The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-25
THAT INVESTIGATION.
FURTHER TESTIMONY ABOUT MATCH
ITOCHEs PARIsa-wHAT AN
INDICTED WITNESS SAID.

The representatives of the Teller sub-com-
mittee. Messrs. b. r. Jonas and Morris Marks,
resumed their investigation yesterday morn
ing.
HON. M. j. CUNNINgHAM
was recalled for reross.examination and testified
as follows:
To Mr.. Marks-The taxes OF the parish of
Natchitoches became 80 exorbitant In 1878 that
the people could stand It no longer, and mass
meetings we're held and the reorganization OF the
police jury was demanded. They resigned.
DR.. Bolt at the time was tax collector. think
he was native OF Maryland. He was an old
citizen OF the parish. Witness was examined
as to the financial condition Of the parish from
the year 1864 to 1874
The mayor OF Natchitoehes gave me verbal
commission as chief Of police. I did not 20
outside Of the town OF NatchItoehes 10 dIsperse
any crowd of eolored men. do not know that
any writs OF arrest were issued by the munich
pal authorities. / do not remember the exact
date OF the call for the Democratic convention
on the twenty. first of September but It was
several weeks before the time set We published
the call In the organ. the Natchitoches Vindicn.
tor and notice was sent to the different wards.
The Vindicator Is regarded as the organ It Ia
the only paper published. and is Demo-
cratic. I believe that everybody had their
own opinion. but do not think there was any
serious difference OF opinion between the peo-
pie and the VindicatOr. l do not think that any
one man was authorized to speak for the DEM
cratic party. Or course. In an organization we
had men who had some authority. but do hot
think that any individual could speak for the
party IT was composed Of the Intelligence and
wealth of the parish. do not think that there
could have been any move made by the
party without my knowledge. During the
In the ReS pSrsn k1er lev armed
the number. When we expected an attack on
The IT. town . We telsgraphed to Gampton which is
he n nE S ssIs apd
twenty and thirty. came from He'd River. A
number also came from Campton. There were
town Of Natchitoches. The main body OF them
came In from the country. was recognized as
being in command Of the force. do not know
proportion of them had arms. There were a
good many OF them without arms. The first
intimation We bad Of contemplated attack on
the nesting at Bredas house m on the fourtsenth n
Of September. Charlie Miller and y. r. Brazil
brought the report. In substance they said, in
regard to the threats. that Blunt was very vio-
lent In his manner and gestieulation. and said
that he was told that it would be wrong to hold
the meeting on that day. as 1t would look like
didn't care If 1t did. he was going to hold the mass
meeting at all hazards, and he wanted all the
colored men to come. and come prepared. He
said he was going to carry the parish. Mr..
Breda said they would carry It II they had
blood. AS understand 1t. the meeting was
held on the back gallery. l do not know the
position to see and hear all. Mr.. Brazil is q
native OF the parish; he is about. / think.
eighteen years old. Mr. Miller Is about thirty
information was communicated to me and
others. and think Mr.. Cosgrove and others
were present when heard It. 1t was generally
was no preparation that l know OF to meet the
demonstration. am not posted as to whether
there was any indication that the negroes were
to enter the town In battle array.
;, There were, l think, sixty-two delegates to
the convention. 1t was called to order at the
courthouse at 10 o'clock. There were a good
crowd with view OF making any estimate OF
the number, but supposed there were seven
session a short time. There had been tempo
rary organization. As chairman of the execu- |
I've committee l called it to oIder and called
lion was In session for probably half an hour
before the recess. The convention adjourned
on account OF the Republican meeting. It was
mile below the courthouse. There were good
many reports going about town before the con-
vention assembled. During the ecess the con-
he members did.
I went down to where the Republican meet
ing was being held In company with about q
hundred others. Some OF them were armed. |
When got to the house the meeting had dis |
persed; l do not know how many negroes
,aw; There we're a good many standing in
Knots about the house. and there were some
above and some below. do not know as to the |
organization OF the negroes. / saw them 10 |
9odies: Some OF the bodies. numbering as
turing our progress to the meeting: but saw |
that there was trouble brewing. The |
md very much infuriated; and reports came
o me that parties stationed at different placesi
lad said they would come back and burn the /
ve wanted no trouble. and that we wanted them |
o go home. Some of them went quietly. but
here was general indispositio1 TO obey. and |
ome back. You damn rascaIs." some OF them |
aid. !. we will ], go. but we will come back and
do not think 1t impossible for the Republi- |
ans and Dem ocras to hold meetings In the /
own at the same time without trouble There /
vas q feverish excitement In town and great |
ngs OF the twenty FIRST there was not SaJ much
ceiling OF any kind as regards the Republicans |
they did not put ticket Ia the field. think.
would have had ticket. They could have
placed one out any way If they had desired. |
bur vigilance was kept up about three days.
squads Ters sent out into the
4 fifteen or twenty; II was the only one Of i'm
'ortance This squad reported g band OF 300
ndettaRs 10 ang them a1v9r ,t raey aid not
eported. party OF between fifty and one
hundred we're sent down there, but when they
cached the place the negroes had dispersed. |
Fne negroes arrested Mr.. Pharis, they shot at
me man. they threatened Judge Persons son
md others.
have known Blunt. think since 1865. con-
ider him a. property no der, although he |
his property to Rachel Williams / |
now not hing about his family relations. but
understood that the woman was not his wife,
ut find from the certificate shown me that
was misinformed,
[The certificate referred to was one issued by
he Freedmen's Bureaul
do not know of any debts contracted by
Blunt which he has failed to pay. know nothing
{ all about his business. / have had no occa-
ion to look into his affairs since brought suit
gainst him on Redmond's bond. Ny impress
ion has always been that Breda had no prop
rfy In the town of Natchtoches. belieys hls b
rife has. / think that the destruction OF the 4
7hole town of Natchitoches would pecuniariy b
feet both Blunt and Breda
Our movement on the twenty-firs Of Septem-
er was based on the meeting Of Re asDnOdiebba Dsnd ;ba
umerous reports Indicating trouble M "
Ienius reported threats made by haDv; Ine q
A