Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-12-29
eelluws falls Times,
BELLOWS FALLS, DEC. 20, 1876.

lie eOOuSreSSlOnai luNcSIISdtlOH.
Election In Louisiana-Assault on u. s.
Notwithstanding Barbarities-Murder
for Political Opinions-RevoltingA Anoci-
ties.
On Wednesday of last week, Dec, 20,
1876, the following testimony was taken
before the Senate investigating commit
tee at New Orleans:
OUTRAGE ON U. s. DEPUTY MARSHAL.
Ben James (colored) testified that he
gave evidence before the returning board
Nov. %. He resides in Ouachita parish /;
was a constable in that parish for two
years, and United States deputy mar
shal at the time of the election on No
vember 7, at one clock P. M, he started
from Munroe to Logtown poll, about II
miles distant, with the ballot box about
two miles from the city he was halted by
a party of white men, who asked him
where he was going, and that subsequent
ly he was taken by one of the men to a
dwelling house where about hundred
men were gathered around fire; some
of these men were armed with guns af-
ter short parley witness was ordered to
go down the road with one of them. He
broke away from his keeper and ran
through the woods. Several shots were
fired after him and he was wounded in
the arm. He took refuge in ditch, but
was discovered and again fred upon by
one of his pursuers, the ball grazing his
back. He was not further injured, and
succeeded in reaching the residence of a
planter in the neighborhood, by whom
he was cared for and instructed to make
an affidavit against the parties who had
done the shooting. He left the ballot
box, his horse and pistol in the hands of
the men who had stopped him on the
road.
Witness also testified that just previ.
Gus to the election colored people from
the country went into the town of Nun.
roe in order to obtain protection, and
that a number of guns had been discov.
cred in town by the United States troops
No republican meetings were held in the
county, except when the troops were
present. He thought that there had moi
been a fair and peaceable election in
Ouachita the negroes were intimidated
and threatened was told by some white
men that the democrats would carry the
election by the bayonet; was present al
democratic meeting when the speakers
stated that the negroes should vote the
democratic ticket if they wanted 9
good government and desired to pui
honest men in Office, and that republi
cans were making fools of the colored
people.
MORE INTIMIDATION.
George Shelton (colored) of Ouachits
testified that he was shot by Millie How
ard on account of being republican
being shot in the left breast and twice il
the right hand that after being shot ht
went TO friends house, who put him out
on the gallery for fear the whites would
come and kill him. He also testified te
general intimidation by the whites, who
had guarded the roads the day of elec
tion and broken up skiffs to prevent the
blacks from going to the polls he hac
voted the democratic ticket at the elec
tion, but thought his heart would jump
out of his mouth when he did so. 9th
er colored men had also voted the dem
ocratic ticket at the instigation of lead
ing republicans, in order to save theil
liYes.
Jane Logwood (colored) testified
Am wife of Eaton Logwood of >Ouachi
ia that on either the first or third o
last September, Captain Keebold, will
96 armed men, came to her house anC
asked for Eaton; she told him he wa
not there; Keebold said, "Tell him t,
come and see me, or I'll kill him;
knew Keebold, George Phillips and A
Logan, but none others of the party
the next Friday four men came ant
searched the house for him. After the,