The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-01-11
Investigating the Elections.
Louisiana.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE

1 Inc Senate committee, on the 9th, con-
timed the examination Of Sam. d. McEnery.
Upon eross-examination he stated that he had
been member Of the knights of the White
Camelia, which was a secret and oath bound
| society 1.-THE Senate sub committee, com.
posed Of Senator'S Wadleigh, Mcmillan and Nc
Donald, examined number of witnesses as to
the condition of affairs in East Baton Rouge
| Parish. Alexander s. Gilbert, colored testi-
fled: On the night of Sept. 5
! the bulld0zers visited my house
my wife ard two coiored men tscaped to the
fields; they puta rope around my neck; broke
| my gun and tore down the fences; witness fur
ther testified as to the killing of Paul Jones, Tom
| z. Payne, and the two Myers. all colered; also,
to NUMEROUS, specific cases of buldozing and
tertorizing in the parish and stated that the eff
Feet Of these acts was to prevent colored
people from attending Republican
meetings and voting that ticket.
Alice Gilbert, wife of Alexander, corroborated
| his testimony as to his personal treatment by
| the bulldozers; the men were disguised; knew
some of them, but declined to give their names
| as she had property there and could not go back
| if she did so. Benjamin Morgan, colored, Cor
oner Of Baton Rouge, testified that he had held
many inquests on murdered men since Jan.
l, but was finally notified by the
Regulators to stop holding inquests, and held
called TO hold an inquest on the bodies of old
man Jerry Meyers and his son Sampson Meyers
the old man was hung and the young man was
shot; both were industrious men, and lead
ing Republicans; never heard any other
reason for their murder. Sophia
Payne. coiored, testified that in June last
her husband, Thomas r. Payne, who was
prominent Republican. was dragged of with a
| rope around his neck by body of white men
and killed; gave the names Of some Of the men
engaged in the affair. -r.... ~
Before the Senate Committee, on the 18th,
a number Of witnesses, beth white and colored,
testified as to to the general peacefulness of the
election in Ouachita. B. A: Shelby testified
that two of the men charged by Eliza Pinkston
with the murder Of her husband slept at his
house on the night of the murder, and conld not
have been engaged in that affair. The sub
commit ee received the evidence Of a number of
colored men, one of whom, Andrew Harrison,
swore that he voted the Democratic ticket on ac-
count OF threats of being discharged from work,
and that other colored men were influenced by
thr ats and intimidation. Several others
swore to acts of violence committed on negroes
on account of politics. Gen. Brooks, Thirteenth
. s. Infan ry, commanding in eight parishes in
Louisiana, stated that in East Baton Rouge and
East Feliciana there seemed to be, last spring, a
combnatio among Democrats to terrorize the
colored people, ard gave several instances of ne
groes having been wounded and beaten, and
gave fearful statement of the condition of af-
fairs there, and threats used to induce colored
men TO join the Democrats and vote the ticket.
The Senate Committee, on the Goth, de.
voted the entire day to hearing the rebutting
evidence in reference to Eliza Pinkston's testi-
mony. Some 10 or II witnesses, white and col
ored, testified to her VIGOROUSLY bad character.
Chairman Howe said he had long since
come to the conclusion that nothing thar
Eliza said was TO be believed merely be-
cause she said SO; therefore, there was no
use In attempting to strengthen that opinion
by such evidence....---The sub-con mittee re-
ceivej the evidence of number Of witnesses in
regard to the buldozing of negroes in East
Baton Rouge French Carter, cslored, -swore
he saw four men hanging at Mount Pleasant,
East Baton Rouge, two on gate post and two
on Quarter Street. He knew one Of them, Ned
TO reign OF terror in that parish, and that they
had been driven from their homes and dared not
return
The Senate Committee, on the SOth, heard
the evidence Of nine colored men in reference to
Ouachita, who substantiated the testimony al
ready published in reference to the reign otter
ror there and the forcing of colored men to vote
the Democratic ticket. Thomas McAlpine,
general Intimidation Of colorcd people. and ir-
regnlarities ia the election. Adjourned till
Tuesday. e~rFgFr .sE.Nl Fsf
Before the Senate Committee on the ID,
anumber OF Democratic witnesses testified as 30
the fair and peaeeable character of the canvass.
Chas. Tidwell, the former owner of Pinksten,
testified that Pinkston was Republican in pol
tics. ....The Senate sub committee heard test
mOny in regard to the murder of John Gair and
Paul johnson, both colored Republicans. the
particulars of which are given in Senator Sher-
mans report.
the Senate Committee, on the Sd, con-
tinued the investigation Of Ouachita Parish,
John II. Dinkgrave said on his oath that he be.
lieved his cousia, DR.. Dinkgraye, was killed by