The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-01-28

Details sS she Tensas Parish Masss-
ere Last fali-Astack OF Demo-
crass sn . Coiored Repiienn's
House, Followed by the
slaughter of Many
Republicans.

slaughter OF Many
Republicans.
New ORLEANS, Jan. Sat the meet
ing Of the Teller committee to-day, j.
n. McGill, OF Tensas parish. was re-
called aud testified concerning armed
bands from other parishes and from
Mississippi. He heard a great many
things, but knows the reports were
greatly exaggerated. He said: In
fact, IL you inquire rigidly into many
stories, you will find not a word of
truth in them. Armed bands did some
things which could not approve Of
They threatened Bland and Douglass
militia, Capt. Cain, say: "The white
men shall rule" There il hostility be-
tween the negro and the white man. l
won't try TO disguise this fact. Show
me a negro who votes the Democratic
ticket, and will show you hypocrite
or a fool"
Fleming Branch, colored, OF Tensas,
was the next witness. He testified as
follows: Was at Fairfax's house Octo-
ber IL, when Capt. Peck's party came
Knew Capt. Peck. They came over
the levee on trot. Was in q room
with Fairfax when Peck rushed in and
fired twice at Fairfax, who ran ont the
back door. Another negro, named
Singleton. standing there, was shot
down. Peck knelt on him and fred
five shots into him. Mr.. Kemp grad
bed at me. and Mr.. Goldman shot me
H..x oh ha
his arm and showed where the flesh
wound was made. Peck was shot and
killed by some one in his own party
Fairfax did not fire a shot. Peck was
killed by his own men. This was the
first trouble that occurred in the parish
last year. In the disturbance Single
ton was killed. Kennedy and myself
wounded. and Fairfax escaped. These
were all the people that were in the
house. I and a number OF colored
people took refuge in the bushes. be-
cause we were frightened. Fairfax was
au upright man and Republican. ]
suppose he was attacked on account Of
his politics.
Daniel Kennedy was the next wit
ness sworn: Is a resident Of Tensas
parish. After narrating the prelimina-
~ facts, the witness stated that Fair
fax knew in the afternoon that body
Of armed men was about to visit his
honse. When the party came they
said they wanted Fairfax. The wit
ness's story compared with that Of
Branch. He was shot while looking
out OF the window, trying to recognize
the assailants. Buckshot passed
through the window pane and entered
the witnesses shoulder. Witness got
out of the house and ran home through
a cornfeld. and after having his wound
dressed, took TO the woods. There
were several others in the woods.
They had all heard that white men
from other parishes were inquiring for
them, and they wanting TO hide them
selves. On the Tuesday following the
attack on Fairfax, the killing of the
negroes began. Some so negroes were
killed altogether. ran away and
here ever since. Was acquainted with
many Of the persons who were killed,
and named five. IL was rumored that
80 were killed. / have never heard
that anybody was called to account for
the shooting at the Fairfax house.
Viola Wallace, colored, was then
sworn: Is resident of Tensas. Wit
ness's testimony was similar TO that of
Branch and Kennedy. She was IN the
house at the time of the disturbance,
and the killing of Willie Singleton. 1t
was reported that 80 colored people
were killed by bulldozers. Witness
named five of those killed. l only saw
one OF the negroes after being killed.
This one was Charley Bethel, He was
shot aud had his throat cut. This was
after Registers men came. and while
they were in the parish. This was
about two weeks after the attack on
the house Of Fairfax. Register was
sheriff.
Rebecca Ross, colored, sworn: Is a
resident OF Tensas, and was present at
the disturbance in Fairfax's house.
Withess's testimony was corroboratory
of the previous witnesses. She testi-
fed that she came away because she
heard that the white people said that
all the colored people at Fairfax's that
night would have leave.
Geo. Rolston, planter, testified that
he ran for the Legislature on the Inde-
pendent ticket in Tensas. He has al
ways affiliated with the democratic
party. The candidates on the hlde-
pendent ticket were all Democrats.
Witness stated that the outrages in the
parish had bad effect npon laborers,
aud many Of them have left the parish.
Witness had but little personal knovl-
/ edge OF the outrages.
f. @. Ruth, colored. of Tensas, stat
ed that he was justice Of the peace.
lie saw the body OF negro boy who
was killed 10y a company of armed men
/ October %. One hundred colored men
/ in his ward were forced TO join the
| Democratic club, and then received
certificates emitting them TO protection.
Wistness testified to other acts OF law
/ lessness.
II. J. Walker. colored, of Tensas. re-
peated the testimony already. given.
/ lie stated that from fear of personal
! trouble he published card in parish
paper advising the negroes TO support
/ the regular Democratic ticket.