The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-02
The Ouachita Outrage.

The first reason Tor discreditiug the hor-
rihle story told by ELIZA PINksroN before
the Louisiana Returning Board was afford
ed 10y the Republicans themselves. The
slnuous GOV. WELLS attempted to prevent
cross-eNamnatiOn of the witness, nnd TO
postpone all investigation of her case
TO II time when that Investigation could
have no effect upon the canvass OF the
vote. In this attempt lie was aided by
Messrs. SToUGHroN, HALE, and WHITE Of
the Republican committee. The motives
OF these efforts were 80 palpably suspicious
that even senator SHERMAN was con-
strained to ask that the cross-examination
might go on.
The reluctance Of the lawyers to submit
their carefully prepared and dramatically
arranged sensation to the ordinary tests
by which men separate the true from the
false, proved 10 be well grounded.
There i no doubt that the woman's story
is true, So far as the facts of the murder of
her husband aud chlid and the outrage
upon her own person are concerned. There
is just as little doubt that she perfumes her
self in the details which connect the affair
with politics. Mr. TIDwELL, the Old gen
temnn upon whose place the PINksroNs
llved, tcstiiies that when ELIHA visited his
house ON the morning after the murder She
told him that four or 1--WE negroes had
come 70 her cabin, killed her husband and
child and nearly killed her. PINKsroN' :
life had previously been threatened 10y II
black Desperate named Brooks. Rcpub.
lean, with whom he had had - fierce per-
sOnal encounter.
1t was this version of the tragedy that
wa telegraphed at the time to the New
Orleans papers. This with unimportnnt
variations, was the womans story for
three weeks, and until she fell into the
hands of KELLoGG's people, This would
have remqined the accepted theory of the
murder until doomsday, had not occasion
arisen tor a political atrocity which should
afford Il colorado pretcxt for throwing out
the vote oi Ouachta.
MI HANDY, the careful correspondent Of
the Philadelphia TumcS, has taken pains to
investigate this case. lie writes:
Nobod, IN the neighborhood had heard any
p'hiral c"mplexlon given to the outrage until
Win whom l liked are reldl to s,iiy that
ii.lIh IlhksToN wls a rand Democrat, aud
in open meeting Just before the c,ectiJu in ian.
"a ge unht Tor publication, after vaiuly trying
% borrow pistol 10 shoot him. All aiteupis
10 connect 20 iti,s Win thus har fail tn tho
ground, an Il say II after careful inNcstigatton.
'egun Win inc ahhoIrence Of such an outrage
ana the conNicion That 1t was cIltue charge
able 10 the Democratic
II is worth noting that every dcinnnd
that has been made Tor tho prompt iuyc.-
tiaalion of this crime and the punishment
a. the murdcrcis has been made by "A Dem
"riat, From the Republican Coroner who
u elected 10 hold au inquest on the body
"l llENW PINksroN, 70 the Republican
Govcrnor who has failed to take measure,
Tor tlc vlndication of justice. the state ofi-
'mls Of Louisiana have been careless Of the
horror OF the outrage of Nov. I, except SO
Iai ~ that horror was expected 10 have
ma k"tabl" value in politics
Th"'n-c of the woman pINk,ruN prove,
Two things: That PARTISAN lascalitl SONG