Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-01-17

Benjemin Williams ana William Harper, OF
Caddo Parish, testified, corroborating the tes-
timOnv of other witnesses as to violence and
intimidation in the parish, and placing the
polls at out-of-the-way places without due
notice: knew but two colorcd Democrats in
the parish. A. II. Leonard, District Attorney,
testified that he was confined to Caddo Parish
by quarantine during the last campaign;
prior to the election was told by prominent
Democrats that they meant to carry the
election; asked them how they would do It
in view OF the fact that the negro voters
were greatly in the majority; the reply
was that the negroes would vote the Demo.
cratic ticket; later a fixed determination on
the part of the Democrats to carry the cleo
tion became evident; this determination
finally was intensified into acts of intimida-
tion; the Republican convention put ticket
into the field which was really unobjection-
able, even to Democrats; it was conceded,
however, that this ticket would only
receive the negro vote. Mr.. Leonard
attempted to speak at a meeting at Spring
Ridge, where joint discussion was agreed
upon, bat the Republican speakers were in
terrupted and insulted and finally withdrew
altogether Witness then detailed various
acts OF violence, threats and frauds, and the
organization of cavalry companies throughout
the parish for the avOwed purpose Of carrying
elections. II. C. Rogers, l.. Templeman, G..
A. Simpson and j. II. Shepherd, Of Caddo,
were called by the Democratic members Of the
committee, ana IN substance denied tine state
mentS OF the previous witnesses as to intimi-
datfon by the Democrats. They asserted that
where there was any trouble the negroes were
the aggressors.
New ORLEANS, Jan. II.
Judge L. V. Reeves, of Tensas Parish, Chair
man of the Democratic Committee, testified
regarding the fusion organization in that
parish, which included such Republicans as
Judge COrdell and Sheriff Register; after this
his party declined to appoint a committee to
confer with Fairfax; the differences that sub
sequently arose, he was convinced, did not
arise from political causes. Captain Peck
visited Fairfax's house for no political pur-
poses, The rumor spread that the color line
was to be drawn. The people felt alarmed,
and Peck went to Fairfax to eXpostulate and
induce him to withdraw from his purpose of
organizing the blacks against the whites This
was the starting point of the troubles, and the
question became no longer political, but con
test between whites and dblacks. Everything was
peaceable and quiet on election day. George
Norwood, of Caddo, the next witness exam
ined, appeared with his head bandaged and
spoke with difficulty, having been shot in the
face at the Caledonia affair; said the first shot
was fired by the negroes did not fire a shot
that day; is a Republican and always worked
for the negroes, and thought it hard they
should be the first to shoot him; it was re-
ported that the negroes had arms stacked in
house, and he started there with the deputy
Sheriff to take possession of the arms, fear
ing threatened disturbance by negroes, and as
they approached the house they were fired up
on. William A. Levy, of Caddo, lawyer and
editor of the Standard, testified that he con
sidered District-AttorneY Leonard responsi-
bic for the troubles in the late election
Stated that the election was fair and peaceful
and that the negroes voted without molesta-
tion.
NEW ORLEANS JAM 49,
G. r. NJ. Newman (colored), Clerk of the
District Court of st. Mary's Parish, testified
concerning the destruction of ballot boxes
and the efforts made by the Democrats to get
possession of du uplicate returns in his possess
sion. The attack was made on his house at
night, substantially confirming the news
paper reports published at the time of the
occurrence. w. 3. McNeal, of Caddo Parish,
Deputy Sheriff, testified concerning the Gale
donia affair, substantially corroborating Nor
woods evidence: published a statement that
twenty negroes in all were killed, but could
not say when or where each negro was killed;
served in the Federal army during the war.
David Wise, of Tensas Parish testified that
the election was peaceable and quiet; live
within a quarter of mile of Fairfax, but
knew nothing until the affair was over I;
did not see the men; never heard
the reason of the visit; saw an armed
body Of negroes, numbering about 200,
marching through Waterproof; next day an
other armed body came into town and made
great deal of fuss, and cried that they were
going to burn the town; Fairfax was the
leader of the negroes; it was understood
that he was keeping up the color line,
making speeches to preserve a bold front;
witness sold ammunition at his store to any
one who wanted it; the negroes did not buy
an unusual quantity at this time. Ii. Moss,
of the same parish, said that he gave the ne
groes assurance that the Waterproof people
had nothing to do with the Fairfax affair;
that the interest of the negroes and white
people were common, and that he would pro-
tect them in their rights, providing they acted
as they should; saw negroes pass by hundreds
through town; there may have been thousands
Of them; they were all armed; the negroes
dispersed when the Sheriff of st. Joseph ar
rived; don't think there were more than
twenty white men in Waterproof; the negroes
threatened to kill the children and outrage
the women; think they would have burned
the town if the Sheriff's posse had not arrived.