The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1879-01-18

l
visory Committee" to see il the mat.
ter could not be arranged 90 ~ IL al
low me to remain. Mr.. Cunning
ham fell sick then and | went to yisi
a relative in the country. After tn,
lapse of some days | returned to towl
and Mr.. Cunningham called a meet
ing Of the "Advisory Committee.
| He communicated t" me that the
committee had decided they coult
not withdraw their order against me
as the Bredas and others had beer
compelled to 60. He said MANY o
the members were not in favor u
making me 60.
The reason he assigned for the &C.
ton Of the Advisory Committee wa,
they wanted all the opposition to the
Democratic party to be driven away
until after the election.
He said I need not go outside the
limits Of the parish, but could stay
with my brother thirty miles distant.
and after election I could communi,
cate with him and he would let me
know If it was safe for me to return,
The members of the Advisory Com.
mittee of the Democratic party are
the leading men Of the parish.
Mr.. Cunningham is a leading man
of the parish aud has always been
friendly to me. The negroes showed
no desire to leave the Republican
party, and were as firm in their sup
port as in former elections. Mr.. Gun.
bingham was a candidate for the Leg.
islature /; don't think any other Nom .
Der of tue Advisory Committee was
running for an Office. Mr.. Rabay, q
colored man was also driven from the
parish; subsequently, dead body
was found on the Sabine road which
answered to the description Of Rabay.
Have not returned to Natchitoches
since l left iu the fall.
CROSS. ORGANIZATION.
To Mr.G arland-Got here on De.
cember 81, to appear before the
Grand Jury. Have not yet been ex.
amined by them; have been told |
would be examined to>day. Have
been q Republican since so. While
l was sheriff Mr.. Cunningham was
district attorney, j. E. Breda Judge
and A. p. Breda coroner. There
were two Bredas, Blunt, Lewis, Raby
and myself driven away by the same
circumstances. We were considered
the leaders Of the Republican party ia
the parish. My family have not been
molested since l left. When l left
Natcbitoches on the frat occasion l
stayed away about ten days. have
always got along peacefully with the
people /; that is, have had no personal
quarrels or difficulties.
To Mr.. Bailey-All the men driven
out of the parish were at the meet,
ing of September %.
To Mr.. TelIer-There was no Re.
publican ticket put out at the last
election ; the only opposition to the
Democratic ticket was q Democratic.
Co =: "a. one, for the single Office
of Sheriff.
To Mr.. Cameron-Mr. Cunningham
has been returned a. member of the
Legislature.
To Mr.. Garland-Mr. Cunningham
told me the advisory committee would
not allow any opposition to their
ticket, on the occasion ofmy return
ing to Natchitoches for the frat time.
Witness was allowed to retire.
JOHN G. LEWIS, coLoRrD.
Have resided for the last nine wears
in the town Of Natchitoches ; am %
years Of age. Attempted to take
part in last election, but was not per-
mitted to do 80. I was secretary Of
the meeting on September 81. After
the meeting, at which the old officers
were re>elected, the Bredas, Blunt
and myself started for our respective
homes, going in different ways. On
reaching home l saw colored men
rushing past, crying, 1.-THE Demo.
Gratis are going to kill Breda, Lewis
and Blunt" The Bredas calloped
past my house, but did not stop to
answer my question as to what was
tue matter. Immediately thereafter
l saw . party oflnen advancing. Nv
father in.law told me had better 70
out and find out what was the matter.
l declined to do 90, az l felt q little
sick. l Immediately barred my doors
and went out the back way to the
yard, where there were thick and tall
weeds, and hid myself in them. l
then saw the following party ride up
Dr.. Gallon, ex.Cougressman WIN
Levy, j. P. johnson, Beverly Tucker,
Landry Charleville, Ernest Mason.
Matthew Hertzog and Billy Gallon.
Dr.. Gallon approached the house and
BROKE IN THE DOOR.
The crowd ransacked the house in
their search for me; they repeatedly
made threats to kill me if they could
find me they were armed with rifles
and revolvers. Mr.. Levy rode through
the weeds on his pony, searching for
one, but did not zee me. He rode
away, remarking. "He's not there"
l stayed 10 the weeds until 3 o'clock
and then went to q friends house.
where l stayed until evening. At
8 o'clock in the evening l wrote =
note to D. Pierson, District Judge, to
this effect What do you gentlemen
want that We should do l mean by
lyon gentlemen" the Democrats. MI.
Pierson sent back Mr.. j. G. johnson.
the Supervisor Of Registration, who
halted in the street and we had = con.
versation. He said to me "Just THE
much is required Of you; either to
come up to the court house and take
your chances with Blunt OF else leave
the parish" decided to leave the
->~S~G, ma =