New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-09

ssthat be must see about it,; another said
if single Democrat were injured in con-
sequence of Dinkgraves death, every
white Republican in the place would be
killed, and another remarked he was sorry
for the family, but it YVES good thing tor
the country. ! am satisfied that the story |
that his murder was on account OF the
Wimberly difficulty was as deliberately |
concocted as was bis assassination. Stimuli
taneously with the announcement of his |
murder this story was telegraphed all over |
the country, and the Democrats generally |
have continued to repeat it. Il is true DR.. |
Dinkgrave had the misfortune to kill John |
Wimberly, but it was SO clear case of
self-defense that the wife of the deceased
and his relatives residing in Ouaehita told
DR.. Dinkgrave they did not blame him,
and am told the widow voluntarily came
to town to testify in his behalf. At the
preliminary examination he was dis
CHARGED, and he was never indicted, and
ali this occurred more than six years be-
fore his murder. In July or August
prominent Republicans residing in
Ouachita told me of their fears that DIR.
Dinkprave might be killed. These fears
were based upon what they had heard
about the threats against him, on account
of his activity as a Republican. Among
those who expressed their fears to me
were James S. Ray, Judge r. Ray, Judge
| Baker. Mr.. Ennemoser, Mr.. Wbited and
Mr.. brewster Another fact which shows
that his murder was not the result OF
private feud is that organized bodies of
armed men were collected in and about
Monroe on the night after his murder,
| and remained in and around Monroe sew
/ eral DAYS after, and no serious effort
was made to apprehend tie assassins.
| Mr.. McEnery says in his testimony
that in 1852 justice of the peace below
| Monroe committed o negro to the jail in
Monroe, in default of bail. Nine or ten
| negroes met the constable and effected
rescue. They were indicted and one was
| convicted, and the rest obtained a change
| of venue to Caldwell. B. II. Dinkgrave
was sheriff, and refused to put them in
isiI. Judge Ray fined him $50 A rule
was taken with the object of dismissing
him from Office or filming him for neglect
of duty" The facts in regard to this
matter are these: A justice of the peace
had committed colored man to Jail in
defauit of bail, and he had placed him in
the custody of private person who was
not constable, as stated, to be carried to
Monroe. Meeting a number of persons
on the way they told him that Mr.. Rsuls
| II think, the person having the accused
in custody, was not an officer. and had no
right to take him to jail. The prisoner
then refused to go on with him. An aff-
davit was made against those persons and
DR.. Dinkgrave arrested them. After hear
ing the facts and knowing the parties,
he permitted them to remain at home till
the meeting of court, which was to be in
two or three days, believe, on their
promise to report to him on the first day
of court. They did report at his Office
on the first day of the district court, and
they remained under his control in attend
ance on the court. The rule was taken
against the sheriff. notwithstanding the
accused were then in attendance on the
court, and they had been present since
the commencement of court. If DR..
Dinkgrave erred in this matter, which
doubt, be erred on the side Of mercy, and
it is difficult to imagine why the matter
has been allnded to by Mr. McEnery.
will state here that Mr. James d. McEn-
cry, the elder brother of Mr.. Sam McEn
cry, was one of the parties who defended
DIR. Dinkgrave, and he considered it q
gross outrage against DR.. Dinkgrave that
ANYTHING was done in that case against him
I Mr. McEnery is reported as having testified
as follows: "Mr Grady refused to put a
box at Bayou de Siard, where there was
large Democratic eolored population; his
list of constables was composed of bad
characters, notorious for their turbulent
disposition; Mr.. Stubbs and remon
strated, as these men were likely to pro
woke a difficulty, and suggested othel
names of colored Republicans; excep
: one, which he agreed to appoint, he ap
: pointed his own; said that Chief Jnstic,
Ludeling had told him that if be did no
: fix things as be wanted he would be helC
personally responsible" This statement
in so far as it relates to me, is false.
have been told that letter Of Mr. Mem
I cry was published in Cincinnati news
! paper, in which he stated that the only
case OF bulldozing he knew of was th,
case Of the Radical Chief Justice of thl
State illuminating the supervisor Of re
pistration in Ouachita. have not seen thl
article, but this, / am informed, is th
substance Of it. The statement is false
! Mr., Grady has told me he had seen th,
article, aud chat il was not true. Som
DAYS before the election happened to K,
! to the law Office Of Judge Ray, where
I met Mr.. Brewster, Mr.. Hamlet, Mr.. Cor
ham and othera, and they were lsissatisfies
! with the action Of Mr.. Grady, who, the
feared, was acting in the interest Of th
! Democrats, and they proposed to have hin
= removed. / demonstrated against thi
action, believing Mr. Grady 70 be a firm
and honest man. The immediate cauE
Of their complaint was that be would no
tell them where be intended TO establis
polling places as they wanted them. a
their request ! spoke to Mr.. Grady 4
4 Learn what election precincts he il
tended to establish. ! informed hiz
. why I spoke to him on the sui
iect. He showed me a list OF ia
! places fixed by him for holding the cleo
+ ton, and be said be had fixed all the poll
ing places suggested By both parties, ez
!, eept one in tie island, suggested BY Nj
, HAMLET, and one on Bayou de Siard, suf
qested by the Democrats then sue
Z gesied that instead Of three there shout
7 be four boxes III Monroe, to afford ampl
4 facilities for voting, as I supposed
!. greater number Of persons would vote a
! Monroe than usual At first be though
four boxes AZ Monroe would not be neoet
: aary, but fnallY be agreed that II woul
be safest to have four boxes Oar intel
4 views were Of the most amicable an
4 friendly character. 1n the Issue q q
4 Telegraph a Democratic newspaper pul
lished il Monroe~-imnediatel precedin
the election. the editor stated that Chi
Justice LudeIing had insisted upon havin
foHr boxes ID Monroe and had threatens
Z io hold Mr.. Grady personally respOnsib
Il be failed 70 comply with the reques
Tue article went on to State that tbs pla
. Of sha Radicals was TO macs the nesroi