West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-01-25
Louisiana Investigation,

At tho meeting OF the Teller Committee
az New Orleans, on the 9th, VIM. D. Rollins
OF Iensas, testified. He Is a Democrat, but
was candidate on the Independent ticket
at the last election Saw no outrage com.
mitted. Saw a body OF fifteen armed men
a. the poll on election day, under Hard.
boro, Deputy Sheriff. Thinks intimidation
frightened the negroes so much that thew
staid away from the polls, and that n the
negroes had voted they would have had a
majority Of one thousand. At the close Of
the election he demanded a count OF votes
at poll No. I, but IL was refused, and
oand OF armed men took the box TO ST
Joseph
j. X. Losoey, Of Tensas, testified he was
one of the posse OF Sheriff Register sum.
rn"ned 20 dispense the negroes, whom il
vas rumored were massing at Boss Place
Tor the purpose OF attacking Waterproof
Register had about forty armed men. On
the way we heard that the negroes had
massed, and that firing had commenced
between them and our advanced guard of
two men. The order was then yiven TO at.
vance and FIRE. The firing was down in the
nlrectlon oi where the negroes were sup.
posed TO be massed. The negroes were I'm
their quarters, and when we fred one vo lev
they dispersed. Two or three negroes we're
wounded don't think they were killed
FRANK Wilson (colOred) was the next wit.
ness. He lived eight miles from Water.
proof, and was told by Democratic friend
that the place was getting too hot for him !;
una ne had better clear out. He ran away
leaving his partly gathered crop to take
care OF itself. That day there were fifty
or sixty armed men from Ouacbita in
Waterproof. saw them put a rope around
negro boys neck because he would not
answer question they aske him. Took TO
the woods, being told that the crowd wanted
MN. There were fournegroes in the woods
hiding. Hid for nine days, and then went
10 + aquemines. Witness then said
Don't intend TO go back, because don't
think 1t would be exactly safe. AsInever
did anything TO be driven away for, feel
now that have testified against them, it
would be worse than before"
Other coloTed witnesses testified that on
the day OF the election, there WAS a riot i'm
Caledonia, CHddo Parish. The riot com.
menced after the voting was over, and three
negroes were killed.
Witnesses testified to general intimidation
OF negroes In Caddo.
On January IL, Judge l.. V Resor nj Ton.
sas, Chairman OF the Democratic Committee.
testified regarding the fusion organization i'm
that parish, which included such Republi.
cans as Judge Cordell and Sheriff Register.
lie SAID after this we declined 20 appoint "A
committee 10 confer with Fairfax. The diff.
ierences that subsequently arose, am CON
vlnced, did not arise from p litical causes
Captain Peck visited Fairfax's house for
no political purpose. The rumor spread
mat the color line was TO be drawn
People felt alarmed, and my opinion is Peck
went to Fairfax 10 expostulate and induce
MN to withdraw from his purpose of array
ing the blacks against the whites. Peck was
shot down, and in the fight that ensued
several negroes were wounded, and one
atterward died. This was the starting point
OF the troubles, and the question: oe.
came no longer political, but n contest
between whites and blacks The negroes at
once massed in large numbers, and 10 became
necessary TO restore peace. For this pur.
pose Judge COrdell and Sheriff Register
assembled posse to put down the disturb.
ance. Warrnnts were issued for the
arrest OF Fairfax, but could not he
served, owing to negroes VINO
Hooked around him. Everything was
peaceable and quiet on election day.
George Norwood, OF Cnddo, the next wit.
ness, appeared with his head bandaged. and
spoke with difficulty, having been shot i'm
the face in the Caledonia affair. He testi.
ned that the first shot was fired by the
negroes at him. He did not fire a shot
that day. Is Republican and always
worked for the negroes, and thought il
hard they should be the first to shoot him.
IL was reported that the negroes had arms
stacked in Reem's house, aud he starte
there with Mcneil, Deputy Sheriff, to take
possession Of the arms, fearing the threat
ened disturbance by negroes, and as thew
approached the house they were fred upon.