Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-01-05
Louisiana.
Louisiana.
TIE INVESTIGATIONS THE SENATE CON-
NITTEE.

oENhlh NOh-
xITTEE.
New ORLEANS, Dec 28.-The Senate sub
committee. of which Wsdleigh is chairman,
examied Andrew Harrison, colored, of East
Baton Rouge, whose testimony showed
that while the negroes OF the parish were
republicans from choice, many OF them
had been forced to vote the democratic ticket
through threats and fear that he had been
told if he did not vote with democrats he
would be relieved from carrying mails
while others had been told ii they did not
would they be hung. He had voted the
democratic ticket IN consequence.
He gave two instances where color
ed men had been hung up and
nearly killed for refusing To join the
democrats. and said that the regulators
were originally organized. a. asserted.
to prevent stealing, but subsequently
turned into bull-dozers. He narrated d;
considerable length the breaking up
of the union rights colored club, at Mount
Vernon. in June. Gnd the riot which en-
sued, Geo. Brown of the same parish was
driven home and afraid to return on sc-
count Of being q republican. He denied
that the ritual of the union rights club re-
quired the members to shoot negroes after
the third refusal to join, as published in the
New Orleans Democrat.
Ii. G. Washington. colored. detailed
several acts of violence by bull do. rs.
and gave with great reluctance the nauIes
of the lea 1ers. In conclusion he asked
the committee what protection would be
given those who came here to testify
Senator Mcdonald SAID if any one molested
him TO repOr. - the committee and they
would be punished. Senator Wadleigh b
said that it Is hard case, but we've no
power TO help YOU. Witness. replying to
Mcdonald, said IL | 20 hume and get killed
l cannot report to the committee.
Jacob Shields. cOlOred. said he was dep
uty United States mar,hall at poll eight.
and was forced to leave Bud Duncan
wanted him to stand eff and let him shoot
at his badge, and said he didn't want any
Niger cthcerS around there.
A large mass of testimony was taken by
this committee. of which the above are the
principal points.
The SENATE COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION.
NKw ORLEANS. Dec 29.-The senate COM
mittee devoted the day to hearing rebutung
testimony in reference to EiizI PinkstOn
Ten TT twelve witnesses, white and colored
testified to her notoriously bad character
being charged with inlanticido and leaving
another child in the fence corner To die !;
also that she had been discharged from two
plantations because all the colOred women
refused to stay unless she was sent away !;
that she was u notorious prostitute un-
worthy OF belief. Chairman Howe said
| he long since come To the conclusion
that nothing Eliza said Was 10 be believed
merely because she said Sd. therefore there
was no use in attempting To strengthen
that opicion by such evidence. MIR. SIuls-
| bury thought those charged by her with
| participation in the assault should De al
| lowed To contradict. Mr.. Howe said that
Eliza Plnkston was wounded and Henry
Pinkston was killed were facts not affected
by her statement. Several witnesses testified
to Alexander Brooks having threatened to
kill pInkston last Nav for beating him
and biting his finger eff. The Senate sub
| COMMITTEES went to the residence OF
Eliza PinksiOn at moon to take her
testimony, but found her laboring
under such intense nervous excitement
that the idea was abandoned lor he present
The peopls with whom she lived said
persons had called there this morning and
excited her by telling her that people from
Ouachits were coming To testify NUMEROUS
things against her in reference to her
children The committee returned TO the
custom house and examine a number OF
witnesses relation To the breaking up oi
the union rights club in East Baton
Rouge, and the intimidation Of
negroes George Recknsset, deputy
United States marshal Tor that parish,
testified To intimidation and bull doing vi
colored people there and the un:airne>s ui
the election. James Payne, aged II, col
I ored, detailed the taking away OF his iatt
by the regulators, and said George Can
Mauna Carmens put rope round his neck
and that they beat hIni and called him n
radical, and that he said that be would die
j. b. Collins testified to intlm dstiOn oI
colurtd republicans in the city of Baton
Rouge by which mary were prevented fIoa
voting.