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

The meeting was held, however, only be-
cause company of cavalry OPPORTUNITY came
up. The feeling was intense against witness
but before he joined the Republican party
this was not the case. 1t is done now, only
because witness is Republican. In July,
| 1874, there was large meeting held in the
parish for the purpose of forcing certain paro-
chial officers to resign. There were numbers
OF men from adjoining parishes. On the 9th
| OF November, when IN front of the Court
house, in the town of Natchtoches some one
| attempted to assassinate him. This unknown
| person fired at witness three times with g.
pistol Afterwards learned that certain par
ties had hired three Texans to assassinate
| him. Witness asserted that Col VIM. Lew,
who used to be his law partner, is one of the
parties who employed these assasins. Knows
| OF number of murders perpetrated in Natchi-
| tocbes parish.
There are armed organizations in the par
lsh, and it is a common occurrence to see
men riding through the parish fully armed.
Particularly was this the case when there was
to be public meeting.
There was not fair registration in the par
ish; could not be because the negroes were
inundated. A fair registration in the par
ISL would show 1000 voters, and the Republi-
can majority in fair election would be 1900
1t would not be safe for any Republican to
stay in that parish. Witness knows that he
would be hung should he venture back now
There are no Republican officers exercising
the functions of their offices in the parish at
the present time A good many murders
have been committed in the parish, but can
not say that they were perpetrated on politi-
cal grounds.
There is no doubt in the world but that the
Colfax and Coushatta affairs had the effect of
greatly intimidating the negroes in that Sec
ton Of country.
hanging of all Republicans to lamp-posts.
This disorganized condition of society existed
in the parish since last July.
Witness affirmed that this state of affairs
was to be attributed to sudden desire on the
part CT everybody to hold office. There was
no disposition to secure Office before last year
but at the late election there was not less
than nine candidates for every office.
The parish is largely in debt owes $780,
900, and the rate of taxation is about 8 per
cent. This has been contracted mostly by
Republicans.
Was Supervisor of Election in the parish in
1872. There was no intimidation Of colored
voters at that time The Fusion party cur
larger in 1874 than in 1872. Cannot say why
this is the case. When questioned by the
committee as to why it was that there was
larger colored vote cast in 1874 than in 1872,
the witness refused to answer.
On the whole, this witness got up very
effective narrative of matters and things po-
litical i'll that part of the State, and thereby
edited Old Feel hugely. 1t was noticeable
that whenever Pierson got off anything ex-
tremely shocking during the course OF his
deposition, whenever he described, for in
stance, how u squadron of White Leaguers
ran some devoted Republican to earth
and quartered him, then it was that
Old Feel would ''smile smile" that
indicated precisely how it cheered him. He
devoted himself strictly to q close examina-
ton OF the witness, end cleaned the most
satisfactory information on all points relating
TO the persecution of Republicans in general,
and Piorson in par icuiar 1t was quite clear
that the interchangeable Attorney-General was
quite well pleased with Pierson. Pierson will
be brought forward this morning and sub
Jected to IL DISCRIMINATION by Mr. Zacharie