Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-18
Crimes Of the White-Liners.

Few INSTANCES OF HOW "THB sAGACITY AND
PROPERTY OF THE COUNTRY" RULE IN THE
soUTH-soME ALMOST INCREDIBLE STORIES.
| WASHINGTON Dec. l5.-Tnformation has rece Mt
! " been laid before the President and the Attor-
ney General, by person Of undoubted RESPONSE
bility, showing that state of affairs now exists
in certsin parts of Louisiana, as a sequel to the
late election riots. which seems almost Incredible.
The facts in the case are. nevertheless, vouched
for as true in every particular.
Two prominent Republicans, whose names for
prudential reasons must he suppressed, we're cog
nzsnt of ontrages on the part of democrats
against coloted men. in the vicinity Of Ouachita
Parish, of nature 50 damDing that the democrats
as a means Of self protection have been seeking
10 put these men out of the way. To this end
they brought charges against them before the
Grand jury of Ouachta Parish, tina, the two men
referred to had been conspirng to incite the COL
ore people to rise against the whites The Grad
jury was packed for the purpose Of conviction,
hut one juror. democrat, a resolu'c and honest
man, rebelled when he learned what was expected
of him. and cross examined the witnesses brought
before the Grand jury in a manner not laid down
in the programme. He made some OF them take
off their coats and exhibit their bare backs which
found to he Incrusied with scabs the resnlt
of recent whippings. With much trepidaon on
the Part Of the witnesses the story was then
drawn from them then that they had been whipped
since the election by white democrats, and told
that the whippipRs were only an earnest of the
fate in store for them If they did not testify as
they were instructed to do.
The person through whom this information is
received, and who was in Ouachita when these oc
cuIrences took place, reports that about two hun
died colored men were whipped in this way. He
has no doubt that the dem ocratic purpose in this
conspiracy was to get the two men indicted by
the Grand Jury, in which case they would have
been put in Jail and there murdered by an ire
sponsible mob, was done with the Coushatta
prisoners few months ago.
The two men whose testimony is feared are ma
tive born Louisanisns of standing and influence
The Attorney General has ordered that they he
summoned by Dstrct-Attorney Leonard, and
that means be taken to afford them a safe escort
to New Oleans. Every cte. now received from
Louisiana which makes any reference to demo.
cratic election outrsges bears corroborative evil
dence of the state Of terror in which the writer's
are living. The writer. in every instance beg that
nothing shall he published a. their dagger. have
been increased many fold BY the publication Of
letters 10 Northern papers exposing the political
crimes of the White Liners.
The BRUTALITY TO THE PAGE FAMILY.
About two years ago Harrison Page a colored,
man OF considerable local influence, and the own
er OF small cotton plantation near Port Gibson,
was accused Of the murder of a white man named
Bisco, and was compelled to flee to Louisiana to
escape arrest. Brisco was out hunting, and there
were circumstances attending the affair which on
consideration led to the general belief that he had
shot himself by accident One barrel of his gun
was discharged, and his face was so blsckened
aud torn by shot that it seemed certain that the
mnzzl' of the piece must have been close to it
when 1t was discharged. The indictment was.
how ever. kept hanging over Page, as the republi-
cans believe for the purpose of keeping him out
oil the way until after the election Page seems
to have been of this opinion himself, for since
election day he yentured to return to bjs home
ana renamed there for time with hi. family.
The officers, however, on learning that he had
returned went with posse surrounded his
house, and summoned him to surrender, This he