The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-05
THE NATCHlTOCHESCA
THE TESTIMONY FOR THE Defense
DRAWING TO A CLOSE.

number of brass bands on Canal street
where the firemen's procession was forming
The jury, as they came into court, looked 0
little careworn at their long housing.
VIM. FERRIS
sworn Lived with Cap. HyDes, In Natchi
toches parish, on The iventy-iirst of Sep.
tember Saw Cant Hynns at home In bed
that morning. Tine a.ptain was In feeble
health.
Saw him late that night; was sent to Nat
chitoches by the captain to see what was
going on: started about two hours before
shutdown, on horseback, going the back way
to the John lane. Was stopped there by
about two Hundred and fifty negroes, 81
three huudfed. They asked what his bust
ness waa/ Was first allowed TO go on. but
was stopped again, violently. The greater
part " thenegroes were armed; they had shot
r3It5, muskets and band-axes. They cursed
witness said they intended TO rule the parish
end were going to the town. They kept him
+ about an hour, and sent him home with an es-
oort ordering him to stay home when he got
there Witness found Capt. Hynes upon his
arrival.
Witness does not know OF Capt. Hynes hav-
ing been anywhere else that day; knew some
OF the negroes who arrested him, saw Ca
briel Goldstein, who was engaged in aligning
the blacks. There was proposition to Kill
witness, but some Of the blacks said he was a
good boy. and should be spared, has known
(iodstein two years: has heard him say
that he has lived with Blunt; has seen Gold
stein here in the corridors Of the Custom
House.
from Tuesday continuously to Saturday; on
his way TO town got up AS far as Col. Levy q
place. that Is on the river front; one Of the
negroes said they were going to XIII all the
white s. of b" who passed on that road.
Had talked a little to one or two persons
about his evidence In this case. Never told
any one definitely what he would receive in
this case. Supposed Capt Hynes knew he
would swear to the. truth, and Capt Hynes
knew many OF the facts that would neceS-
sarily form part of witness testimony.
ALFRED DIXON
sworn. Resides nine miles from the town Of
Natchitoches. Remained at homo on the
twenty-iirst. Saw a number of negroes GO
ing on horseback in the direction OF Natchi-
toches very rapidly and making much noise.
Sent no word To town, but went there him
self the next day, Sunday. Thinks no spoke
about the rumored occurrence of the day be-
fore. There wa some excitement
Saw Frank Reggie at home, four miles
from town. after Sunday, on the twenty-itfst
of September.
Cross-examined- young man went with
him. none of them We're armed.
KINGsBURy LANE.
Lives one mile below the dirt bridge on
Cane river: saw some excitement among the
negroes on the morning Of the twenty-ti rst;
never heard negroes say they would have
some trouble or some fun on that day; about
noon number of armed negroes passed his
place, $50 or more, with arms OF various sorts,
they gave him no information as to their pur-
pose In making this demonstration one negro
W Witness.
brother Blunt had sounded the trumpet, and
they were going to burn the town and have
their hearts blood loaded his gun; subse-
Quently he heard a few shots, and directly
after that the negroes came back hurriedly
CroSs-examined-Aft he loaded his gun
he went to his front gate. Heard the firing
at night Ten or fifteen minutes after he dis
covered the retreat. No negro was killed in
that place a day or two after. None Of his
negroes were engaged In the disturbance.
Slept none on the night of the twenty-first of
September. He Is the only white person on
his place.
JOHN NEWMAN
sworn. Lives nearly four miles below Natchi-
toches. Was in town on the morning of the
twenty-iirst till the trouble occurred, when
he returned to protect his family. The col
ored man who was with him hesitated to go
home when advised to do SO to attend to some
commission for witness. The circumstance
was suspicious. Going home he met forty or
fifty negroes, all on ponies and armed with
guns, In front of his house.
Saw negroes all that evening in great COM
motion riding to and fro. On Sunday, also,
there was great excitement. Richard Hams
a negro man, told witness that he knew what
would happen two weeks before, but refused
to give the source ot his information. Had
not heard of Wells candidacy at that time;
Was of the opinion at that time there would
be no Republican candidate for Congress
Cross-examination- Witness reiterated the
statement of his direct examination.
SEYMOUR CURTIS,
one of the defendants. sworn. Lives In Natch-
toches. On the twenty-tirst OF September
great excitement grew out of the report that
the negroes We're about to attack the town.
Could get no gun, but started with the others
to the quarantine station, turned off to 20
with others to Bnnt's house. Blunt was ar
rested to keep him away from the men of
whom he was supposed to be the leader;
heard of no other reason for his arrest Blunt
was held as a sort Of hostage; was on duty
that night as patrol; was ordered to the
Pump Spring road, returned with BraHeale
and the two POrterS to the dirt bridge and
there had the encounter, already described by
Porter, with the negroes.
JOS. CHARLEvILLE
sworn. ] am one Of the parties charged in
this Indictment. On the twenty-tirst of Sep
TENDER / was at my house at Cloutierville
thirty miles from the town of NatchitOches
4 remained at home all day. | had not been
in town for week previous to the twenty
first of September. l did not go there again
until summoned there rs a witness before the
court In November. Any testimony contrary
to this is false. | did not know until October
that J. Mad Wells was a candidate for Cen
gresS.
Cross-examined by the district attorney
did not know that there were to be Repub
lican meetings in the town Of Natchitoches
on the twenty-first of September | don't
know J. Madison Wells except by sight and
reputation | am a constant reader of the
Fiadicdtor, and regard it with pride and af-
lection.
c. ID. DEBLANC
sworn. | reside in the town of Cloaterville. |
l Know Jos. CharevIlie. | saw him in town
curing that day and evening. | last saw him |
between and : o'clock, and had seen him
several times during the day.
T eross-eXamined by the district attorney
! saw oharleville on both Saturday and |
SS!n iil my ! do not rccolect whether | saw
I'LL thai, tlI.ay. recess Of ten minutes was
after the Recess