The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-08-03
A sLAsnKK D1srosED OF.

The report of Representative John
L. Vance (DemocraD and Representa-
tive VIM. Woodburn tRepublican) the
Subcommittee appointed by the.
Lower House of Congress to inquire
into the causes which led to the at
tempted assassination of NJ. ii. Twich-
ell and murder of Mr.. King, at Cou.
shatta, Louisiana, in May last, effectu-
ally disposes of the malicious lie in
vented by the Radical press of the
country TO the effect that the crime
was committed for political purposes
The Sub Committee visited Coushatta
in Red River Parish, and examined
thirty three witnesses, Including prom
inent men of both political parties. 1t
appeared from the testimony that on
the morning of the 2d of May stran-
ger, mounted on peculiar. colored
pony" entered the town Of Couchatts.
He was disguised, wearing coat
made of rubber or oil-cloth, reaching
nearly to his feet, and his face was
partially concealed by n heavy beard,
supposed 10 be false. He wore pair
of goggles, and his straw hat drawn
over his face. He went to a black
smith shop where lie could obtain a
good view of the opposite side of the
river, and requested the blacksmith TO
shoe his horse. He pretended to be I
waiting for his brother. He remained
in the shop until he saw Mr.. Twichell
approaching the ferry landing in a
buggy, ON the opposite side OF the
river. He rode to the landing, dis
mounted, hitched his horse, and went
up to the top of the bank. BY that
time the ferry skiff, in which were
David King, NJ. II. Twitchell and the
ferryman Ga colored mar), approached
the landing. The stranger fired, hit |
ting Mr.. Twichell inth leg. Mr..
King fired OH the stranger, when the
latter returned the fire. killing Mr..
King instantly. The assassin then
fired again on Twichell, wounding
him in both arms, and when the ferry
man attempted to rescue Twiehell |
from the water he, too, was fired |
upon and wounded in one of his |
hands. The assassin, thinking his
victim was dead, coolly mounted his
horse and rode away. Several per-
sons approached the assassin during |
the firing, and tried to interfere, but |
he would not heed them. Such in
brief, is the story of the attempted
assassination of Mr.. Twichell. The
Sheriff and posse started III pursuit !
of the assassin, but could not overtake |
him. No one recognized him. and the
evidence clearly showed that he was
an utter stranger in that part of the /
country. Nor was the horse he rode |
recognized as belonging in that part
of the country. eaff.
The Subcommittee were specially |
instructed to inquire whether the at
tempted murder of Twichell and the |
of King were of politi- /
cal character. White men and colored
men testified that Twichell took an /
active part in the organization of Red |
River Parish, and that he was can
didate On the Republican ticket for
State Senator, and received the sup |
port of many Democrats of promi I
nence as well as Republicans. He had /
the appointment of officers /
in the parish, and had almost unlimit-
ed direction of its affairs. According |
to his own testimony he was State |
Senator, member of the Police Jury |
of the Parish, member of the School
Board aud United States Commits !
sioner. lie is accused of managing
his affairs loosely and extravagantlv,
and of assessing lands greatly in ex-
cess of their real value, aud of perpe- /
tratingA gross frauds. lie was dis I
liked by many of his own party, and !
some of them had made threats
against him. The most prominent
men testified that no one in the Par
ish was in danger on account of his
could as safely express their opinions
there as in any other section of the
country. Republicans concurred in
this view of the case. Both Messrs.
Vance and Woodburn, arrived at the
honest conclusion, after carefully
weighing the evidence, that the shoot
ing of Twichell was not caused by
reason of their political opinions.
Mr.. Twichell's worst enemies, they
found, were members of his own
party. The Committee reported to
the House their conclusions, aud ex-
pressed the opinion that the people of
Red River Parish, irrespective of par