Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-12-27
TESTIMONY
Given Before the Senate Com
mittec At New Orleans Dec
goth. 1876.

Given Before the Senate Conn
mittec At New Orleans Dec.
Goth. 1876.
Horrible Tales of Butchery and
Beastly Crimes.
From the Chicago Tribune.
BEN. JAMES,
colored, testified before the returning |
board on Nov. %. He resides in |
Ouachita Parish. Was constable in |
that parish for two years, and United
States Deputy Marshal at the time of
the election. Witness testified that on |
Nov. Z, at p. M, he started from
Monroe for the Logtown polls, about
twelve miles distant, with the ballot
box that about two miles from the
city he was halted by party of white
men, who asked him where he was |
going, and that subsequently he was
taken by one of the men to dwell
ing house where about one hundred |
men were gathered around fire. |
Some of these men were armed with |
guns. After short parley witness
was ordered to go down the road |
with one of the men. He broke away
from his keeper and ran through the
woods. Several shots were fired at
him, and he was wounded in the arm.
He took refuge in ditch, but was
discovered and again fired upon by
one of his pursuers, the ball grazing
his head. He was not further in
jured, and succeeded in reaching the
residence of planter in the neigh
borhood, by whom he was cared for,
and instructed to make affidavit
against the parties Who had done the
shooting. He left the ballOt-boz, his
horse and his pistol in the hands of the
men who had stopped him on the
road. Witness also testified that just
previous to the election colored peo-
pie from the country went into the
town of Monroe armed in order to
protect them on the way ; that num-
Der of guns had been discovered in
the town by United States troops. He
said also that no republican meetings
were held in the county except when
the troops were present. lie thought
there had not been fair and peacea-
BILE election in Ouachita. He stated
that negroes were inundated and
threatened. He was told by some
white men that the democrats would
carry the election by the bayonet.
Was present at democratic meeting
when the speakers stated hatnegroes
should vote the democratic ticket if
they wanted good Government and
desired to put honest men in Office.
The republicans were making fools of
the colored people.
On cross-cxamination witness said
the democrats had placed guards on
the roads leading into Monroe before
the arms secreted in the city by the
colored men were seized by the Uni
ted States troops, and that the col
ored men had carried their arms to
Monroe to protect themselves in 60
ing there.
GEORGE SHELTON,
colored, of Ouchita Parish, testified
that he was shot by Willie Howard
on account of being republican, be-
in shot in the left breast and twice in
the right hand. That after having
been shot he went to friends house,
who put him out on gallery for fear
the whites would come in and kill
him. He also testified to general
intimidation by the whites who had
guarded the roads the day of the cleo
ton and broken up skiffs to prevent
the blacks from going to the polls.
He had voted the democratic ticket at
the election, but he thought his heart
would jump out of his mouth when
he did SO. Other colored men had
also voted the democratic ticket at
the instigation of leading republicans
in order to save their lives.
JANE LOCKWOOD,
colorcd, testified: Am the wife of
Eaton Logwood, of Ouchita. Either
on the first or third of last month,
Capt. Theobold, with SO armed men,
came to her house and asked for Eat
on. She told them he was not there.
Theobold said: "Tell him to come
and see me or I'll kill him." Know
Theobold, George Phillips, and A.
Logan, but none of the others of the
party. The next Friday four men
came and searched the house for him.
After they left she went down into
the woods and told her husband he
had better leave or he would be
killed. The next day Theobold's
company came back, searched the
house, fields and adjacent woods for
him. Falling to find him, Theobold
told witness TO tell her husband to
come and see him the next morning
or he would consider him his worst
enemy, and kill him, as he heard Log.
wood wanted negroes to arm and
whip his (Theobold's) company. They
then left. On the 10th of September
was sitting OH the bed in the house,
and heard a gun fired. Got up and
started to the door. Met Eaton, who
said, "Give me my guns!" / told him
to run, which he did. Just then
heard another shot, and going out at
the door met my brother-in-law, Pri-
mus johnson, with his baby in his
arms, who said, ''Oh my poor sister,
l am killed." and fell down and died,
| Here witness burst into tears. After
a moment she continued: He was
shot in the side. Did not see the man
who did the shooting. johnson was
sitting on lumber pile in the front
yard when shot. He was Baptist
minister.
After her husband returned Capt.
Theobold came to see him; said he
was sorry for him, land sent for doc
tor to dress his wounds. Capt. Phil
lips and the other white men also
came to see him. Her husband asked
for the Government troops at Mon
roc for protection, and they guarded
him eleven days afterwards,and then
took him to Monroe. Her husband
had % acres of land and some cattle.
He had four balls in his shoulder,
one in his arm, and one in the right
side.
THE NEXT WITNESS
called was Ben James, who appeared
on the stand with one arln in sling
He testified that he resided in Qua.
chita parish. Was q constable On
the morning of Nov.7, started from
home before day to carry the ballot
box to Log Town, twelve miles be.
low Monroe, having been appointed
deputy marshal. When he had gone
down two miles was met in the lane
by man named Cook, and another
yOuuScI lluH, WIN uilltcu IIle uuU uSk
ed me where was going. Told them
to Log Town to carry the ballot-box.
es. Said could not go without see
ing Mr.. Head, and they would have
to take me to headquarters. They
got on their horses and guarded mt
: down the road, and were severa
times halted by parties on the road
side. When asked who goes there
they answered Scott and were told t.
pass on. He was taken down tn,
road in front of Joe MitchclIs hous,
, where they found a large body O
, men lying around a camp fire. Sool
, after Joe Mitchell and Bobeydon
:. came up, and after whispering to
: gether Mitchell said, "Comc to me-
i and ordered me to follow him.
knew / was going to be killed, a
Mitchell said, 81 wish l had my dou
l ble-barreled gun" After going
4 short distance broke and run, an,
r they fred upon me and broke m,
fright arm. l ran to the fence iump
s ed over it and laid down in the ditch
Joe Mitchell came I'M to mo and said