New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-04


the United States internal revenue cOllec-
tor, George P. Davis, was, notified to leave
the parish, and he left; he has not been
back since. Witness enumerated other
Outrages In the parish, including the killing
of Payne, the two Meyers and Monroe
Beechum, and numerous whippings.l With
Sheriff Foreman went up to Mount Pleas
ant when the fight took place; found 900 or
700 white men on the ground under arms,
under the command of Colonel Norwood,
of East Felcians; we were accompanied by
Captain MeGrath and his company of
rifles as q posse; we went around the
country, but were unable to lind any
armed colored men; at one negro cabin we
found man and boy; asked for drink of
water; it was given us in q bucket that had
probably had milk in it, with some settling
in the bottom; took a drink; another man
declared that there was poison in it, and
long discussion ensued as TO whether it was
best to hang the negro men; Captain Nc
Grath said there was nothing the matter
with the water; as q compromise, to save
their lives, we took them prisoners; when
we got back to Port Hudson we found
about twelve or fourteen prisoners; we
heard that there was a plan on foot to kill
the prisoners in the night; Mr.. Loudon came
to Sheriff Foreman and myself and accused
us of having that intention; we assured
him that QUE desire was to protect
the prisoners, and we wished TO get them
into our hands; he said he would az sist
us, and we went to the elevator tor them
where they were under guard; West Fell
ciana man claimed the prisoners who had
given US the water; said he was going to
shoot that man; Mr.. London said he would
have to shoot him first, and we all drew our
pistols; we brought the prisoners to Baton
Rouge while there Mr.. Mcclellan, of West
Feliciana, asked me if had brought up the
fafu aafd hn s.Af NJ ~ 81,
West Feliciana organization; understood it
to be military organization; my Observa-
ton is that only the most violent Democrats
wore the 1913 badge: Mr. Booth aud NANNY
Carmena wore them; on the twenty eighth
of May Captain w G Lane was visited by
a party at the Harvey House, which at
tempted to kill him; went the next morn
ing and saw pistol shots in the door.
To Senator McDOnald-Have heard that
Judge Davis was accused of bad conduct,
but not until after he had been driven from
the parish; never heard Of any sympathy
for Mrs. Davis until after that time; Cap.
tain McGrath and his company are entitled
to great credit for the part they took in the
Mount Pleasant affair; do not wish to be
understood as rejecting on them in any;
Captain McGrath undoubtedly saved the
prisoners lives, as the East Felicisna men
were determined to take their lives; be-
lOnged to q secret organization; it was the
knights of the White Camelia; became q
Republican in 1872; spent a good deal of
money to elect McEnery Governor; found
that he did not care much about his friends,
and took position from the Republicans;
my friends forced me to become Repub-
hcan.
Oscar 81. Foreman, sworn-Am q resident
of the parish of East Baton Rouge; the
burning of stores commenced in 1875; got a
notice that my store would be burned IN
less stopped buying seed cotton; after that
whipping and killing commenced, princi-
pally of oolored peopled; knew of enc white
man being killed; only saw the body of one
person killed, the woman Lizzie Richards,
who was accused of poisoning the family of
Mr.. Booth; an affidavit was made against
four or five men for killing Monroe
Beeohum; could not find them; Joe DOty,
Joe Williams, a man named Brown and
one EffersOn were the men; they were
small planters; they were Democrats;
heard of the murder of William
Payne, Jerry and Sam Meyers aud
others; the effect has been that many col
ored men were afraid to vote; read that
there was riot at Port Hudson; took Mr..
LIE Sage and Mr.. Brady, my deputies, and
Captain McGrath and twenty one men of
the Pelican Rifles to Port Hudson; found
large body of white men; went where the
skirmish had taken place; saw dead horse
no negroes; took the prisoners down to
Baton Rouge; am president of the school
board of the parish [gave a list of the
schools IN the parlsh-eleven or twelve
white aud as many colOred ]; there are no
teachers warrants out unpaid; the teachers
are generally OF good character.
To General A. S. Herr0n-NO resistance
has ever been made to the service of legal
process in my hands; have heard complaints
of stealing seed cotton and killing stock;
never heard that assigned as a reason for
killing men, but have heard 1t assigned as
reason for whipping people; so far as know
Bureh's accounts as treasurer of the school
board are all right; have heard it alleged
that he was behindhand in his accounts,
but by people who, think, knew nothing
about 1t; think the Outrages which / have
mentioned occurred mainly before the reg
istration commenced; said if the election
was fair one i did not want any Return
ing Board in mine; did not say the election
was a fair one; heard a report that LIE Sage
was the man who put the rope around Mrs.
Gilbert's neck, but as he was with me in
town thai night know it was not so; there
was q warm contest in the parish nominal
ing convention, but no division.
To Senator Wadleigh-ColOred people
came to me and complained Of the killing
of their relatives, but were afraid to make
affidavits; they were afraid to give the
names because they believed they would
be served in the same way; the reason why
did not proceed TO make arrests indie
pendently was because there was such a
condition of terror that / could not do it;
do not knew the object of the 296 Society;
do not know whether or not it is q Demo
cratic society; never have seen Repub-
lican wear one of the badges.
To General HerrOn-Can not name the
parties who stated that they were afraid %
make sffidavits; never heard of any harm
being done TO the parties who did make the
two aftidavite.
To Senator Wadleigh-The offenses in
these two cases were of q nOn-politieal
character; when there was q superstition
that the offense was for political purpose
they were afraid to make sffidavits.
The committee adjourned till halfpast
seven o'clock
EVENING SESSION.
Farlow, recalled - Knew William Y,
Payne; never heard anything against him
except his politics; have known Jerry
Meyers twenty-five years; never knew
anything against him; saw the men who
came into Baton Rouge and attempted to
kill Captain W. G. Lane, Republican can
didate for the Legislature; was not near
enough to tell how many there were; saw
them when they rode OHt at Q rapid rate; did
not hear of the attack upon Captain Lane
NANAA VIC ApAh uHfb NoDclNbU ApN-
tiers as president of The parish campaign
committee, begging me not to attempt TO
hold Republican meetings in. certain pOr-
lions OF the parish. Letters presented and
read Have advised eOlOred people to join
Democratic clubs rather than be driven
away or killed, whether they voted the
ticket or not.
To Senator McDonAld-The colored peo-
pie in the parish generally believed thRt the
killing and whippings were for political Of.