New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-06
THE wADLE1GH COMMITTEE.
Eighth Day.

Eighth Day
Senator Wadleigh's committee met yes
terday morning at about half past ten
o'clock with all the members present. The
investigation of East Baton Rouge was con-
tinued.
William Gerlsch, sworn-To Senator
McDonald-Am second lieutenant, Third
Infantry, United States army; was
born in Germany; enlisted the army in
1856; was promoted from the ranks; have
been stationed at Baton Rouge barracks
since July 4. 1876; attended Republican and
Democratic meetings; the most effective
arguments used by Democratic speakers
were promises of schools; there was nothing
in the speeches in the nature of intimida
tiOn; was astonished at the cOndescepsiOn
of the Democratic speakers the Republican
speeches were more appeals to the oOlOred
men to stand by the Republican party;
to remember their former state, and
that the Republican party emanci-
pated them; and to keep the mem
success of the Democratic party meant the
remanding of the colored people to con-
dition as bad as slavery; investigated the
report of disturbance at the third ward
poll made by a man named Shields, United
States deputy marshal; the report made to
me at that poll was that Shields had not
avowed his official capacity until after he
named Duncan was armed aud had offered
to shoot of his badge saw no arms; the
only arms l saw was tne pistol which Mr..
LIE Sage, the Republican who accompanied
ME, looked at. before we got there to see
whether it was in good condition; did not
see any disturbance on election day;
McAlpine, a United States marshal, COM
planned that the city police lntertered
with him; went with him and sue
ceeded in having the police Withdrawn
from the room; MeAlpiue arrested Cheatam,
United States commissioner; took him be-
fore Clover, another United States commits
sioner; on the way to the commissioners
Office, Cheatam objeeting to being taken
before Glover, MeAlpine offered to go out
on the green with him and fight it out.
To Senator Wadleigh-The tone of the
Democratic speeches was extremely con-
descending; was astonished to hear the
Democratic speakers promise that the
colored people should be dealt Justly by;
the enthusiastic colored Democrats were in
a position to be overlooked by the whites;
at one poll which / visited there were
probably two or three colored to one white
voter; the Democratic police had adopted a
rule that one colOred man and one white
voted at the same time; under that rule all
the whites would have completed their
yeting before q half or q third of the
colored; think it an unjust rats.
To Senator McMillan-Tbe voting al
Murphy's SchOolhOuse was stopped soon
after the voting commenced; the Demo
cratic commissioner alleged that the COM
missions of the Republican commissioners
were informal; the two Republicans were
excluded and two Democrats sworn In IN
their place; when l say the election waS
| perfectly fair include the poll where the
| police had made the arrangement men
| toned and where, at MRrphy's School
house, the voting had closed; thought thai
/ McAlpine was wrong in offering Co hgh1
/ Cheatam; was very angry when MeAlpint
/ called my verRcity in question; Genera
Brooke interfered; have q bad opinion o.
United States marshAls.
Senator Mcdonald questioned witness as
to his definition of the word "condecen
sion" as he had applied it, who defined it IL
| its literal sense.
Leon Jasbremski, swOrn-To Senator Nc
/ Donald-Am mayor of Baton Rouge; ma
tive of France; am Democrat, strictly
| took part iRthe political canvass ATTENDED
meetings in the fifth, sixth, seventh ant
ninth wards; was accompanied BY DIR. Da
/ pre-, Mr. Booth and George IL jackson,
| cOlored Democratic orator; the colore'
| Democrats we're earnest and enthusiastic
| WITNESS cOrrobOrated the statemen
i Of DIR. Dupre in relation to thes
i several meetings, and to the genera
/ peaceful character Of the canvass and tni
/ quietness and fairness Of the election.
/ there was an absence Of everything like in
timidaiion; two years ago the policy OF IN
| timidRtiOn was pursued, when the WHIT
League was organized, and the Democrat
/ lOst the parish by over 1000 majority
| Witness testified to the expulsion of Pal
| ish Judge George P. Davis[ The Reput
lican supervisor of registration eongratu
lated witness upon having carried the ele.
ton for the Democratic party by hand
some majority.
To Senator WAdleigh-Was member Q
the Knights Of the White Camelta, and al