The People's vindicator., 1879-03-15
THE NATCnITOCHES PRISONERS.
Testimony Of yalcOur Merrlty, Am.
brose Wallace, Shedrick Brown,
and Others.
They Tell What They Know About
the Case.
REPORTED BY THE EDITOR.
vALCoUR MERRlTY (CoLoRED).

| 'aASOCN M1NNAAA \S/'
Am a resident of the parish of
Natchitoches. Was there on the
twenty. first of September, 1873.
Was at the first beginning of the
meeting that day, held by Blunt and
Breda. l left before the meeting
adjourned, AID started up town, but
did not 60 very far, because some.
thing struck me that had better not
go. l got to a store, Mr.. Genoe's
store, and saw him shutting it up.
Mr.. Genoe did not say anything to
me, but his clerk asked me where l
was going. l went to Monette's cof-
fee-house, and while there saw some
armed men at a distance. Recognize
ed Overton Breazeale iD the crowd.
l went into the coffee. house then,
and recognized no one else. l left
the coffee house, and went back in
the direction of my home, but did
not get there. l went near the core
ner Of the bridge near Mr.. Blunt's
house, and stayed there. l could see
the house. There was a large num-
Der Of people about it, all armed, l
spoke to Mr.. Cunningham and Mr..
Overton Breazeale and another gen.
tleman. l said: "Gentlemen, what.
ever you do, please don't kill the
man." and they told me, "No; we
are not going to kill him i; but he has
got to take back what he said;' and
then they told me to 60 off of the
street. l know John G.. Lewis. l
saw him that day. l carried a mes>
sage from him to Mr.. David Pierson.
1t was letter. Mr.. Piersou was in
side cotfee-bouse. When he came
out l called him aside, told him l
had message from friend of mine,
and gave him the letter. After he
read it he said: "Valcour, I have
nothing to do with it whatever; but
l will see about it," He went of, and
after while came back with Mr.. Joe.
johnson, and l told them / would
take but one man, and they gave me
Mr.. johnson. We went, and l got
Mr.. Lewis and him together. Mr..
Lewis said: "Well, Mr.. Johnson"
and Mr.. johnson said, "Well, Lewis ~
and Mr.. Lewis went on: "What are
the chances 7" and Mr.. johnson said
"Lewis, you will have to do as Blunt
did, and give yourself up." Lewis
told him; "Well, Mr.. johnson, l
can't take any chances" At that
time the shooting took place in the
lower part Of the town, and that
broke up the conversation. A crowd
Of men was then going by, hollering
for the $685."
l know MIR. Theodore Schuman, if
that is his name. l saw him the
night / went to Mr.. Persons. He
struck me with q stick and said,
Kill the d-n SD of q b-h."
was and am q Republican. Twas
forced at the last election to vote
the Democratic ticket. A crowd Of
men came to my house. (Witness
was proceeding to relate what had
transpired during the visit as told
him by lis family but was stopped
l saw the men and went off aud bid
myself, and party of men came to
the house where l was hid. Invent
out after that and voted. When l
got to the voting place they told me
that l could vote either ticket pleas
ed. l asked them to read them to
me, and they did, and they were both
alike. voted one. Mr.. Trjchel
pinned badge on me and asked me
if l was ashamed to wear it. told
him no, and then said, l thought be
ought to treat, as / had done a hard
days work. He said all righi, and
told me to 60 to Paye's store and l
would find demijohn. l went and
found the demijohn and got my drink.
CROss.ExAM1NED.
By Mr.. Beckwith-I have been in
the city two. weeks. have not tes-
tilted before the grand jury l have
had no talk with Lewis about the case.
l saw some armed men when Mr.. &C.
noe was closing up his store. l do
not know what they were doing, for
l only saw the muzzle of their guns.
l did not say saw Mr.. Genoe clos
ing bis store. l saw his clerk shut
ting the windows. did not see