The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-05

A party Of gentlemen came to my store and
asked them what was the matter They
said a large body of negroes were holding o
meeting outside Of town; they asked for
arms. / asked people passing what was GO
ing on and started to close the store until
night. At night walked down towards the
court house, and opposite Mr.. Hudson's saw
Charles Porter on horseback talking about
shooting. l asked him about it. | walked
back TO the store. | was not near Blunt s
house. | apprehended trouble that evening.
know of no conspiracy or agreement OF the
defendants to interfere with any one because
OF their advocacy of J. Mad Wells. i had not
heard Of his candidacy. 1t was early IN July
that the mails were stopped at quarantine.
They were not allowed Co come into town. l
don't think got any papers during the fever
period.
Cross-examined bv the district attorney
sometimes got a Shreveport paper. /
subscribe TO the Natchitoches VtndIedtor. The
first knowledge ! had of any apprehensions
was at 2 o'clock, when the gentlemen came
into my store. ] am well acquainted with the
people of the town. / do not remember the
names of the men who came in Tor arms. |
was quite busy during the day. After
o'clock the business dropped oil; before that
it was quite brisk. | may have been called
IN consultation with Mr. Cunningham. | was
in the Courthouse but was not upstairs on
the night OF the twenty-trst but held no con-
sultation.
/ don't think / was present when 1t was
Breda. 1 remember some meeting at which
Mr.. Cunningham was present. was present
Mt Mr. Limet's office. / saw Col. Levy, Mr..
Jack and Mr.. Cunningham.
After | heard the story of Chas. Porter
went home and got arms; | apprehended
danger before that
Rp-direct-The consultation with Mr.. Gun
ningham was in reference to repelling any
attack on the town.
II. j. wALMSLEY
sworn. live In Natchitoches | was there
on the twonty-tirst of September | saw Mr.
Carver at his store on that day. ] am sure
he was in it all day and not near Blunts
house. There We're, many apprehensions OF
attack that day In the town. ! know of no
conspiracy to defeat j. Mad Wells. The par
| ish is Democratic The candidacy of j, Mad
Wells would not be considered as serious.
Cross-examned by the district attorney
! do not remember the number OF parishes
in the congressional district. | don't charge
my memory with such matters. | subscribe
to the Natchitoches Tmdjcator. It is gen
orally acceptable to the people. Ii was not
often we saw Shreveport papers during that
summer. did not learn OF the candi-
dacy of J. Mad Wells until October.
| don't think there We're any Republt-
can votes polled that election. | live near the
town and pass Mr.. Caryers frequently.
passed il twenty times that day on my way
4 to the drug store ! looked In almost every
time. | saw him In there almost every time.
passed at intervals during the day of not
more than an hour.
DIR. GEO. Il. GILLESPIE
| reside In the town of Natchitoches
was there on the twenty-tirst September last.
was in the town all day. passed by the
courthouse, and went up to the convention
for about five minutes. was busy all day
with Mrs. Walmsley and at 2 o'clock
| had consultation below, and then re-
turned to Mrs. Walmsley's. cannot say
saw much excitement that day. | went to
Martin Delmonicos; it is in the lower part
of town. | was there at 10, and o'clock.
know OF no confederation between the de-
PENDANTS to defeat the election Of Madison
Wells. At that time / did not know that he
was a candidate. l did not know that Blunt
had advocated him.
Cross-examined by the district attorney
! knew that Blunt was Radical leader
Years before | took some interest In poll
tics. i never was q member of the Legis-
lature | take the Natchiloches FRdicd-
tor. was never called in any consultation.
DelmonicO's residence WAS a considerable
distance above the dirt bridge.
THEoPHILE PRuDHoMME.
live five miles below the town OF Natchi-
toches. / was there on September 81. When
got to town every thing seemed quiet. and
heard there was to be a convention there
that day. | afterwards heard that the negroes
were holding a meeting and an attack was
threatened. went home and stayed there
until Sunday. was not near Blunt's house
home. | know of no conspiracy among the
defendants referring to Blunt.
did not know on September q that Wells
aspired to Congress. 1t was not until Octo-
Der heard of it through the papers.
Cross-examined-I did not get any papers |
reside with my father on his plantation 1t
was 10 O'Clock when | got to Natchitoches, |
and remained until or o'clock. | didn't see
any negroes at dirt bridge when | returned. |
was not moeSted, but was very much afraid
would be- for the negroes We're arming and
saying Now is the time or never. Come on"
| saw this on several of the places. ! went
down to Capt. Hynes' for few minutes just
after dark.
SAM'L A. HYAMS.
] live in Natchitoches. | am one of the |
parties on trial. | left home on the morning
Of the twenty first. / went to the courthouse
shortly after the convention was called to
order, and then went down to saloon called |
the Phoenix and took drink. | then heard
that the negroes Were holding a meeting and
the Democratic convention had broken up |
then went to Dr. Campbelis and got my
horse and a siX-Shooter. | rode down the |
street with party and met the two Bredas |
turned and told the party they ought to be
stopped. Then we got wn to Mr.. Phillips, |
when they said they were going into Blunts |
house; said they ought not to go in with
out leader. Mr.. Cunningham then came up
and gave the orders. After a search a cry
Was raised that Blunt had flown. | returned |
to the courthouse. The reason of capturing
Blunt was to prevent his becoming leader |
of the negroes. No one but Blunt melted the
negroes to disturbance in the parish. At that |
time did not know of the candidacy of J |
Mad Wells.
Everything that was done was purely in |
the interests OF peace. The next day the re-
ports came in that the negroes We're arming |
below the city. / was on guard during the |
night. A reconnaissance was ordered, and I |
went down with others, but did not find them
Everybody in town believed the report of the
threatened attack.
JOHN c. TRICHELL.
| reside In the town of Natchtoches, and
was there on the twenty-tirst of September,
1873. | was q delegate to the Democratic
convention. After meeting there came to us
some reports that the negroes were arming,
and We took recess to arm ourselves. The
witness then corroborated the statements of Il
the other witnesses for the defense relative to
the adjournment of the convention and the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in town and the fact that thnrn |