parish,
brought forward by the clerk Of the court OF
said parish. The board, however, would not
receive them. Does not think there was any
evidence before the board showing that the
DeSoto returns were being offered for sale.
Declined to receive any statement or protest
n the case Of DeSoto, tor the reason that the
board had determined to have nothing to do
with it. the returns or duplicates not having
reached them through the proper channel.
In the parish OF Avoyellss the reason Tor
giving the Republicans one hundred and
fifty majority was based upon the generally
conceded Republican majority.
Regarding the assertion that witness was |
while the Board was in session, by |
Bailey Vinson, witness does not know that |
1e was intoxicated had been cautioned |
lgainst Vinson, and thinks he came in for |
wrong purpose.
Relative to the assertion that certain par
les attempted to assassinate him, witness
aid that on Sunday morning, December
9th, he went to the City Hotel for the
purpose Of getting dinner. 1t was about
our o'clock. A friend came in and |
While talking to witness was summoned away
o see some one. Two men who had occu-
lied table near witness followed him out of |
he dining-room, but at this moment his
riend met him at the dining room door and |
informed him (witness), and related that two
nen had registered at the hotel, their pur-
)ose being to assa>Slnate witness. Witness |
hen left the hotel and went to his room on |
street. Thought it was getting
qually. and therefore did not 20 back to the |
lotel, but took his meals afterwards at res
aurant
These men did not make any demonstra-
ion. Witness knows nothing more than was
old him by his friend Believes firmly,
owever, that it is all truth. Does not like to !
i've the names Of his informants would
ather confer with them first
The Chairman thought that the witness
hould no. withhold the names but as he
dvanced as q reason that he would prefer
onsulting the parties, the committee in
ulged him to the extent desired.
Wells affirmed that his reason for with
oldng the names of his informants is that
leir disclosure would be injurious to them in
pecuniary way.
This answer was elected by an interroga-
on from the chairman, who desired to
now if the parties referred to had reason to
ar molestation in any way should their
ames be published. Wells affirmed that
is belief is that they would be injured
ecuniarily.
Chairman Hoar here interrupted the wit
ess, saying that he had been informed
nee his advent here that a great many
ersons, men Of responsibility and good
usiness standing, would come before I
he committee and give important
stimony if they did not stand in dread Of |
cling ostracised One man, he affirmed, who l