The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-12-07
THE TERROR IN LOUISIANA.
COOL AND DELIBERATE NUMBERING

THRILLING SCENE AT THE SESSION OF
THE RETURNING BoARD-THE OUT
RACES DENOUNCED BY NORTHERN
DEMOCRATS-GEN. JOHN NJ. PALMER's
wRATH-TERRIBLE NARRATIVE OF A
WITNESS.
From the New-York Times.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 2S-A startling
scene occurred before the Returning Board
to-day. Four witnesses were examined.
All had been wantonly shot because of their
Republican principles. Two were brought
to the city on cots. Their names are Ben
James, Eaton Longwood, III. w. Burrell,
and Eliza Pinkston. During the latter's
pitiful recital of her wrongs-her husband
emasculated and then killed before her
eyes, of her babe whose throat was cut in
her arms, of her own gashed breast and
limbs, and finally the outrage of her person
by two white Democrats Gov John
NJ. Palmer, of Illinois, leaped from his chair
and said in wrath. ''If this story be false,
those that prepared it for this poor woman
| should be hanged but if, as [ firmly
believe, it is true, the wretches who can
perpetrate such atrocities should be execut-
ed without mercy. / will spend $4,000
to ferret out this case. 1t looks true. This
poor woman has certainly been cruelty
wronged. The question is broader now
than President -making-it is one of hu-
manity. If she has told the truth, Sheri-
dan should come back at once and hold with
a grip of iron a people who can see such
infamy without remOnstrance even in their
public prints" Gov. Palmer was greatly
excited while making these remarks, and
astounded the Louisiana Democrats, who
tried in vain to pacify him. Gen. George
B. Smith, of Wisconsin, also exhibited much
excitement, and turning upon local Demo
! erats, said, "Eou have deceived us" Subse-
quently Lyman Trumbull, who was absent
! from the room during the womans recital,
/ fatty concurred with Gen. Palmer The
Generalization of the Democrats here is
complete, not only because of the facts dis
closed, but because Of the names of leading
! Democrats who are exposed in detail as the
murdcrers and ravishers. Other witnesses,
men and women, who have cruelty suffered,
are yet to take the stand.
! Tonight the Chief of Police has been
compelled to station a force around the
domicile within which Mrs. Pinkston lies
PROSTATE on bed. \ turbulent Demo
cratic crowd is assembled, and they are
loud with menaces At last it is evident
that even Northern Democrats cannot re-
turn home and sneer down Southern
Democratic outrages as myths. The testi
mony which Hon. John Sherman, Gen.
Garfield, Eugene Hale, Gen. White
Courtlandt Parker, Z. w. Stoughton, aud
Judge Kelley will furnish the North will
startle the whole country. Following is in
substance Mrs. Pinkston's statement
On Saturday night, the 4th of the month,
Henry Pinkston, a respectable colored man.
who was known in the island district of
Ouachita Parish, went to his cabin after,
as is stated having held consultation re-
garding the election with a number of Re
publican leaders. He was known in the
parish as steadfast, and somewhat demon
strative Republican, but, fearing for his
life, he had recently Joined Democratic
club. According to the sworn statement
of his wife, Eliza Pinkston, which is now
befor me, he went quietly to bed on
the night in question, not fearing or ap-
pretending any danger. At about 3 clock
the next [Sunday] morning number of
men, who from their voices were known to
be white, came to the cabin and, knocking
on the door, said, Come out here Pinkston,
your Yankee friends want to take you to
Monroe"
To this Mrs. Pinkston, who thought she
| ho g h.
piled, "You are no Yankee; you are DR..
Young \ man named Gogan, who was
afterward recognized by Mrs. Pinkston,
Immediately answered, CDR. Young is not
in the parish" After a few words more
of no Importance had passed between the
terrified woman and the men on the outside,
Gogan broke down the door of the cabin,
and number of armed white men, among
whom Mrs Pinkston recognized Dr. Young
Billy Parks, Gogan, Frank Durham, "Buck"
Baker, and others, rushed into the room.
They went up to the bed where Pinkston
was lying, and dragging him out on the
floor, cried, You will vote no moro
Radical tickets here" "Buck'' Baker said,
"We must tend to the woman, too."
They then commenced firing their pistols
at Pinkston He fell. His wife screamed
and one Of them struck her over the head
with his heavy navy revolver. She was
cut and shot in several places her jaw was
broken, but she did not die. When she
had been I" tended to" the men took her
husband, tied handkerchief over his
mouth, and carried his bleeding body out
of the house. Then they killed him. Be
fore he died he begged them to spare his
life, saying II will vote the Democratic
ticket, sure" ''No," said one of them.
e. your niggcr heart, you have
fooled us long enough now you must die. !"
Having killed the husband the men next
turned to the wife Her infant lay at her
sida Tbev cut ire throat from ear to ear