The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-02
THENATCHITOCH
STRONG TESTIMONY that DIsPELs
THE CHARGE OF CONsPI-
RACY COMPLETELY.

be lack OF chairs on the part OF the govern
ment In the courtroom, and the deputy mar
shal has to keep his on the jury seats.
The jury was brought into court looking
somewhat fatigued after their incarceration
and the roll Of the accused called.
COL. WIN. M. LEVY
was the first witness called for the defense
and the district attorney objected to his Civ
ing evidence in his own behalf. The Objec-
ton was overrued.
He said: am one Of the defendants in this
case, and reside In the parish of Natchi-
toches aud have lived there for twenty-five
years. My permanent residence is on my
plantation, outside OF Natchitoches. My Of
flee Is In the town. Previous to twelve months
ago my residence was In the town. lived
on my plantation on the twenty-first of Sep.
TENDER, 1873. | on that day left my house
and proceeded to the town In my buggy
After had got to the office put my buggy
in the stable and read my mail. l then went
to the courthouse, where the convention was
held. This convention was to nominate two
members OF the Legislature and parochial
officers. I was there when it was organized.
It was organized by the selection Of perma-
resolutions. The next business acted upon was
the passage of a series of resolutions. A
motion to adjourn was made. | cannot state
positively whether the motion was for q
recess or to adjourn. The motion was made,
and several persons announced that O band
OF negroes in the lower end of town was
about to break up the meeting of the Demo-
cratic convention. The meeting adjourned
in some confusion, and separated. | heard 1t
announced that those persons who would go
to the lower end of town would meet on Front
street. / went down to Front street, and saw
quite Number Of persons assembled at the
corner of st. Denis. / saw them move off
towards the lower portion of town; some
were armed, some were not | had then q
talk with Mr. Lecompt, on Front street,
which lasted about half an hour. Leaving
him, / suggested that we should walk down
towards the lower end Of town. We were
ioinedby Judge Chaplin. When we reached
the quarantine station l saw no armed men,
black or white. After some time | saw the
gentlemen returning who had gone out
from Front street l met my friend
Judge Pearson, on my return to Front street,
where / saw there was much connection ana
hurrying to and fro. | heard that the negroes
who had attended the meeting outside of town
were going to return. They had retreated
down towards my plantation and felt some
anxiety for my family. / went to my stable
to get my buggy to send down for my WIFE
About o'clock heard on tho streets that
Blunt was arrested and locked up In the
eourt-ho,ise.S l requested the convention to
~ off hoI
probate Judge had been taken when the re-
port came that the negroes had attacked the
guard ut the dirt ridge
| heard that the negroes were repulsed. i
then went u Bel and rose quite early and
learned Tor the first time that Blunt had been
escorted out of Il parish.
| vas not ~ on near the house OF Blunt on
the twenty first. / rode on horseback once
last summer, but have not, besides that rid
den any Tor tive years.
/ made no remark such as defyng the
United SJ.tes, either at Blunt's house
or to anybody else. l was not nearer
the hou - than the Courthouse ! never
went III search Tor Lewis, or WAS at or near
his house, and any statement TO that effect
is false.
| know Mr.. Cosgrove. / never had any
conversation such as was detailed by wit
ness, with Mr.. Cosgrove. On the fourteenth
of September there was meeting In Natchi- |
toches, but | did not attend 1t. | think / was |
sick most of that week, and my impression is |
that did not go Into town until the twenty |
first to attend the Democratic convention, to /
which was delegate.
met p HeIzog. He was not armed; nei- |
Their was |. l don't recollect seeing Theophile |
Prudhomme After the recess there was a |
disposition to 20 down to Front street, but |
there was no preconcerted movement made |
to attack any one. there was great appre-
hension on tie part of the people of an attack |
by the negroes, and it was this that created |
so much connection. During the interval be-
tween the first recess OF the convention and |
the fight at the dirt bridge there was much |
apprehension.
did not return to the convention after the |
recess On Sunday there was quite as much |
excitement as on the preceding day. After |
breakfast | saw number of men from the
different wards and some other parishes. The |
report was circulated that an organized attack
was to be made on the town; guards were
posted. | myself from the repeated rumors,
felt that an attack would be made.
/ was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress
In 1874. | was elected on the Democratic
ticket, and was returned by the Returning
Board. At the time of my election the polit-
ical complexion OF the District was
The United States District Attorney Leo
nard objected to the defense going into minute
details as to whether it was Democratic or
not.
MIR. Beckwith said that 1t was to show mo-
The court sustained the objection, and the
witness continued Joseph Z. Elam sue
ceeded me in Congress. He was elected by
The Democratic party in 1876 he was re-
turned by the Returning Board. His seat
would be vacant next week, and he was re-
elected.
have not seen Blunt for a long time. had
with him in lS76-77-78. | read
hat there were various nominations made for
,fficers in New Orleans for Natchitoches. | /
lid not hear any of the defendants discuss
he candidacy of j. Madison Wells preceding
he election. / took no active part In the cam
)aign. | did not myself nor did | know of
my one interfering with Blunt on account
II his advocacy of any membersof Congress.
know the general sentiment Of the people
Df Natchitoches, and am satisfied there was
40 apprehension felt about Judge Elam's re-
election.
TRICT ATTORNEY.
II was an hour to an hour and half when
my wife returned from the plantation. 1t was {
ABOUT half-past o'clock. The man sent for
ner Went alone. She returned to the planta- |