The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-01-05

be corrupt since, when n scnat
Tor printing Bill: canvassed IL. q ny y ,or ~
Democratic party; never heard "a the lntimda
ton Of eoiofed people by the whites, wasassault-
the Democratic club; believe the Republican
party responsible for all tbs murders and out.
RACES committed IN Grant Parish IN 1878. and AZ
speeches always counTced peace. order aud fair.
and blacks.
y. Madison Wells, President of the Re.
turning Board, testified on the 2lsl; An Of the
Republican Electors were voted for Ia Concor.
dia Parish, but the votes were not properly count
Ell; we sent for the boxes and corrected the re-
turns, some ~ the returns received and canvassed
by the Board were sent by mail some by ca press
and some were delivered BY hand the law re-
quires that all returns shall be sent by
laail; did not canvass the re-
turns from Grant Parish because they
did not come through the SUPERVISOR, did can
vaes some oi the returns from Coneoralia Parish
which did not come through the Supervisors: the
law requires that Commi a oners Of Election shall
be appointed from both parties; do not know
that nil the polls IN the State were represented
by Democratic Commissioners, and do MT know
that there was any Democratic supervisor OF
Registration IN the state; am decided partisan.
but would not allow politics 10 influence me 10
DO any thing unjust; am Surveyor ~ the port
and President Of the Returning Board, but do
not think That holding both offices y IN contra
era ofilcer shall held State once; the law says
there shall be Democrat on the Board.
cause oaa uln Board eous inc not be-
Hugh Kennedy. the gentleman proposed for the
vacant position on the Board. Is q gentleman OF
friend OF mine. but the Board could not agree on
his appointment. and no Other name was pre-.
scented; did not vote on the question nor think
that any member q the Board WAS mach op.
posed 70 Dr. Kennedy; but, In talking over the
question, we found that we could not agree
The Minute book containing the proceedings Of
the board was produced, and witness was assed
% explain number Of entries and omissions to
which his attention was called. but was unable
20 do so. Charles ;. Abel. Assistant Secretary
Of the Board, testified: lid not know that any
the Board had no Official knowledge Of any thing
not returned by the supervisors and could not
act ON polls not before them. Witness was In.
terrogated IN reference 10 the action Of the Board
In number Of instances which he had no re.
membrancc OF am member Of the Flour Board
also. appointed by Governor Antoine last An.
gust, am paid BY the fees Of Tie one which
run sometimes 10 one hundred dollars per
month. In 1874 was Inspector IN the Custom.
house az three or four dOllars llcr day, WAS then
Assistant Secretary OF the Returning Board
Witness stated that he had real estate, but re-
fused 70 state where 4 was located, saying twas
out OF the state. Frank johnson, col0ref, ~
Catalonia Parish, testified that ~ canvAshcA thc
parish for the Democrats, was a minister ~ the
Baptist Church. and was turned out " the church
because he was a Democrat; knew ~ secret or
ganization called the ''Councii VI Frcedmen,"it
was oath bound, the members had arms and car.
trdges, wac President Of o tlored Democratic
club OF about thirty members; intimidation
was used ~ induce colored men 10 join the
Democrats. but the Republicans inundated the
Democratic speakers; told them that II the Dem
ocrats succeeded the negroes would all be put
back into slavery. On ross-examinafion, said
ne quit preaching when he joined the Democratic
party. they turned him out and took MA license
away from him. the election passed m quietly
~ the poll where he voted only one straight Re-
publican ticket was v0ici 40 that poll. The
House Committee. In executive session, % day
instructed Mr.. Morrison. Chairman "a report
the members OF the Returning Board t0 tho House
for contempt In refusing % produce the recoriE
called for.
Before the House Committee, on the I'D,
n. y. Hogan, colorci. Of West FeliciAna Parish.
testilcl that the election was far. iree and
peaccable, the only intimidation WAS by cnlored
Republicans 81 cO0rctl Democrats. witness
made AFFIDAVIT ~ the custom house some time
after election. did not know what Was IN IL, and
only swore 70 his signature. heard other colored
witnesses say they did not know what was ia the
aiiidavits they sworc 70. several witnesses
swore that the election at Poli2. Eleventh ward
WAS fair and peaceable, ana that the returns
were legally signed. (Ihls poll
was thrown ont by the Returning Board.l
Lieut.. samuel \ Holmes, u NE i,ih lHitcd
stAtes Infantry. testified During the election
was at BATON Rouge the general disposition Of
the people during the canvass Eakt Baton
Rouge and East Fcciana was 10 avoid any dis
turbances o. any kind by either party, and espc-
cialiy was that the case win Democrats, have
not heard complaints Of an unfair electlon by
either party beyond the fact that Demo
Gratis expressed themselves surpriscd At
that poll being thrown out, they having major
there, Ia East Feliciana, before the election,
knew That meetings were held by both parties,
aud every thing was conducted quietly and
pcaceably. am not well enough c0nycrrant with
the situation 10 say whether or not there was any
feeling 81 dread among coiosed people.