The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-01-16
Louisiana Investigation.

The Teller Committee, appointed under
the Blaine resolution, commenced it's in
vestigatioDs in New Orleans on the 7Jh.
Several Witnesses were examined, on the
Republican side. from the Paris of n ich-
itoehes,. who testified to intimidation and
terr risni at and before the elections in
September
At the meeting of the Teller Committee
at New Orleans, on the 9Th. VIM. D. Rollins,
of Tensas, testified. He is Democrat, but
was a candidate ON the independent ticket
at the last election. Saw no outrages COM
mitted. Saw body of fifteen armed men
at the poll on ELECTION day, under Hard
bpro, Deputy Sheriff. Thinks intimidation
frightened the negroes so much that they
staid away from the polls, and that il the
negroes had voted they would have had
majority OF one thousand. At the close of
The election he demanded a count of votes
at poll No. /, buf it was refused, and
band of armed men took the box to St.
Joseph.
!. Z Loscey, of fensss, testified he was
one oil. the posse of Sheriff Register, sum-
moned to -disperse tie negroes, whom it
was rufnored were massing at Boss Place for
the purpos ssof attacking Waterproof. Reg
ster had about forty armed men. On the
way we heard that the negroes had msssed,
and that firing had commenced between
them and our advanced guard of two men.
Inc OrueT was IueH given W duNduce anu
| fire. The firing was down in the direction
of where the negroes were supposed to be
massed. The negroes we're in their quarters,
| and when we fred onevolley they dispersed.
Two or three negroes were wounded don't
think there were any killed. 80
Fraik Watson (colored} was the next
witness. He lived eight miles from Water.
proof, and was told by Democratic friend
that the place was getting too bot for him; ;
that he had better clear out. He ran away,
! leaving his partly gathered crop to take care
| of itself. From that day there were fifty Or
sixty armed men from Ouachita in Water
proof. Saw them put rope around anegro
| boys neck because he would not answer
question they asked him. Took to the
| woods: being told that the crowd wanted
him. There were fotr negroes in the woods,
hiding. Hid for nine days, and then went
to Plaquemines. Witness then said !:
"Don't intend to 60 back, because dom,
think it would be exactly safe. As never
did anything to be driven away for, feel
now that 1 have testified against them, it
| would be worse than before" -4. 10 q
Other Eolored tsitnesses testified that on
| the day of the election, there was a riot in
Caledonia, Caddo Parish. The riot COM
menced after the voting was over, and
three negroes were killed.
! Witnesses testified to general intimidation
1 of fsnegfpesih Cedds. " ,,-.a-t
On January II, Judge Il v. hesoI, OF
| Tensas, Chairman of the Democratic Com
mittee, testified regarding the fusion organ
izatiot in that ) rish, II lich ipeluded such
Repub leans as judge Cordeil and Sheriff
Register. lie said after this we declined
to appoint a committee. to confer
with Fairfax. The differences that subse-
lsquently arose, am convinced, did not arise
from political caises. Captain Peck
visited Fairfa8's hotise, Tor no political pur.
pose. The rurlor spread that the Color line
was to be drawn. People felt alarmed, and
my opinion is Peck went to Fairfax to ex'
postulate and induce him to withdraw from
his purpose of arraying the blacks against
the whites, Peck was shot down, and in
the fight that ensued several negroes were We r!
was the starting point OF the
troubles, and the Question became no
longer political. but d GO test between
whites and biaeka. The negroes al
once massed in large numbers, and it became
necessary. to restore peace. For this pur'
pose Judge Cordell and Sheriff Register
assembled posse to put down the disturb
of Fairfax, but could not be served, owing
to negroes who hocked around him. Every
hing was peaeesble and duieton election
daS. 5H EE
George Norwood, of Cadde, the next
| witness, appeared with his head bandaged
and spoke with difficulty, having been sho
in the face in the Ca edonia affair. - HI
testified that tae fl rst shot was fred by th'
negroes at him. He did not FIRE shot tina
day. Is Republican and always worked
for the negroes, and thought it hard the,
should be, the Rrst to shoot him. 1t wa
) reported that ths negroes bad afls stacke,
!; in keem's house, and he started there witt
, McNeill, Deputy Sheriff, to take possession
1 of the arms, fearing the threatened disturb
ance by negroes, and as they approaches
s the house they were fred noon.