New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-03
THE wADLEIGH COMMITTEE.
Fifth Day.

THE WADLElGH COMMITTEE.
Fifth Day.
Senators Wadleigb, Mcmillan and Nc
Donald resumed their investgstO ns yes
terday morning of affairs in the parish OF
East Baton Ronge.
Frances johnson, colored, sworn-Live
in East Ba'on Rouge; my husband was
Paul johnson, he is not living; about four
months ago he was taken out of his bed at
night, tied and carried of; be was a. ked to
sign paper by white men, he refused; the
night they came they hailed him and sur
rounded the house; they broke open the
window and came in and leveled their re
volvers at him, saying, Don't bulge, Cd
d-n you; don't budge;" he made no resist
ance; they tied q rope around his neck; they
accused him of arming company;
with MIN; tracked him five miles; he was
in his stocking feet; there had been a
heavy rain, and the tracks were plain in
the road; his steps we're very long, as
though he was running and jumping; the
men who came wore false faces, except two;
they we're all white men; could see their
hands; know them; am afraid to tel their
namee; am afraid they would serve me in
| the same way; have been threatened al
ready; word was sent through my sister-in-
law; they told my husband he had stepped
in g airs shoes; my little boy, thirteen
1 yGhEo UAuy huu piOhou buo bOJOUDg IL
amounted to six bales; didn't get any of it;
it took all of it to pay for provisions;
| heard the buzzards found my hus.
| bands body; never saw it dare
/ not tell the names of the men who
took my husband away; they live near me.
Senator Wadleigh insisted that the wit
ness should gives the nance, and assured
| her that no one would harm her for doing
what she was compelled to, but she said
that abe dared not give the names unless
she was given protect, n
To Senator McDODaid-Kuew about six
of them; they lived in the neighborhOOd; #
/ / told who we're running the plantations
would be telling the names.
| Senator McMIllan-IG is very evident that
| the witness is really afraid to give these
names, and until the committee has dec ded
that all these witnesses who have refused
to divulge names shall be compelled to do
80. think we had better excuse this wit
ness. 1t is an inOOnvenieL c. to orc side as
we'll a. to the other.
Senator Wadleigh Mcdonald,
suppose neither you nor / have any doubt
that this outrage WAS committed.
Senator McDonald-I have no doubt that
the man as lynuhed by somebody.
Senator Wsdlsigh-Wel, it makes little
difference whD committed The deed, sor far
as the safety If the witness is concerned.
The parties who would commit such a crime
would not hesitate to kill her like fy if
she should name them.
The witness WAS tor the present exc lsed.
The Democrats asked permission to intro
| duce q witness, which was accorded.
| George A. Kleinpeter, swOTn-TO Senator
McDona'd-HAve resided in East B atom
Rouge all my life, thirty five years; live ten
miles southeast OF Baton ROug plant
about $50 or us acres of cotton, corn and
potatoes; anl Democrat; took some part 10
the canvass; was commissioner at the
twelfth ward poll; attended a Republican
meeting in the twelfth ward; George Bird
and Stafford addressed the meeting; saw nc
disturbance; party asked pei omission tc
ask Bird q question; it was refused; there
was q little excitement among the women
who seemed TO fear a fuss; Bird made q
statement, which he subse quently corrected
there was a small cClJred majority ia the
twelfth ward; there was eO!Ored Demo
; cratic club organized with 100 members; the
, cOlOred people said they were tired of liv
ing without q government; the club was i
, first entirely cOlored; aiterward some white
: men Joined; was a member; no intimida
? tiOn was employed to compel eOlored meI
; | to Join the Democratic clubs; have hearC
! that Republican eolored men inundated
others from Joining Democratic Clubs, bu
! never saw anything of the kind; heard o
: some cOlOred men being killed for stealing
two were whipped for stealing chicken
/ they were caught in the act; one had beer
in The Penitentiary; thsy were given the
choice of a whipping or going to all, and
/, they chose the former; Lney were fret tt
9 have 100 lsshfs, but it was finally reduo (
! to thirty-nine apit c.; cOlOred man wa,
! shot in the leg, and Joe Manser was charged
| with ii and arrested know of no such or
I ganiz alton as bulldozers or Regulators; i
is the habit of both o0lOred and white t.
: ride at night; at the sixth ward meeting
: was near the speakers stand with Stafford
Republican candidate for district attorn Y
! an old friend; may have said in an under
! tone that a statement of the speaker wa
Z untrue; the speaker may have overheard j,
, think when l asked Stafford if certain
! statement was true he said, "No, it i
y id lie;" the speaker may hsvt
; thought it was !; have lost thirty.iv
E head of stock; received a notice through
II the postoffice that il 1 did not cease buyln
seed cotton l would be dealt with as other
J had been, signed Goal Oils" ceased buy
. ing seed cotton; the colored men were NOR
y incensed against the cotton thieves thai
= the whites; tho parish officials are Repu0
= licans; complaint is made against the I'D
T. ministratiOn of parochial and school al
. fairs.
) To Senator Wadleigh-There is no SUI
= pieiOn that white people sometimes steal
: have heard that some white people receives
y q notice that they must quit stealing stool
= nothing was done to them; heard of
= party being shot and burned with coal oil
y never heard of the shooting and hangin
of several parties named by Senator Wa(
- leigh; heard Harrison Washing tOn advis
a cOlored Republicans to 20 to Baton ROug
= to vote; never heard of bodies OF me
q riding at niph'; have beard horses fee
!, lie ,er saw them; heard u the party VIII
- hung the woman; was not Their
was present when the men wei
= whipped for stealing the CHECKER
y there was but months schooling in til
. year in the sehoolhouse nearest me; can nj
= swear that there was not three month
can not say that there were any publ
schools in the parish till within the pa
= four or five years; can not say what n
- tax is; took mora than usual interest
-, politics this year, Decause / wanted
y change; do not know that have b,en
~ any way injured by the ineOmpeteney
the parish officers; was in 1868 member
the Knights of the White CameliA; beliel
a, it was Democratic organization; took 1
q. oath; have forgotten what the oath wa
III was not member Of the White Leagu
a have heard of an organization called bu
be dozers above me. in East FelieianR.
10 Te Senator MeMllan-DO not kuo
le when the man was shot and burned wi
in coal oil; all the stores in my neighb5rhoI
ia bought seed cotton previous to the bur
n. ingsi have heard Mr.. Baroh's admlnistr
TO- ton of the school funds oriIiciz
re by oulOred orators nc Democrat
n | maetinps: have heard that WarrAu