The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-24
THAT INVESTIGATION.
THE OTHER SIDE OF TINE MATCH.
TOCHEs sTORY-sOMETRING ABOUT
BLUNT's TESTIMONY.

| The Representatives OF the Teller sub com.
| mittee. Messrs. Jonas and Marks. met yesterday
| ut noon and resumed the investigation.
The United States District Attorney was pres
ent throughout the examination assisting Uni
ted States Internal Revenue Collector Marks.
MI. CUNNINGHAM. ESQ.
member OF the House of Representatives from
Natchltoches parish was placed on the stand
| and testified az follows:
reside In the parish Of Natchtoches. l was
there during the last campaign.
Mr., Jonas-Have you read the testimony Of the
witnesses who testified In regard to affairs In the
parish.
Answer have looked over It all and portions
Of It heard.
Mr.. Jonas-Be kind enough to tell Ia your
own way all you know about the matters testi-
fed to by them.
witness-very we'll: must ask the indul.
gence Of the committee for the disultory man.
ner In which will be compelled to give my ties
timony made memoranda az went through
the testimony, but have been very busy lately,
and have not had time to systematically arrange
It. The testimony Of the Republican witnesses
WAS apparently intended to create the impress
sion that We undertook to break up Republi-
can meeting because of the promised support
OF their ticket by five hundred white men In the
hills. never heard OF this support until It was
spoken Of BY the witnesses. We called meet
Ing Of the Democratic convention for the
twenty first Of September. II was advertised In
the papers. and 1t was generally known
throughout the parish that II was to assemble
that day. On the fourteenth the Republicans
held meeting at Breda's house. and we were
informed that they had called a mass meetinp
for the dQv. Wa hpard nf ha
temper Of the leaders ut that meeting and
heard reports during the week which created
harm to us. II was stated that Mr. Breda had
they
HAD TO HAVE BLOOD.
At the same time he did not want the meet
Ing held on the twenty: first but Blunt insisted
and eaid that he would bold the meeting at all
hazards no matter what happened and told all to
that the meeting was called for the purpose OF
illuminating our. convention. We were told that
4 wss hs intention qs to hold the meeting l.
the first aud seventh wards would be In the
town Of Natchetochee, and that Blunt, had
said he would iptfmtdate the meeting or burn
the town. and i will say that we were appre-
hensive of trouble. We mad no idea OF a bull
doing campaign. such. a one was never pro-
under considerable. apprehension. and in q
short time afterwards took recess. Some one
proposed that We would NOT. wait for the me-
diHperse them and / was elected leader.
Ms. Blunt stated that We were an organized
body, such as troops like the United States
troops could alone meet
THIS Is UNTRUE.
We went down there an ordinary body of
men. We did not come to the convention
armed. but when l was selec ed to lead told
them did So The only object Of the movement 4,
as understood 1t, was to have the difficulty out
81 the town, away from the women and chill.
know. the meeting had dispersed but crowds Of
negroes were gathered around. and | must
say that more defiant attitude than was
theirs never saw; still there was nobody hurt.
Our people were instructed not to hurt any Of
them. We appealed to them, to go quietly
bG@s e Ss s sss% we a only wanted s. to
any trouble. At first they did not obey,
but we finally succeeded in getting them
intention Of arresting Blunt or any one else.
but thought the best plan would be to arrest
him. / thought with the knowledge had Of
tack on the town If they knew Il might result in
injury to him. and for that reason alone was
his arrest made. | called INTO consultation q
and onlwhose judgment could rely. to take into
consideration the situation and the necessary
Tor Rrotec1SSn This was not the ex
together by me. l stated to them the situation
and asked them what should be done: and il
would be impossible to let Blunt remain In his
house with garrison Of thirteen armed men
with the threat Of burning the town. and his
appointed to go to him. and Say. that II he
would surrender no harm would be done to
him. There was no intention OF hurting him
expressed. There was no talk OF the probable
political effect his arrest would have and he
was not treated rs Republican. He refused to
surrenndier I'm, Tiny recollection serves me right
house, and that $50 men were there. This is
absolutely untrue. was on horseback and not
In his house Mt all and but six men entered the
house. It is absolutely
PHYSICAL IMPossIBrLITY
for him to have seen and heard what he syyears
to. He states that he was In the attic and that
there was blind window there. The house is
which reaches up TO the roof OF the house. and
there is no, place for window, He says that
we marched up like an army. This is not so.
There were about forty men In line thus placed
for fear Of difiieu ty., Mrs. D. unit says that I
presented pistol at her head and forced her
q ane q y 1mue was not
time When the house was entered some or the
parties down stairs, including some women
know. but whose name | am unable to give,
came up. and she and Mrs. Blunt became so
violent that did not think 1t was safe for them
down, saying: Shoot. shoot Why don't Won
ehoot me?' and Kill him Go in and Xii him"
She had denied that he was In the house. an d
had declined to give us any assistance In Fl nd
ing him or any Information as to where he was. |
but she seemed to want to be
A MARTYR OR AN ANGEL.
The other woman was also very violent and
1t was feared that they would excite our peo
pie or some n groes near thsl O. md ordered !
that they be taken to the office of the l. nus |
Blunt says ordered her sent, TO jatls 1 di
not; and before the reached The Office Blunt |
was brought out. and orderei her release |
All that tals OF Blunts about taking vote as |
to y neither he would be hurt or not ana his |
refusing to surrender until guaranteed pro &c. |
ton, is pure fiction and Imagination TIE
parties who captured him reported that he |
was found praying. and that he begged them
for G.d's sake not to urt him. that II they |
would let him go he would leave the parish and |
about his leaving the parish, and 1t came from
him.. The gentl man who brought Blunt out |
said he had promised to protect him. anu re-
quest that he be not harmed. ] said tuat as |
he had made the promise. we would respect 1t |
and not hurt him. Blunt display ed
THE MOST CRINGING CowARDIcE.
He put out his hand to me and begged me. for |
Gods sake, not to let him be hurt. He stated