The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-11-30


lying out in the woods, to keep from th
bull.dozers. Two stayed up to the gu
house; both were women.
President Wells-You said that you
husband had been thrown down; wha
was the action Of the parties that threl
your husband down; what portion OF hi
body did they cut.
A, Oh, yes they put knife throug b an,
through him. You could hear the knit
grinding like you cut new leather. Cap
tain Lebout told some body TO jerk hi
arms out.
President Wells-They first choppeC
you with an axe?
Answer-Yes, sir, and struck me witt
pistol; they killed my child when the!
were fooling with me; after they killet
my child l went to fight them with all m.
might; then Logan stamped here, point
ing to her breast, and somebody knocked
out all my Jaw teeth, and / did not hav'
u hollow tooth in my head.
Mr.. Ganthreaux-Would We be al
lowed to put question to the witness?
Wells-You ought to file your eros
Interrogation.
Mr.. Ganthreaux-What we want is thu
fullest investigation OF the case, and !
seems tome that there could be no objec
tion on the part Of the Board to any ant
all questions that can throw any light OF
this investigation. / would like to asl
this question; If she did not on the morn
ing after the occurrence, tell John Swan
sou and Tidwell that \ colored mar
killed her husband.
Witness (emphatically)-oh, no; they
were not there; there were two colored
men there, but Tidwell told me not tc
tell who they were. Oh, moi Oh, no
We amt going TO have that way. Oh,
no, sir; they were white men. They all
came back and tried 10 kill me; but they
cannot have anything that way.
Mr.. Morry-We have no objection to
the fullest cross examination by Judge
spoford. ~
Judge Spotford-We are taken by sur.
prise BY the course taken by the Board
and Its rulings, and we are not prepared
10 go on.
Gov. Palmer-I may here take occa.
sion to say that this case involves more
than Presidential election. 1t involves
the dignity and honor Of human nature.
! think you will hardly satisfy the coun-
try unless you give such directions as will
lead to the complete development Of all
the facts in the case. Certainly such peo.
ple have no righ. to claim any part In the
government like that which is attempted
10 be shown here. Think you owe It TO
the country TO allow all the facts to be
developed.
Senator Sherman--I concur with Gov.
Palmer. I would like to have Gov. Pal.
mer and Judge Spoford cross examine
the witness, so that We might have the
facts.
Gen. Smith-The mere cross examina-
tion Of this case would not develop any
thing. II is to investigate the facts from
all the witnesses, within reasonable
number, who may know the character Of
this transaction with this woman as de.
tailed. l concur with Gov. Palmer in
what he said, thatitdoes not concern par
ties, but concerns humanity.
Mr.. Parker-You could not be permit
ted to say that TO give any further privi.
lege than simply say to the leading
counsel that to cross.e1amine this wit
nefs would be to give more privilege
than is usual in courts. 1t would be
very great qualification TO me il the ex-
aminatian could be carried on without
the annoyance Of interrogatives by
such gentlemen as are now before me, Mr..
Smith or Mr.. Palmer on one side with
any gentlemen who may be nominated by
the Board on the other.
! General Smith-If the Board will par
don me, l desire to say that We do not de-
sire to interfere in the examination OF
the witness. 1t would be proper that
either side should do that, as there are
men entirely competent on both sides to
investigate thoroughly the facts OF the
case, and a mere cross.examination Of
this woman would amount 10 nothing.
The suggestion made by Governor Pal
mer, that every fact connected with the
circumstances which this woman details
can or cannot be sustained. / can only
state that 1 am informed by gentlemen
who live in the neighborhood, whose
characters so far as l know are above re-
proach claim that the matters
here set forth are not true,
and they desire, and the coun-
try l know desires, alter reading state
ments Of this kind, that the entire facts
be set out in reference to their character.
In this transaction, mere cross-exanina-
tion Of the witness, the gentleman as a
lawyer knows would amount to nothing,
and l would say that this proceeding Is
not conducted precisely as a case in court.
Then, certainly, it cannot rest upon
cross-examination alone; It would be
proper to submit 1t to the court or jury
whose province il was to determine the
real facts In the matter.
Mr.. Parker-There is no disagreement
between us. Let the cross-examination
proceed, and at the proper time bring it
into the Courts.
Judge spofFord-We have just arriv-
ing on the train, large number Of wit
nesses. Owing to the change in the
rules, We will have TO serve our interro-
cations In twenty-four hours on the oppo.
site counsel. Task as a matter Of simple
justice that this case be postponed until
we can conform to the rules. We are
taken by surprise.
Judge Ray-I desire to call attention
that we are compelled 10 make our re.
turn next Saturday or by Monday, as on
Wednesday the electoral vote must be
given. II we depart from our rules, SO
far as the investigation is concerned,
we will not be able to arrive At the re.
suit in time. There are four or Eve par
ishes still where investigations will have
to be made. hope there will be no de.
parture from the rule. The courts OF
justice are open and the matters could be
prosecuted there and the whole facts
could be brought out.
Mr.. McGloin-I would like, as a white
citizen Of Louisiana, to say a word. l
have in my hands the aftidAvits which
will clearly disprove that this outrage
was committed by white persons. We
have number Of distinguished gentle.
men here from all parts Of the Union.
This thing is an imputation upon the
repptationiof every citizen Of Louisiana.
Now, we will have witness here to.
morrow--but l say, though the heavens
fall, let us clean this stain of our es-
cutcheon and show that the people Of
Louisiana are not such fends as they
try TO show that they are. They will
take the testimony in any way that you