The Portland daily press., 1879-01-08
LOUISIANA BULLDOZERS.
How Republicans were Intimidat-
ed in NatchitOches.
The Negroes Murdered Like
Sheep.
The Testimony Before the Teller Sub
Committee.

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 1.-THE Teller sub-commit
tee met today at the Custom House. The chairman
stated that the charges of frauds in Natchitoches
Tensas and Caddo parishes would be first considered
All the necessary time would be given to the proIuc
ton of evidence from all parts of the state but nc
detailed plan would be published.
j. Ernest Breda of Natchtoches parish testified
that he was Republican stump speaker and was
driven away from home Sept. 22d. Our ward club
met on the I'd of September and 1 addressed the as
sembiy. Alter adjournment we started home, my
brother and myself on horseback. We had gone
about leo yards when body of armed cavalry OPP
posed our passage. Pistols were drawn and strong
language used We took to the woods and arrived
home during the night where we stayed until the
next day when my uncle, a former mayor of Natchi-
toches, came and told me that my house was to be
attacked and desired me to surrender. He had not
spoken to me since 1874 on account of my politics
told him would fight and never surrender. My
uncle said he would bring guarantee from the body
Of armed men that the house and property would be
respected if we would leave the place within two
hours. My uncle went back and conferred with the
committee of armed men. We remained in the
woods near by until Oct. %, when my uncle came
again and told my sister that we to be hunted
with blood hounds. Oct 3lst we left for Shreveport
and have remained there until summoned before the
grand jury. Witness produced copy of the Vindi-
Gator, calling it the organ Of the bndozers, other
wise Democrats, $50 styled of the parish and read
certain warnings therefrom. He submitted copy Of
document purporting to be an agreement to which
il witness became party he could return home
1t is in the shape of a preamble narrating from
bulldozing point Of view all things said Breda has
done to excite the Ire of the good citizens of Natchi
toches, and ending with promise to be signed by
the Bredas that they would hereafter behave them
Selves etc.
Witness stated that the for1nality of signing this
document was respectfully declined on the ground
that the statements in the preamble false in every
particular. Witness said there is no lawlessness
among the negroes they dare not strike back and are
murdered like Sheep Political speochos calling upon
the negroes to cut loose from the Democratic party
are styled incendiary speeches. The negroes are
ground down and cannot sell their crops under
their own names.
Witness gave the details of the organization of the
armed bands. He was formerly parish judge and
held the office until the Nichols government came
into power.
DR.. A. c. Breda corroborated the testimony of the
previous witness and said the only speech he ever
made was on the day after the killing of negro in
Natchtoches in 1875, in which speech he said the law
was si existent and such murders were inexcusable
He was coroner for two terms, while his brother was
parish Judge. Nearly all the white people in the pat
sh were members of the Knights of the White Ca
melia organization. The name was changed after
wards to the White League The same body is now
known as Number 298. II is and has always been
political organization.
line other witnesses were VA. Barron, who was
compelled to leave Natchitoches, John G. Lewis
(colored) whose house was searched by armed men
who threatened to kill him but he escaped to New
Orleans, and Rutord Blount (col ored) whose house
was broken into and he was jailed but allowed to
leave the town on condition that he would advise the
negroes to leave politics alone and would never re-
turn to the parish.
D. McGil, Lucian Bland and and j. M. McGilI,
residents of Tensas parish, testified that be fore the
election there were two tickets in the field regular
Democratic and independent Democrat. The me-
groes agreed to support the latter. Witnesses be-
eve the negroes were inundated to such an extent
as to prevent the election of the Independent ticket
They also believe frauds committed by stufing
the ballot boxes, The whole machinery of the cleo
ton was in the hands Of the regular Democratic
nominees. Witnesses were candidates on the indie
pendent ticket.
The committee adjourned till Wednes lay.