The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-23
LOUISIANA.
The Conversational Commit
tees.
Evidence ola Quiet Election.
The House Committee.

The House Committee.
NEW ORLEANS. December o. VIM.
Williams. (colored) Of Orleans, since the
election was assaulted and knocked down
by colored men who accused him OF vot-
ing the Democratic ticket; he did not
vote because threats were made against
those who intended voting the Demo-
cratic ticket; his ssssilsnts have s:nce
threatened to finish him.
Cross-examined-W knocked down,
beat and shot at; was not there himself
before the election
R. j. Hogan (colored), of West Felici-
ana-Election was free, tar and peacea.
BILE; was At the Aiken plantation before
the election; colored men were there to
shoot any colored man who voted the
Democratic ticket; knew OF no intimids-
ton by any one 10 induce colored men to
vote the Democratic ticket; knew many
colored men who voted the Democratic
ticket; knew of no armed men riding
over the parish, except organizations OF
white ana colored men who whipped per-
sons for stealing; made affidavit at
the custom house soon after the election,
the same as he testified now, with some
thing more about the killing of John
Gair and others; stated that he had heard
it; they wrote long statement, which ne
signed, but does net know what was in
it; only swore to my signature.
Cross examined: Was formerly q
Republican and was a member of the po-
lice jury; was indicted with the other
members of the jury fer mslfessance in
Office in July; Green told witness that
the Democrats had cursed the police
jury for being ID Republican Radicals;
some people came TO the plantation
where he was and took three colored
men, named Williams, Hunter and
Woods, and whipped them for
stealing sheep, corn and other things;
did not see them whipped,
but heard Of it; Williams broke away
and ran, and was shot at, but not hit;
the regulators told these men they must
behave themselves and quit stealing;
Jumped out of the window when he beard
the regulators coming, but came back
when he saw who they were; Captain
Barrow told the colored men they must
organize themselves TO break up the
stealing; heard of the killing of
Isaac Mitchell and Gilbert Carter; do
not know who killed them; Capt. Bar
row did not tell him the "bull-dozers'
would call upon witness If he didn't join
the Democratic party; did join Capt.
Barrow's club.
When asked if he had not stated to
some one that he voted the Democratic
ticke. because he feared violence II he
did not vote 1t, the witness replied that
he did not remember making any such
statement.
Witness, continuing, said. Negroes
have been whipped since the election be-
cause they did not vote the Republican
ticket; signed paper for a Democrat
since the election stating that there had
been free and fair election; he was
squire; others signed it; he swore u.s. 1t
was printed, l think; he told US not to
sign it unless we signed 1t of our own
free will and accord.
Alfred Billings testified-Am law
yer: was Redublican at the last cleo
ton; knew Addison Hearsy, the COM
missioner of elections referred to; would
not believe him under oath; Hearssy Is
a police officer; heard thirty or forty
men say they would not believe Hesrsy
on oath.
c. j. LeidIg sworn-Wss election
commissioner at Poll No. 2, Eleventh
ward; election was peaceable and quiet;
after the election all agreed that 1t was
fair. and Hearsy took the ballots
out of the box; after counting the votes
a few dscrepsncies-only two or three
were adjusted, the Democratic commits
sionero yielding to the Republicans; saw
n revolver drop out of Hearsy's pocket;
heard no threats of any kind; Kimpton
had the key to the ballot-box; hc gave it
to me voluntarily; his protest that !
made him give it to me is lie. l
locked it in their presence, took moth
ing out, nor did l put anything in it; up
to that time no complaint whatever had
been made; Kimpton and Hesrsy's
statement that they were COM
pelled to proceed when fatigued,
is false in every particular; Supervisor
Backus wanted the counting OF the votes
stopped, but it was not donei the state
ment that an attempt was made TO cor
rupt the officials is false; the tally sheets
were signed and no threats were made
to induce the signing; after the box was
delivered to the criminal court we went
to Backus's office with Kimpton and
Hearsy; they went in the back room to
consult, and Bsckus, after they came out,
refused to sign the statement; l swore
to it and gave it to Mr.. Backus; |
made duplicate, giving one to the Secre-
tsry OF State. The witness identified a
tally sheet signed by all the election ott-
GERS and said: 81 saw all them sign that
paper" A statement was handed to wit
ness who said its purport Is that election
was iair, quiet and pesceable; they all
signed this. Another paper presented
this is an exact copy of statement gwen te
Mr.. Backus and the Secretary Of state.