New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-28

the 8nOVo 0aCe, me cOuTv w. SoJvuA.9AS
until Thursday, October Z; On tnst aay
stated. After the drawing OF the grand
jury had been completed, remarks were
made by theee same men, numbering about
thirty or forty. that they did not intend to
allow the district court to 60 on, and on lesv-
ing The courtroom to 20 to my ONCE 1 met
some colored men and was talking to them
A young man named Alex Skipwith, ap-
parently the leader Of the crowd, came to
where l was standing in tho courthouse
yard, near my Office, and said that some
one scross the etreet said that had better
be careful how talked to men that were
on the jury. l asked him who it was that
said 60 He refused to give me the name.
told him to 90 and tell the one that said 90
to attend to his business, and ] would at
tend to mine. Neither of these colored men
that was talking to were members Of the
steps from me and gave signal, which was
answered bv j. A. Norwood and j. w.
Saunders. l turned then to 60 into the
courtroom, seeing that some harm was in
tended me in perform my dutiee az sheriff
Of the parish. Skipwith. Norwood and Saun-
ders went mp the stairway just ahead Of me,
Skipwith putting himself in the courtroom
turned and asked him why he did thiee He
replied had better 60 on or that he would
do worse; that he intended to kill me and
that blue ellied son of BIB (meaning,
as l suppose, the district judge) About
this time thirty or forty armed men were at
the courthouse door, and commenced loud
talking. The Judge then told me to invite
them into the courtroom to be seated, which
did. They refused and told me to 60 on,
or they would give me seat They kept
up such loud talking that the lawyers lett
the courtroom, with the exception OF D: Z.
Hardee. He started out, when the judge
called him Colonel Hardee) and asked him
if there was NO way he could keep the men
quiet, for if not, it would be impossible for
him to 60 on with the court. D. c. Hardee
told him tthe judge) that was what those
men intended to dc; that they intended to
get rid Of him and the sheriff, and not a.
low the district count to 60 on; seeing that
they intended to murder me in the court
house, attempted to make my escape.
and in coming out was assaulted by
Lewis Moore and Alexander Skipwith.
On getting down stairs, seeing Skip
with and the crowd that he was
ened to get ont Of their way; there must
have been sixty or seventy shots fired at
me, one taking effect in the right hip-the
only one that struck me. l was captured,
brought back to the courthouse, and was
told to sign my resignation, and to leave
the town, ard that I would be allowed five
minutes to leave. As to the eigning Of my
resignation, refused. After was captured
quite number wanted TO kill me. 1t Was
only a godsend that my life was spared.
succeeded in making my escape to Baton
Rouge through the w00de az they had the
roads pickered.
am here, and have had doctor. Ny
wound is painful. but not dangerous. There
has ecarceiy night passed in East Fe!ici.
ana for the last two months that has not
witnessed the numbering or shooting Of
some cOloYed man. The loyal people there
are at the mercy OF an armed mob.
Hoping that this letter will meet with
your early and favorable consideration,
remain your obedient servant,
HENRY SMITH,
Sheriff Of East Felicians.
NEW ORLEANS, October Is, 1875.
Hon. C. c. Antoine, Acting Governor StaSe Of
Lou.f lana:
S1R-Agreeably to your request by tele-
graph. nave the honor to submit: the fol-
loving statement connected with the open
ing and adjournment Of the Fifth Judicial
District Court in and for the parish of East
Feliciana:
The court opened at 10 A. NJ, October z,
the sheriff. Henry Smith, in attendance.
The grand jury was impaneled, charged by
the court and retired 10 their .oom, with |
A.
civil and criminal dockets were then called |
and cases assigned.
An appeal case from the parieh c0urt was
taken up. and the trial proceeding, when |
the sheriff came into the courtroom, and in |
a loud voice, attracting the attention OF the
court, seemed to be wrsngling with some
person IN the passage leading to the court |
loom. directed him to keep order, % the |
in which he was engaged in
.errupted the proceedings Of the court. He
came within the bar ana sat down. / then
saw several persons in the doorway smok.
ing, with their hats ON. l directed the
sheriff to request them to take seats within
the courtroom or to cease smoking and take
their hats off. They withdrew from the
door into the passage beyond the view of
the court. the sheriff returning within the
bar.
The case on trial proceeded, and hearing
q disturbance in the passaRe-way, called
D. c. Hardee, Esq, to the bench, and said
not 60 on. He replied that from the ap-
pearance of the crowd he saw about the
courthouse he thought it doubtful whether
Smith could keep order; that they were per-
sons not to be trifled with. rejoined, you
know better whether he can control them
or not. He then asked me if was not
aware Of the opposition to Henry Smith. /
replied that had seen reports in the news
papers. but could not believe they were
true. While this conversation was going
on, the sheriff left the courtroom without
my knowledge, and, az l was afterwards
informed and believed. while near the
foot Of the stairs was set upon by
the came persons with whom he was
previously disputing. He then ran into
the courthouse yard, and while there was
fred upon by the crowd. / should Judge
al ,h~r -
some one remark in the the courtroom that
they were shooting at Smith. Including
the members of the bar, about twenty per-
sons were then in the courtroom. Looking
into the courtyard ! saw Henry Smith limp
ing, and an excited crowd talking to him.
A consultation took place between several
members of the bar, citizens and myself;
come advised that the court adjourn sine
die, some an adjOurnme for . few daye,
Others stating that with Smith as sheriff it
was impossible for the court to proceed.
One gentleman gave as reason why the
court should adjourn sine die that if word
eh0uld 90 into the country that Smith had
been shot both whites and colored would
flock int town and q conflict would be in.
evitsble; word OF adjournment would stop
them.
l was reluctantly forced to the conclu-
sion that the business Of the court could
not be proceeded with, it's orders executed
or its process enforced in the then temper
of the public mind, and decided to adjourn.
A deputy sheriff remaining in the court
room l resumed the bench and directed him
to adjourn the court cine die.
Subsequent to the adjournment, the gen.
tlemen present assured me that personally
l was in no danger, that NO indignity was
intended or would be permitted; but for
fear some reckless person would offend they
proffered their protection. Stating that I
apprehended no danger, but if they thought
there was any danger l would accept their