The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1879-03-22
THE NA7CnI7OCI|ES PRISONERS.
ABRAHAM MICHAELSON.

was III the Town OI NHtCnItOcDtS I'll
the twenty.tirst of September, 1878
| was a member Of the Democratic
convention. The convention wa
called to order about II o'clock !;
am not certain, however, about it
The confusion that caused the al
onrnment came a short time after it
meeting. A report came in the con
vcntion that the negroes were form
ing and were about 10 break up tit
convention. The convention brOk,
up in disorder.
| went to Levy & Phillips store
Some delegates went down town t,
see whether the report about tho ne
gr"ts was true. l saw some Of the
delegates with arms, they were moi
many. The convention was cOmpOs
Ell Of about one hundred members.
About twenty five persons had arms
Levy & Phillips store is about three
squares from the court house. / then
went, after staying twenty minutes,
to Ninbarg's store. l went and
armed myself after l heard the repo'
that the negroes would come to take
the town. l armed myself with a
gun and pistol. l left the gun at Mr.,
Baths house.
Witness was shown the published
list of the members of the convention
and testified it was correct to the
best of his knowledge, and they were
all present with the exception Of one
ward. The witness was then exam.
ined as to each member and his pres
ence at the courthouse. He could
not remember the names of the mel,
who were under arms. Mr.. Gun.
ningham vas at the head Of the arm.
ed party, but could not say whether
he was armed or not. Knows r. A.
Blunt; he is usually called RATE
Blunt. saw him on the day refer
red to. He was under arrest, and
was brought to the courthouse. Mr..
Cunningham was in the party with
Others. The VindicatOr is the paper
published in Natchltoches.
G. W. LUCKEY
sworn. l reside in NatchitOches and
always voted the Democratic ticket.
l went into the town of NatchitocIes
to pay my taxes. l was there part Of
the time that the convention was in
session, aud part l was not. l think
the first time the convention broke up
vas about 3 o'clock. A motion to
adjourn was made, but I don't know
the words it was made in. Tho
meeting appeared somewhat confused
when it broke up. l did not see any
armed men for some hours after that.
l went to a restaurant for my dinner
when l left.
1t may have been an hour af.
forwards, that l saw armed men.
saw Blunt that night at the court
house. He was under arrest, but l
cannot sag who had him in charge. l
cannot remember any men who we're
under arms. Mr.. Cunningham was in
command Of the party who had B. unit
in charge.
Cross. examined by Mr.. Beckwitl,-
| got into Natchitoches about 9 o'clock
that morning. was not u candidate
for any Office, l visited the conven>
ton as q locker on. reco'lect that
there was motion to adjourn, but do
not remember that there " ere any
speeches.
/ do not know whether the conven.
ton was in confusion. There were
several members standing on the
floor. heard it from several par
ties around the court. houee that the
adjournment was to 60 and break up
u Republican meeting. l cant say
whether there was any apprehension
IF trouble in the courthouse. l heard
that the negIoes were going to at
tempt to take the town aud the con.
vention broke up to resist this.
l head that evening there was
some firing down at the Dirt Bridge.
When the report came in there was
call for men to 60 down there. l
heard that there were pickets placed
out. l left early next morning. There
was considerable disturbance during
the night. There MAS considerable
excitement bef"re and after the firing
at the Dirt Bridge.
Re direct-l live thirty miles from
Natchitocl,es. did not get any arms.
l don't know that l had any appre.
hension Of being killed that day.
did not see any armed negroes when
| went home tho thirty miles.
live in ward two in the parish.
could not say how many men were
around the courthouse, but there
was a crowd.
A. Michelson, who had been called
upon ~ examine copy Of the Match
it"cles indicator, then came 10 and
said its report Of the convention was
correct.
Testimony resumed. l went home
on Sunday morning with a Mr.. Pugh.
| live ten miles from the town oil
Natcl,i,oches. l did not see any ar,
med negroes on my way. The meet
ing Of the convention broke up, tn the
best Of my knowledge, about II OF
II O'Clock.
Cross examined BY Mr.. LuzeDburg.
l was member Of the convention. II
has been advertised about two weeks.
There were about l25 men around
the court. house that day. The con-
convention was held to nominate
patochail officers. The covention ad-
ou,nrd because Of the reports in cir.
iulatiOn that the negroes were COM
ing to take the town. The real OBJ
iect Of tho convention in breaking up
was t" resist in self. defense, the at
tack Of the negroes. l started to 60
down to the Dit Bridge, where
the trouble was, but was st0pped
H.: - .rna nvn, Nr1,nso l. a vner