The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-04

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until Wednesday, and during the whole Of L |
had not heard OF j. Mad Wells. During the
whole OF the affair never heard that 1t was
because Blunt favored j. Med Wells.
GROSS EXAMINED NY UNITED STATES DIS
TRIuT ATTORNEY.
In 1878 was In the Natchitoehes postofice
| There were but few Shreveport papers there
on account Of the quarantine. ] read the
NatchitDches Vtndscator regularly. ! was
very much alarmed on the twenty-nrst, after
the affair at the dirt bridge, and got back to
town and reported, and Immediately some
fifteen men on horseback started down and
about twenty on foot. When we got down
there no negroes were seen. | remained there
all night, but saw nothing more. II was ball
an hour from the time left the dirt bridge
before went back.
DANIEL SCARBOROUGH.
| was I'm Natchitoches ON the twenty-first OF
september until or = o'clock In the evening.
II was the day our parish convention was
held, and ! spent most ~ my lilhe OF Tue
street. ut least until 10 o'clock, l Intended
to leave and was packing my trunk. whom
| learned that the negroes We're going 70
attack the town. | went down on the
street, when ] saw number Of excited
people on the streets. | got near Blunt s
house and there volunteered my services 10
repeI the attack I knew that the best place
To get aid soon was at n camp-Ineeting some
twentv-threa miles or ] went to 1t and re-
turned the next morning with a company.
At this time there was q general impression.
and a serious one. that there was going to be
an attack There was no other reason for
these preparations. do not think knew Of
the candidacy Of j Mad Wells. Later heard
Of IL about October l. ] did not hear or
know that Blunt was an advocate Of Wells.
do not think heard any one speak Of Wells
at all. The nomination Of Mr.. Wells. much
less than any man, would give rise TO no
apprehension on the part Of the Democrats OF
that district,
GROSS EXAMINED.
II was about o'clock when went down TO
Blunts house. ! was not there when Blunt
was taken out. | was at my room when the
alarm was given about the negroes. / was at
the convention until they were getting into
business. On my way to the camp ground
did not meet any armed bodies Of negroes
We secuted down Cane river and then up the
other side.
II. u. PIERsoN.
live In Natchitoches. / was at my sisters
house, opposite the town. on tho twonty-first
of September. NY sister requested me to 60
down To her house to see II her property was
secure. While going there, was taken into
custody by an armed body of negroes, some
$50 III number. They said, XIII him. he's
white man" ! was saved through the inter
ecseion Of negro. When was freed / came
back TO town and reported what had seen.
The news that had been taken was ctrcu-
lated through town. The negroes were about
dirt bridge, below the city. and were all
armed. Their organization was not at that
time perfected. was very much frightened,
and repeated everything | had seen 10 the
people.
CHAs. PAYNE.
l live In Natchitoches, and was there on the
twenty first of September. got there about
40 a. m. went out Of the town that day
was not In the convention during that day
had nothing to do with the party who went
Town to the quarantine station ! went to
where my wife was and stayed there Be
ore went down | heard of the anticipated
attack.
| saw band Of negroes shouting, "Were
yoing to the bloody warsr' They were In
!evy's lane, and there were about seventy
september that j. Mad Wells was a candi-
late. did not care who Blunt or Breda IA
Tored for Congress. know OF no agreement |
o harm Blunt because he favored Wells
lever heard of any reason why there was au
'rmed gathering, except to protect the town
SAMUEL HYNEs.
reside In Natehtoches I was not In the |
own on September a. was on my planta-
ion, five miles below Natchitoches. noticed |
omething unusual on that morning. / saw
bout seventy-tive negroes formed In line I'm |
ront Of my house. | heard them say they |
we're going to town to rescue Blunt They |
we're armed WIFI InuSketS anu BnOL guns. L |
ent a courier to Natchitoches, but he was cap
ured and sent back.
In the morning, on Saturday, ordered my |
egrues to 40 to work picking cotton and sent
or two to come into my room. They had two
evolvers on, and | asked them what they
we're doing with them. They said they were
,oing to n meeting in town All my hands
hen left my place to go to the meeting.
On Monday, with fifteen men, / went across
he river from my place and came across some
hundred or more but they would not let us
pproach them. They ordered us Off when
wanted to pacify them. l never heard Of j.
lad Wells.
ROSS ny THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
| had been absent from my plantation six |
weeks In Texas before the twenty-tirst The
rst | heard that there was going to be u |
Democratic meeting in town was through |
ONE one passing by.
United States District Attorney Leonard |
With this witness as with the others, only
iveted the facts they had stated in their ex-
in chief, and brought out nothing
mt repetitions of their first statements Ii
vas 80 o'clock when the court adjourned |
Until to-day at 10 o'clock.