New-York tribune., 1877-01-11
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBrSE.l

iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBTNEl
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1O.-Representative Crapo,
one OF the Republican members OF the Louisiana lnves-
tgating Committee returned to Washington yesterday
He was selected member OF the subcommittee which
visited Ouachita Parish and by this means became very
familiar with the condition of affairs disclosed by the
testimony of the House Committee in that parish. Mr.
Crapo says that reaching kew-Orleans the House
Committee spent several days in taking general testi
nony, the substance of which has been telegraphed
North by the agent OF the Associated Press. great
number of negro voters were examined nearly all or
whom testified that they had voted the Democratic ticket
OF their free WILL and that they knew of no nni-
daion violence. The Ouachita Parish sub committee
spent seven days in Monroe day or two after
Its arrival there the deputy sergeant-atarnis Of
the Senate Committee summoned from OUachita
about 90 witnesses of each party to appear and testify
in New Orleans. Mr.. Mcmahon, the chairman OF the
subcommittee, called the Democratic witnesses as rap
idly possible before they left for New-OreaDs but
after that very of the Republican witnesses could he
found in Monroe Those who had not gone u New-Or-
leans in the subpenas Of the Senate Committee
had been there almost since the election, claiming
10 refugees and asserting that they did not dare 20
return home. Mr.. Crapo asked the subcommittee 10
examine Republican witnesses in New-Oreans, as he
could not their attendance in Monroe; but this
request refused Inc evidence taken by the sub
committee in Ouachta Parish is therefore almost en-
tirely cr p1rte in i,s character.
Mr. Grape says that the existence in tile parish OF at
least six rife clubs was proved These clubs
lied last Spring and separate and independent OF
the regular Democratic campaign clubs, which were
composed Of both white men and negroes. The Demo
Gratis asserted that the rifle clubs were formed for the
purpose OF protecting property from depreciation by the
negroes and made necessary by the failure OF TIE
constituted authorities to execute the laws prop
ery 1t was also asserted that colored men
who iOined the Democratic clubs were
bulldOzed by their Republican associates and
that It necessary for the white Democrats to assure
the negroes that they would be protected even by the
use if necessary On the other hand, MI Crapo
says it Is a suggestive fact that the rifle clubs were
formed Just before the campaign began and that they
have held meetings since the 9TH of last November
There testimony that these clubs as such at
tended the political meetings held III the parish prior to
the election, but it shown that members OF them,
numbering from six to Dozen did 80 III their individual
capacity TO almost every political meeting held by either
party They did not carry their rifles, but were gener
ally armed with pistols No disturbance occurred at
anv meeting but violence was several times appre-
hended and squad OF five six United States soldiers
under command OF lieutenant was sent to these meet
ins when their presence was requested by the Republ
cans Tie soldiers stationed az some distance from
the place of meeting but the Lieutenant mingled with the
people and in several instances interered to prevent
violence Mr. CrapO says that all the evidence tends to
show that tie people OF Ouacha Parish evinced the
greatest respect for the Federal troops no col
lision ever occurred TIE number OF SOL
ders stationed at Monroe was p. and the
membership OF the rife clubs aggregated about 600 men,
most of whom we're armed with Remington and Enfield
rifles No testimony vas obtained showing that the rifle
clubs were engaged the budo1ng OF negroes bur 1t
WAS shown that their riding through the country at night
70 attend their meetings often frightened the
or course this negative testimony and does OF prove
that members of the rife clubs not engaged In some
Of the buldozng operations. The testimony obtained
nv the committee In regard TO the murder of Dr. Dnk-
grave on the last day OF August, 1876 Is substantially
t same as that which has already been published Dr.
Dlnkgrave was a native of Louisiana, and was very
highly resuected by the white people. He was
the most influential Republican IN the Parish of Ouaehita
and was unusually active last Summer Ia organizing the
negroes into clubs and nciIng them 10 vote the Repub-
can ticket. His murder pat an Immediate stop 10 the
Renubcan orgauizatiOn and caused great alarm among
the negroes There doubt that II was the cause OF
the rsng of the negroes island and OF their threat
to sack the town of Monroe. The Democratic Theory OF
Dr DuKgayes murder Is that he was shOt by one MIN
b.rly brother Of whom nc killed III selideiense
about three years ago. but the testimony on this point
was evidently not sufficient " convince
Mr. Crapo believes that the PnGstOD murder Ia
one on which the Republicans cannot af0rd 10 resi-
their case. Ee says there Is abundant evidence
of Mrs Pinkston's bad character. IL was proved
that she was guilty OF nfancide al least TWO occa
sions and of other crimes. The white men vino we're
accused by Mrs. PtukstOn Of having phrucpaten
in the murder Of her husband prove abs to Mr Crapos
saiifctou and the weight Of evidence went 10 show
beyond doubt that PinksOn was killed by
negro named Brooks and his associates, with whom
Piukston had short time before had desperate hghf
and who had openly threatened To shoot him
The method Of assng the vote Of ouachita Parish