The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-20
THE LOUISIANA INVESTIGATION.
Further Testimony Taken BEFORE tise
House COmmiftee-A Mass of Evidence
Showing How COlOreG Democrats are
Threatened and Abused-The senate
Committee Getting Ready for work.

New ORLEANS. Dec. lS.-The following
PROCEEDINGS were had before the house in
vestigating committee to-day: George John
son (cOlOred), who testified few days ago,
was recalled, and stated that he had been as
saulted by cOlored republicans since he tes-
titled before the committee; knows other
witnesses who fear violence If they testify.
T.. w. Barnes manager of the Western
Union telegraph company, who had been
subpenaed TO produce dispatches sent and
received by Kellogg. Packard. Dibble War
moth, Carter and General Anger from
and after the 18th of August 1876
was called before the committee. In an
swer to a question Mr.. Barnes said he had
not brought any messages with him; that
he had been instructed by General Superin-
tendent Van Horner not to deliver and
produce messages; consequently he must
under his instructions, refuse to deliver the
telegrams called for by the subpoena. The
committee, after consultation, adopted the
following resolution, which the chairman
was instructed TO communicate TO the house
of representatives by telegraph:
Resolved, That for the efficient prosecu-
ton OF the inquiry ordered by the house,
this committee communicate to the house
for its consideration the refusal of r. w.
Barnes 10 produce before the committee the
kilograms referred to in the subpoena duces
tecuBl, served upon him December Is, 1876,
of representatives.
General Hurlbut moved that the last
clause, "his refusal being in contempt" etc,
be stricken out, as the house itself
was the best judge of the contempt if there
was any. The chairman put the question
on General Hurlbut's amendment and it
was lost, the republicans voting for and the
democrats against it. The resolution was
then voted for and carried by a party vote.
John Young, of DeSoto, was the next wit
ness. Heard State Senator Dave Young a
republican, say before the election that
Nichols would be counted out even if he
was elected. Knew of intimidation by the
republicans of negroes who intended to vote
the democratic ticket. They were threat
ened, and in some cases had to have protec-
ton from the conservatives. The colored
people were afraid to vote the democratic
ticket. Cross examined by General Hurl-
but: Young is the holding-over state sena-
tor. Know of one instance where on Tensas
river a white man, democrat from Chicago,
was maltreated and whipped by ne
groes. We pledged ourselves to pro-
tect negroes who desired TO vote
the democratic ticket even with our lives
Had no organization or society organized for
that purpose. Is an attorney; practices in
the parishes of COncordia, TensaS, Catahoula
and others. Is q conservative democrat
Over 100 negEoes voted the democratic ticket
last election at Vidalia; abont 100 voted for
Tilden and $50 for the state ticket
the democratic ticket unless guaranteed
the protection of democratic white men,
who gave assurance of protection; was at
Vidalia the day of the election. Colored
men, in many instances, were deferred from
voting the democratic ticket, as much talk
among the negroes was that every coiored
democrat ought to be killed; his wife should
mo ond i'm md h.
threats. The colored republicans and the
republican party Is largely in a majority
IN Concordia know of no violence TO col
ored democrats, only threatening talk
Dave Young and several other republican
ofhceholders are Under Indictment for steal
ing $3l 900 of the public money. They OBJ
tained portion of the money as trust, etc
No violence was offered to any colored dem
ocrat, but attempts were made to prevent
them voting the democratic ticket, bv
forcing republican tickets upon them and
tearing their democratic tickets. The super
visor Of registration made but two returns,
one including all the polls and the second
without polls ?, and 1, where protests were
made. Witness made aut some OF these pro-
tests. These polls were largely republican
j Floyd King testified: Was present in
COncordia parish; was at the poll in Vidalia
on the day of election; saw no violence nor
lnum idation, except threatening remarks
and one colored democrat having republi-
can ticket forced upon hiR; is in charge as
agent of four plantations in Tensas, Madison
and Concordia parishes and travels a
great deal through khe country In
every place colored mex desired to
vote the democratic ticket, but were
restrained through fear of being killed.
In the Morgan plantation a coIored demo
cratic club was organized. all the members of
which vote the democratic ticket. Under the
circumstances, thought ii was heroic for col:
ored men TO vote the democratic ticket Had
not advised any of his hands to vote for
democrat.
Thomas Dawson, colored. testified: Was In
Concor6ia parish. Has worked on the Nor
gan place for about eight years. J. Floyd
fions ton Was president of a de democratic
club containg IS or 40 members. of