The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-13
THE TELLER COMMITTEE.
A Democratic Politician Tries to
Exp'aia Away the Outrages.
The Negroes Charged with Being
the AggressOrS.

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 1l.-At the meeting of tb.
Teller committee today, Judge L. V. Reeves Of Ten
sas. chairman of the Democratic committee testified
regarding the fusion organization in that parish,
which included such Republicans as Judge CordelI
and Sheriff Register. He said: After this we declin-
ed to appoint committee to confer with Fairfax.
The differences that subsequently arose am con-
WINGED did not arise from political causes Captain
Peck visited Fairfaxs house for political purpose
A rumor had spread that color line was to be
drawn. The people felt alarmed at this prospect,
and my opinion is that Peck went to Fairfax to ex-
postulate with him, and try to induce him to with
draw from bis purpose of arrayng the blacks against
the whites. The history of what occurred is we'll
known. Captain Peck was shot down, and in the
fight that ensued several of the negroes were wound
ed and one afterwards died. This was the starting
point Of the troubles, and the question became no
longer political one but contest between whites
and blacks. The negroes at once massed in large
numbers. and it became necessary to restore peace.
For this purpose Judge Cordell and Sheriff Register
assembled posse to put down the disturbance
Warrants issued for the arrest of Fairfax but
could not be served owing to the negroes who ocked
around him. Everything was peaceable and quiet cd
election day.
George Norwood of Caddo was called. He an
peared with his head bandaged, and spoke with diff
Guilty. having been shot in the face iu the Caledonia
affair." He testified that the first shot was fired by
negroes at him. He did not fire shot that day. 1t
was reported that the negroes had guns stacked in
Reeves house near the polling place. Witness is
Republican in principle, and has always worked for
the negroes, and thought it hard that they should be
the first to shoot him. He started to Reeves house
with Mcneil, deputy sheriff, to take possession of
the arms there, fearing threatened disturbance by
the negroes. As they approached the house they
were fired upon.
VIM. A. Leay of Caddo, lawyer, and editor of the
Standard, the next Witness He tettifed as fol-
loWs Consider District Attorney Leonard RESPONSE
bic for the troubles in the late election. He is now
accusing US of doing what he advocated in past
years. He stated in his interview with President
Hayes that there were no whites on the streets of
Shreveport on election day. The reason for this was
that the negroes surrounded the polls and the whites
stayed away to give them fair showing. The cleo
ton was fair and peaceful, and the negroes voted
without moestation.
j. G. Moncure Of Caddo, speaker of the House of
Representatives. testified that the election in Shreve-
port fair and peaceful. Negroes voted freely un-
til District Attorney Leonard, seeing no chance of
carrying the election for the Republicans, ordered
the negroes to leave the place and go home. Wit
ness thought some of Leonards speeches incendiary,
and calculated to excite bad blood between blacks
and whites,
Emanuel Cuisine of Caddo was called by the Re-
publicans aad testified to the facts already given
Randall Mcdowell and Claiborne Kennard, colored,
of Point Copee. testified that they had left their
homes on account of political prosecutions. aud stat
ed that bulldozers of that parish had committed
great outrages, whipping and killing negroes.