New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-12
VOLUME IX.--NO. $50
THE SHOOTING SHERIFF SMITH
THE WHITE LINERS IN EAST FELIcIANA
The Judge and District Attorney Saved
from Violence Through the
Intervention of Friends.
CLINTON PICKETED AND UNDER ARMS

The more. that is learned of the recent
shooting of Sheriff Smith, at the court
house, in Clinton, the more does it appear
to be an unprovoked, premeditated assault,
and that it is result of systematic White
Line organization
In the parish of East Feliciana, at the
late election, Henry Smith, a colored man,
was elected sheriff on compromise ticket,
composed partly of Republicans and partly
| of Democrats. He believed himself to be
in the enjoyment of the frindship of men OF
of those who gave him their ballots. Some
weeks ago he was warned that his life was
in danger, and he fled the parish for safety.
Believing that no just or permanent cause
| existed to endanger his life, he returned to
discharge his official duties in opening the
district court While in the discharge OF
the duties of his office, he was assaulted, as
fully described in his letter to the Governor,
| which we publish below.
From gentleman who entered Clinton
on the day of the occurrence, information
is received that the town was picketed, and
parties of men armed with shotguns, rifles,
ETC., were in the streets. During the day
they entered the stable attached to Mrs.
Adley's clearinghouse, and there stacked
arms, stating they we're under orders not to
appear ON the streets. The general CONVEX
sation in public places led him to under
,%o Il hnt% %la L. I'D -
to tolerate a negro official, and that the
shooting OF Smith was premeditated, the re-
suit of come central authority, which the
armed men were obeying.
At the time of the shooting, Judge Dew.
ing, who was induced by the jury leaving
their seats and the retiring of the bar, to as
certain the cause of rbance, looked out
of window, and was ordered, by man
with pointed revolver, to return to his seat.
On inquiring of member of the bar he
was coolly informed of the purpose of the
assault. The entrances of the courthouse
were guarded, but the judge and district
attorney were take II charge of by Mr.. Pipes,
member Of the Legislature, and other
friends, who guarded them some twelve
hours. and in body escorted him until
safely out of town. The Judge and district
attorney are both Conservatives, though
holding appointments from Governor Kel-
logg.
But few Louisianians we're observed
to be Mississippians, but they seemed to
direct their movements. Nearly all were
strangers in Clinton, who come there to en-,
force the policy inaugurated by the Dem
ooratic leaders across the line.
w. G.. Lane, of Baton Rouge, United
States commissioner, arriving in Clinton on
business, was informed by the tax collector,
who had been waited on by committee,
that it would net be advisable for him to
take any evidence during his sojourn.
The following ia the report of Sheriff
Smith to Governor Antoine, containing ad-
ditional particulars:
BATON RoUGE, La, October 9, 1875.
To Lieutenant Governor and Acting Governor c.
G. Antoine:
SRI here give you the particulars of
the late troubles in East Feliciana. 1t has
been stated by some parties the troubles
were caused by myself in personal diff.
Guilty. Such is not the case. Monday, Oc-
tober 4, 1875, the day fixed by law for con-
vening the district court, the same set of
men were in Clinton, armed with re-
Nolvers; hat the district judge not
court was adjourned until Thursday,
October Z. On that day these men were
again in Clinton as above stated. After
the drawing of the grand jury had been
completed, remarks were made by these
same men, numbering about thirty or forty,
that they did not intend to allow the dis
trict court to go on, and, on leaving the |
court room, to 20 to my office. met some |
colored men and was talking to them. A |
young man named Alex Skipwith, ap-
pareht'y the leader OF the crowd, came to |
where l was standing in the courthouse |
yard, near my Office, and said that
some one across the street said that
l had better be careful how l talked
to men that were on the jury. asked him
me the name. told him to 60 and tell the
one that said so to attend to hls bus II ess,
and l would attend to mine. Neither of
these colored men that / was talking TO
were members of the grand or petit jury.
He went about ten steps from me and gave
a signal, which was answered by j. A. Nor
wood and j. w. Saunders. l turned then
l
'ome harm was intended me in per.
orming my duties as sheriff of the
parish. Skipwith, Norwood and Saunders
xent up the stairway just ahead of me,
Skipwith putting himself in the courtroom
iOOr, and as I passed he kicked me.
urned and asked him why he did this7 He
'eplied had better 60 on, or that he would
IL worse; that he intended to kill me and
hat blue-bellied son b-h (meaning, as
suppose, the district judge). About this
lime thirty or forty armed men were at the
courthouse door, and commenced loud talk.
ng. The Judge then told me 10 invite them
ntO the courtroom to be seated, which did. |
They refused and told me 10 20 on, or they
would give me seat. They kept up such
0ud talking that the lawyers left the court
Dom, with the exception of d. G. Hardee. |
de started out, when the judge called him
Colonel Hardee) and asked him if there
vas no way he could keep the men quiet, for
not it would be impossible for him to no
n with the court. d. q. Hardee told him
the judge) that was what those men in |
ended to do; that they intended to get rid
Z him and the sheriff, and not allow the
istrict court to 60 on; seeing that they in-
ended 10 murder me In the courthouse, l
ttempted to make my escape, and in
oming out was assaulted by Lewis Moore {
nd Alexander Skipwith. On getting down ,
lairs, seeing Skipwith and the cio wd that
= was leading drawing their revOlvers, 1
astened to get out of their way; there must {
ave been sixty or sevt nty shots fred 1t !
ne, one taking effect in the right hip-tbe
My one that struck me. l was captured,
rOught back to the courthouse, and was
Did TO sign my resignation, and to leave