New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-08
THE KIDNAPPED LKGIsLATOR,
Safe Return of MIR. a. J. COusin-The
story of His Capture. imprisonment
and Final Release,

safe Return of MIR. 4. j. COusin-The
Story of His Capture. imprisonment
and Final Release.
Among the passengers arriving yesterday
morning on the steamer CameIa from across
the lake was Mr.. A. j. Cousin, the abducted
member of the House from the parish OF St.
Tammany.
Mr.. Cousin states that on Saturday morn
ing he was standing near the Old Basin. at
the corner of Carondelet walk and Clai
borne streets, when two men seized him
and declared him to be their prisoner. On
bis inquiring what offense he was charged
with they told him to come along with them
and they would tell him. One of the men
was Jim Poole, a merchant of Covington,
and the other Mr.. Cousin did not know.
He asked to be allowed to inform his
family of his arrest, but was refused, and
informed by the parties that they did not
want him to look at or speak to any one.
They took him to the Parish Prison and
delivered him to Captain Food, who locked
him up about ten minutes, when he was
taken out and handcufed, by Poole's direc.
tion. He was then placed in carriage
with Poole and three other men whom he
did not know, and taken to the Lake End,
where he arrived about twelve o'clock.
Mr.. Poole then took his handouts off. They
kept him there until four o'clock, when
they took him on board the steamer Camelia
and placed him in the hold, in order that
he might not have an opportunity of speak.
ing to anyone. He was informed that if
an attempt was made to rescue him by the
police it would be unsuccessful, as they were
armed and would fight If necessary.
When the boat had left the wharf he was
allowed to come out of the hold, and was
otherwise decently treated Mr.. Budd
Hosmer, of Covington, be recognized as one
of the men who had charge of him. When
the boat arrived at Vaudeville he was
placed under guard Of force of fifteen or
twenty men armed with muskets and fixed
bayonets, with most Of whom he was ac.
quainted. They assured him of his personal
safety, unless an attempt was made to rescue
him. boy" Hosmer and three other men
took him in a carriage to Covington, the
armed guard following along behind on
horseback. In Covington he was kept in a
room in Mr. Thomas Lscroixs house until
Sunday afternoon at four o'clock when ne
was moved to the courthouse.
They treated him well, except that they
would not allow him to communicate with
his friends. They refused him an interview
with his father four times. Monday two
men, armed with reyOlVers, took him into
the piney woods, nine miles from Coving-
ton, and assured him that if any one at
tempted to release him they would kill him
before they would give him up. They told
him that they had nething in the world
against him, and theiS only object in hold
ing him was to prevent his presence
at the organization of the Legisla
tEre. After that had taken place they
would let him go, On Tuesday they
received news that the Legislature
was organized, when Mr.. Bradley, who
purports to be lieutenant in the "Penn
militia" whatever that may be, informed
Mr., Cousin that he was at liberty as soon
as he should go before sjustice of the peace
and answer to the charge of embezzlement,
This charge he learned = be on the strength
OF Sl5 in parish warrapts, worth twenty
cents on the dollar, Which was in dispute
when he vacated the Office of tax collector
two years ago he was placed under $500
bonds, which were furnished by his amiable
captOrs, Messrs "Boy" HI kmer, Will Parker
and "Lieutenant' Brady, of the ''Penn
militia"
Mr.. Cousin was, at no Eime, in charge of
a sheriff, deputy sheriff or any officer known
to the law.
He left the lively little own of Covington
Immediately upon his please, and was
present in the House Of Representatives
when his name was calbd in that body
yesterday morning, to thtgreat satifaction
of his numerous friends.