New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-04
EXCUSES WHICH CONDEMN.

panles OF the west.
EXCUSES WHICH CONDEMN.
The Democratic papers are generally
unsparing in their deaunciations Of the
unknown assassin who murdered George
King, and wounded, probably fatally,
Senator Twitchell at Coushatta ferry the
other day. But they also endeavor to
shield the people Of Coushatta from
charges Of participation. 1t seems to us,
however, that the reasons given, SO far
from hsing exculpatory, are very ACCUSE
tory. The Democrat contained q dispatch
which briefly recited the occurrence, add
ing, "Au is quiet" Thus it appears that
the eold-blooded murder of timid, peace
able, inoffensive tax collector by an alleged
disguised man, who Immediately rode out
of town, created no excitement in little
country village, where even dog fight
ordinarily draws out all the idle popula-
ton. We regard the qniet which super
yened the commission of the murder as
pretty good evidence that everybody knew
it was to take place, and no one was there
fore startled by the reports of the gun or
the news of the result.
Again the Bulletin gives three or four
theories from unknown sources. One Is
that the object of the assassin was to put
stop to certain alleged investigation Of
the facts of the murder of II. J. Twitchell
and others in 1874. We were not aware
that any such investigation was being con-
Quoted. Certain it is, it would have come
to nothing in any case. Senator Twitchell
has not been stirring in the matter of late,
and if he had been, it was no sufficient
reason or excuse for the innocent people
of Coushatta to stand idly by and see him
murdered because he had endeavored to
bring the cowardly slayers Of his brother
to Justice. 1T is believed" the murder of
King was accidental. There seems to be
great deal of speculation on the part of
the Coushatta people about the motives
and intentions Of the disguised. assassin.
who, We are told, was unknown and prob
ably belonged to an adjoining parish, and
who was permitted to leisurely ride out OF
town, unchallenged and unpursued. The
belief that he came from An adjoining
parish rests upon the alleged fact that he
was not recognized by any body in Cou-
shatta- This is very fiimsy pretense
indeed. We have no evidence that he was
not recognized, though there is little like
! lihood that anything will be made public.
Whether the statements, surmises and
speculations above given have any basis
to stand upon or not, We derive from their
publication several deductions.
l. The people of Coushatta can stand
idly by and permit two unoffending per-
sons to be shot down in cold blood, with
! out becoming in the least excited. "Al
was quiet" after the murder and the leis-
urely escape of the stranger.
2. It is held sufficient motive for any
murderer in the Red river country who
wishes to check investigation Of one crime
by committing another,
3. Any red handed rover may come out
| Of an adjoining parish to the Coushatta
| ferry, screen himself behind tree, take
deliberate aim with rifle and shoot as
many people Of the town as he wants to
without anybody thinking it worth while
to make his acquaintance. No effort was
made to stop him, and everything was as
quiet as the grave as soon as the echoes OF
the strangers gun died away in the sur
rounding valleys.
This is the sort Of case which will 60
| North to stand the scrutiny Of men Of
sense. Suppose the unknown man had
been colored, and his victims two of the
| prominent Democrats of Coushatta
Would there have been no excitement in
| such case? No effort to stop the as
sassin. Could any apologist for the hor-
rid deed be able to say Cali is quiet ?"
In the olden time righteous law made
every town, hundred and tithing, re-
| spectively responsible for the deed OF the
criminal whom the citizens concealed.
1t was only after the offender was given
up that the ban was removed. In this
| most wretched country. however, the
shield of popular protection is thrown
around the guilty man. and an adjoining
parish charged with the odium of his
| doHnicile,