The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-06
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OPENING or THE ARGUMENTS FOR
THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE.

stlmed Judge Woods on the bench, ana
United States District Attorney Leonard
representing the prosecution, and Messrs'
Beckwith, Egan and Luzenberg, the defense,
present.
MIR. CUNNINGHAM
resumed the stand. Had no rope In his hanh
ON the twenty-iirst of September
Gross examIned- heard that there
was O large number OF white people IN MS
parish who desired to act with the Republl-
Gang until he heard tho statement made be-
fore the Teller committee. Tho central com
mittae ~ which he was chairman, was com
posed Of fourteen members ut large and two
from each ward Came to New Orleans In
1916 and resided there sixteen months; dur
ing his absence there was probably no meet
ing Of the central committee. Engaged here
I'm the practice of law. Came here for private
and domestic reasons.
The last meeting Of tho committee before
The eleventh Of September was held about the
Last uf August or the first Of September.
Mr.. Hathorne, w. q. Ross, w. H. Jack, w.
A. Parker, Willis Holmes w. u. Russell and
perhaps Conger and Col. Levy were present
al the consultation held prior to the capture
of blunt These parties, together with him
self, determined upon the arrest OF Blunt
and nothing more. When Blunt was captured
he promised to leave the parish and was
guaranteed immunity. Subsequently IL was
settled that Blunt should leave, but ne could
have secured delay Of two or three days,
Has stated that Blunt acted IKE 2 buily'
and has said that bullies are usually cow
ards. Does not think that Blunt is cow
ard At the consultation heid Oh cih CWen.y
eecond about the same persons were present,
though some OF them might have been ap-
sent and others might have been present VINO
were not consulted the day before. Does not
know how long thereafter the Bredas re-
manned In the parish, ~
Had heard that Judge Breda said the Re-
publicans would carry the parish or have
blood, and that Blunt said he wanted 70 see
an issue made between the two parties. APP
prehension growing OUT OF sucn repolts t mas
natural. At one time witness felt certain That
the town would be attacked. Although there
was general apprehension OF an attack, IL was
difficult to get the requisite guards TO pre-
vent surprise. Blunt was arrested TO CON
troll the negroes. When he was turned loose
witness was satisfied that there was no
further, or but little further danger left IN
him.
fish, the Parish Central Committee desired
70 have nothing to do with the matter, as 1t
had not taken the original action against him
finally. Mr.. Barron was advised TO remain
quiet until the subsistence OF popular alarm
and excitement. Reads the P9adicdtor, as
rule Will not undertake TO state the names
Of the men he saw who went from town to
the quarantine station on the twenty-flrst 81
September. Mentions one or two whom he
saw at Blunts house.
L. BROTHER
sworn. l know David Blackshear. On Sep
tember 81 he was fully forty miles from
Natchitoches, In Bienville parish. He re-
manned up there seventeen days. When ]
saw him he was UP there to attend court. He
was taken sick, and he did not return to
Natehitoches on the twenty third, Hc lives
about fifteen miles from Natchitocaes.
JUDGE DAVID PIERsON
sworn. live in Natchitoches and have since
1866. At present am Judge OF the Seven
teenth Judicial District About the first OF
August Mr., Jack and myself moved to the
piny woods In order to avoid the epidemic
Prior to the twenty-first of September neither
OF us visited Natchitoches three times. On
the twenty-frst drove In, accompanied by
nv son. to SEQ the parochial convention,
which / knew would take place. ! got in town
about 9L a. m. went to my residence, turned
INV horses loose, and then went down to the
courthouse at noon.
The convention was organized. Some one
made O motion to adjourn, and some one
made a statement about a body OF negroes
down at the dirt bridge When this was
heard some cheered and some seemed to be
anxious Some left, aB did among the HrSt
I walked down Front street TO Jefferson
-Atraet 10 my residence. Just as got 70 MRS,
Philljps' corner | met BODY OK nen' J.
couIdn't see them on account o. the angle In
the street. Just as put my foot on the side
walk / saw Blunt, with four or five on either
side of him as cavalry. Behind them there
were fully fifty. TEHy rode at canter
AS I turned and walked into my house |
saw the column led BY Blunt gong down
Pine street, Irematned there until q clock.
In the meantime "a body OF white men came
along some on horseback, some struggling
i Chen went over to Mrs. Phillips, and stayed
there until O'clock. When left heard
some cheering, Just as reached Mrs. Hanna's
house. AS soon as got 10 81. Denis Street
heard of Blunt's arrest.
I went up town again and rumorS were IN
circulation about the negroes. | remained on
St Denis street until night near the Phpnlx
saloon. Just after dark | was sitting in front
81 IL when young man rode up and said the
town had been fired upon. l went up 10 the
courthouse TO give the alarm.
I received a note from Lewis as follows:
ssWhat would you gentlemen have me do
spoke to several gentlemen about 1t and also
showed 1t to Mr.. Cunningham.
| diu not go down to the dirt bridge until
night. There was commotion In the town all
night About midnight heard Of cessa-
ton OF the excitement. The next morning
when got up the town was full Of rumors OF
negroes massing In different colonies down
the river, and even In the hills. There were
some two hundred armed men In the town
On Sunday night there was still great excite
evening the excitement had abated. There
was considerable excitement about the city,
about a week afterwards, over other reports;
but six negroes were arrested, and matters
were settled.
/ am familiar with that congressional dis
trict. 1t has been regarded as q Democratic
district since Col Levys election. Witness
then named the parishes in the, district. BY
the Returning Board several Democratic
wards were thrown out. l know of no con-
spiracy on the part of the defendants to in.
terfere with Blunt or others In the advocacy OF
Wells for Congress. never heard his chances
discussed.
United States District Attorney Leonard
rross-examined Judge Pierson at considerable
length, but ELECTED no new facts
recess of ten minutes was then taken.
After the Recess.
Mr.. Beckwith arose and read one count In
the indictment in case No. 1912 of the docket,
entitled United States VS.. w. w. Brazeale.
This count shows that the defendants in that
case had conspired TO prevent the BredaS
from casting their votes for J Mad Wells. 1t
was offered in evidence TO show that where
the indictment in the case on trial alleges