New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-19

order to strike terror into the hearts of the
colored voters. Now, listen to what this
witness said:
Il believed it was trick of Colonel
Sharp's and did not 90 to the fire. l am
member of the Old Mems Democratic Club.
saw armed men on the streets on that
night. John Gilmer and three others came
! to me on the morning Of election. They
were armed with bowie knives and pistols.
I asked them if they would take drink.
John Gilmer said: "No, by -, we don't
want any whisky"
said: "John, what's the matter9'
John Gilmer said: by -, we want to
know if you said the white men set the
town on fire last uight"
said: 81 never said it." -
They then asked me it would sign
paper, stariEg that believed that the ne
groes set the town on fire. did sign the
paper, but only done SO because l believed
that John Gilmer would have shot me down
on the spot. They took the paper and posted
it up publicly. These men came to my house
before sun up"
The witness, who is an undertaken, fur
nished four coffins under the instructions of
the marshal, for four negroes that were
killed on the night preceding the election.
II knew of nothing the colored people did
that would Cause riot or disturbance. The
city council paid for the cOfins, and paid all
the bills for horse feed, livery, and restaur
ants for the Alabamians. l believed that
if said sny thing in favor of my election
on the day of election that l would have
been killed, from the action of the Demo-
Gratis. They were all armed with bowie
knives and pistols"
Other witnesses swore that at Crawfords-
vile two white men, Curry and Lawrence,
Obstructed the window OF the voting place
for two hours, handing in Democratic
tickets but not allowing colOred men to get
up at all, and in two instances taking Re
publican ballots from them and substituting
Democratic tickets, which they handed to
the judges Of election. These men told the
colored voters to ''stand back-that they
intended to carry the election if they had
to rua all the negroes out of the country"
About forty Republicans were not allowed
to get chance to vote at all at this pre-
cinct by this forcible obstruction of the
polls. Several witnesses testified to these
facts.
At the Dearing precinct, in Lowndes
county, the United States inspector of cleo
tions wac forced to leave and his commif-
sion seized at about three o'clock in the af-
ternoon. He was thus treated by Marion
Vaughan. Squire Cain and two Alabama
ruffians. He was compelled to leave town
at once. His name was Nelson Blauvelt.
James Gumm, negro, testified on the
election at Columbus: II started to the
polls about twelve O'Clock; l met w. w.
Humphries, who eaid was the - rascal
he was looking for, and struck me in the
mouth, and then told me to come on and
vote the Democratic ticket; l refused, and
he took me by the arm and carried me to
the polls, and pulled out ticket from bis
pocket and wanted me to vote it, which
refused; Humphries put the ticket in. and
the managers received it; the ferry boat
was locked and guards were placed at the
bridge to prevent the colored voters from
coming to the election; saw this myself.
l saw q great number OF cOlOred men
who did not vote because they said they
were afraid to 60 to the polls; there were
q great many armed men in the street the
whole day."
This witness named several of the armed
men, and named several negroes who were
prevented from voting.
G. H. Whitfield, another United States
inspector of elections, told how he was
treated, Notwithstanding that he held Fed
eral commission:
son the evening previous to the election
Captain w. w. Humphreys met me on the
street and asked me how l was going to
vote next day; told him I was going to
vote the Republican ticket; he told me
could not vote that ticket; that l would
have to vote the Democratic ticket, and
Ln8C open, no ehlu luTtucE Uudt Wo AckIOoc
and Radicals had run over the Democrats
as long ss they were going to stand it;
told him l would not vote the Democratic
ticket. but should vote the Republican
ticket; l then left him and went home.
About eight o'clock at night l was ar
rested by c. H. Ayres, Willie Hopkins, F..
NJ. Mosby land another-name illegible),
| while was standing inside my yard gate.
Willie Hopkins walked up to me and said
| l was the rascal they had been looking for,
| and told me to come out and 60 to the GALA
| boose I told him had none nothing to be
| arrested tor, and no man could arrest me.
| He blew q whistle, and the other three men
| then came out and ordered me to 60 with
them.
told them l was United States inspector
of election at Trinity church, and did not
want to be arrested, as desired to start
early next morning to the election. They
drew their guns on me and ordered me to
| march, threatening that they would put me
| in the river if resisted. They then car.
ried me along to where there were several
hundred armed men, l saw Captain w. +.
Pope, city marshal, and appealed to him to
have me released, stating that was United
| States inspector of elections. He said he
didn't care a damn; to put me along and
put me in the calaboO Ose.
Next morning the witness escaped at
| eight o'clock:
| II went to Cady's stable and hired a
horse, and started to Trinity Church.
When l arrived at the ferry found the
boat on the opposite side of the river, and
| some forty armed men on that side. hal
looed to the ferryman to bring the boat
over. He replied he could not, as the boat
was locked up and the keys taken from
him. The band of men wanted to know
where l was going. l told them where,
when they replied that if l came across
they would see me at the White Slough"
| Of course he went back. He would have
been "lOst in the swamp if he had dared
| to cross after that significant threat.
| He added that armed parties of men
were in the streets all day, and that all day
long the artillery doomed.
| Mark Brounler, another United States in
spectOr, was also imprisoned the night be
| fore election, but he was released when il
| was known that he would vote for the
Republican ticket that was sure to be
beaten by its rival or the Democracy.
w. w. Humphreys, Jr, swOre that he
"thought the colored voters were intimidat
cd and afraid to vote in consequence OF an
tecedent events-the fire in the town the
night before, the killing, ETC."
saw about fifty of those Alabama men riding
the streets Of Columbus, with arms, in 9
squad, together.
r. Gleed swore that Colonel w. w
Humphreys declared, on the night before
election, that, as there would be two hun
dred or three hundred Alabamians coming
over, the colored people should not vot'
unless they put Colonel Sims on theil
ticket.
II have heard Alabamiane," he added
"since the election say that the Republican,
should not blame them for their cominl
over-that they were hired by the Demo
Gratis to come"
Jefferson Kirk swore that he was tolt
not to 60 to the polls; that the Alsbamian