The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-06-18
THE COUSHATTA TRAGEDY


| REPORT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
Messrs Vance (Democrat) and Woodburn
| (Republican) the sub. committee which visited
Coushatta to examine into the condition oi
affairs in that neighborhood, and particularly
into the facts connected with the killing OF
King and the wounding of Senator TwitchelI
on the I'd of May, have returned to the city
and reported to the full committee.
| After stating that they examined thirty rec
witnesses, including prominent men of both
political parties, they report that the man who
did the shooting was q stranger to all the peo-
Pile in the neigh borhood, and that it was owing
to the iRdicision (cowardice y of the sheriff,
who is Radical, that the murderer was not
pursued and captured. The report tlen con-
tnues:
Witne sSas were examined with q view to as
certain whether the assassin alton twas or was
not of a political character" Ae k"f1re stated
gentlemen representing both of the political
parties, white and colored men. were called
and examined. The testimony stio: that M-
Twitchell was instrumental aud took an active
part in the organization of Red River Parish,
and at the election preceding the organization
of the parish, and while candidate upon the
Republican ticket for State Senator, was sup
ported by prominent Democrats in CoushAtta
and it's neighborhood. Since the organization
of the parish he has controlled the appoint
meub Oh ils OluCoEb anu mas DRu almost
ed control of its affairs. In addition to filling
the office of State Senator he filed several
offices himself; and on the I'd of May last, &C.
cording to his own testimony, he was q State
Senator, member of the Police Jury of the
parish, member of the School Board and United
States Commissioner. In reality, he also had
control of the school money and other moneys
collected from the tax. payers of the parish.
The testimony of all the disinterested wit
nesses who were examined in regard to the
conduct of parochial affairs was to the effect
that they had been loosely and extravagantly
managed, and that Mr.. Twitchell was respon-
sibe for their mismanRgement. Numerous in
stances were cited, shoWing profigate waste
of public money.
The lands of the parish were assessed at
figures largely in excess of their value, and of
the assessment in the neighboriDg parishes,
and the taxes levied by reason Of this exOrbit-
ant assessment fell but little short of couhSca-
tiOn. In many cases absolute cOnfscation re-
suited.
1t became necessary to erect o courthouse
and Jail for hepsEiBh. The evidence shows
that the contract fer the erection Of the court
house was awarded to one John T. Yates Get
that time Sheriff of the pariSh) through the
influence of TWitchell, then, az now, upon the
police jury that after the award had been
tract, threatening that If it was not surrender
ed to him, he would cause IL to be revoked.
Yates did surrender il to TWitcbell, who
| caused the building to be erected and reSped
the proats therefrom. Although the contract
was let at SIC 525, yet the evidence goes to
| ahow that in reality the work has cost upWAEds
of 10000.
Again, idr. Twitchell procured the building
Of several leveeS, and the evidence shows that